Grantham-based race team Richardson Racing will hope for double success this weekend when the new Ginetta GT Supercup season bursts into life at Brands Hatch (31 March – 1 April).The famous circuit in Kent will play host to the first three races of the 2012 campaign, with Richardson Racing aiming to fight for championship honours in both classes of the hotly-contested series.Spearheading the team’s challenge will be Andrew Richardson, who moves up to the premier G55 class on the back of a G50 campaign last year where he won on four occasions and marked himself out as a real rising star.Having taken a double podium on the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit last year, including his maiden G50 win, Andrew goes into the weekend in confident mood having quickly got up to speed in his new car during pre-season testing.“We had a bit of an electrical fault when we tested the car for the first time at Donington, but then we went to Brands Hatch and were right on the pace,” Andrew said, “so I’m going into this weekend confident that I will be able to challenge for victory. The car has more grip and better brakes than the G50 and it just feels a bit more ‘racy’ when you are behind the wheel.“My pace during testing was consistently quick, and I was faster than the other cars present even when I feel there is more to come. I won in the G50 at Brands Hatch last year and hopefully I’ll do it again this time around.”In the G50 class, Huddersfield-racer Mark Davies will kick-start his title challenge aiming to maintain the kind of form that saw him crowned Ginetta Challenge champion last season.Mark secured a win and third place on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit last year en-route to the Challenge title and he too is keen to try and make a winning start to his championship challenge.“I’m not too sure what to expect until testing on Friday as it will be the first chance we have to see what the other G50 drivers can do,” he said. “However, even though we haven’t really been on track with the other G50s, I’m going into the weekend very confident about my chances. I’ve settled in well with the team during pre-season testing and they’ve provided a good car. I’m looking forward to it.”The team’s second car in the G50 class will also be in action, with a late sponsorship deal having been signed to allow Louise Richardson to take part in the opening rounds of the season.Louise’s deal is currently on a race-by-race basis, with the team seeking additional sponsorship to ensure she is able to join Mark in fighting for the G50 class title.“I’m really looking forward to the weekend,” she said. “I didn’t think I was going to be on the grid but then we got a call on Tuesday night that means I’ll be racing. Although I’ve done testing in a Formula Renault BARC car over the winter, I haven’t driven the Ginetta since Silverstone last season but I don’t think it will take me too long to get back into the swing of things. Despite the lack of track time, I think I can get at least a podium finish from the weekend.”The opening 16 lap race of the weekend will take place on Saturday at 14.20, with two further races of 24 laps on Sunday at 10.20 and 15.40 (subject to change).  Live coverage of Sunday’s action from Brands Hatch will air on ITV4, ITV4 HD and via ITV.com.

Anyone interested in sponsorship can contact the team by e-mailing info@richardsonracing.co.uk