Donington Park plays host to the Ginetta Challenge this weekend with just one point splitting the top two in the G40 class and the same narrow margin between the top two G20 drivers.
Sean Huyton (Academy Motorsport) heads the G40 battle by just one point from former champion Mark Davies (Optimum Motorsport), while Stuart Pearson is just one point up on the Optimum-run car of Gary Simms in the G20 division.
Huyton has taken three wins this season, but hasn’t won since mid-May, instead concentrating on scoring points, which he has achieved in every round. However, with four wins to his name, Mark Davies is now his main opposition and the Yorkshireman is in fine form having taken victory in the most recent round at Rockingham. Their fight will be a highlight of the weekend, but there are plenty of other drivers all in with a chance of a race win.
Take Clive Richards (Colards Motorsport), for example. The former Caterham champion is a three-times winner this season and is only 30 points behind Huyton so he could yet take the title, while Ryan Ratcliffe (Piranha Motorsport) and Mike Robinson (TCR) have proved to be podium finishers this season and could take points away from the championship’s top three. Indeed, Robinson won on the road at Brands Hatch in June only to be penalised for exceeding the track limits so he is keener than anyone to take an overdue victory.
The G20 class is another fascinating affair: Stuart Pearson’s two wins put him a point ahead of four-times winner Gary Simms, but the recent return to the championship of Dominic Pettit has added extra spice. Pettit’s winning streak has taken points away from Pearson and Simms and they will need to outscore him, as much as each other, this weekend. Add in the ultra-consistent Matt Flowers and there will be great racing provided by the G20 class.
Practice for the Ginetta Challenge takes place on Saturday September 24th at 11:20 for 15 minutes with qualifying at 14:30 that afternoon, also for quarter of an hour. Both races are on Sunday on Donington’s famous Grand Prix circuit and the 20-minute races leave the line at 09:05 and 13:00.
