Next weekend’s finale of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship promises to be one of the most exciting showdowns in years, with 12 different drivers in with a chance of seizing the championship title and a further six battling to secure the GT4 class crown.
Saturday’s (8 October) two-hour curtain-closer will see current points leaders Jim and Glynn Geddie battling at the wheel of their CRS Racing Ferrari 458 Italia to defend their eight-point championship advantage from their Ferrari, Audi and Porsche-driving rivals.
The Geddies’ task is straightforward, but of course far from simple in an endurance race complicated by refuelling as well as driver-change pit stops - they need to finish ahead of their title rivals, and a race win at Silverstone would unarguably achieve this. This is what the championship leaders, and their rivals, have to aim for:
Jim & Glynn Geddie / CRS FerrariA race win will net them the championship. Second place would do also, so long as Cameron/Griffin do not win. Third place also, so long as the race is not won by Cameron/Griffin, Guasch/Bell or Lyons/Bateman.
Duncan Cameron & Matt Griffin / MTECH FerrariA race win will net them the championship. Second place would do also, so long as the Geddies are fourth or lower and the race is not won by Guasch/Bell, Lyons/Bateman or Ashburn. Third place would be enough so long as the Geddies are sixth or lower, Guasch/Bell fourth or lower, and the race is not won by Lyons/Bateman or Ashburn.
Mike Guasch & Matt Bell / United Autosports AudiA race win will net them the championship so long as the Geddies are third or lower. Second place good also, so long as Geddies fifth or lower and race not won by Cameron/Griffin, Lyons/Bateman or Ashburn. Third enough also, if Geddies are seventh or lower, Ashburn doesn’t win, and Cameron/Griffin, Lyons/Bateman behind.
Michael Lyons & Charles Bateman / Scuderia Vittoria FerrariA race win will net them the championship so long as the Geddies are third or lower. Second: enough if Geddies are sixth or lower, Cameron/Griffin fourth or lower, Guasch/Bell & Ashburn behind. Third: enough if Geddies eighth or lower, Cameron/Griffin fifth or lower and Guasch/Bell, Ashburn behind.
David Ashburn / Trackspeed PorscheThe reigning champion could retain his crown with a race win if the Geddies are outside the top three, or with second if Geddies eighth or lower, Cameron/Griffin fifth or lower, Guasch/Bell and Lyons/Bateman fourth or lower.
Gregor Fisken & Tim Bridgman / Trackspeed PorscheHector Lester / Rosso Verde FerrariOnly a race win at Silverstone is enough, and then only if: Geddies ninth or lower, Cameron/Griffin sixth or lower, Guasch/Bell fifth or lower, Lyons/Bateman fourth or lower and Ashburn third or lower.
Championship manager Benjamin Franassovicci says the Silverstone showdown will be gripping: “To come down to the final round with 12 drivers able to win the championship is a great way to end the year. The unpredictability of the longer-distance race format, with the fuel stops, means that only real team work will come out on top. I have no idea who to put my money on.”
GT4 ClassThe GT4 class battle is an intriguing one also, with season-long points leaders Peter Belshaw and Marcus Clutton heading for Silverstone with a 26.5-point lead.
Peter Belshaw & Marcus Clutton / ABG Motorsport KTM X-BowA finish anywhere inside the class top six will win them the GT4 class title.
Freddie Nordstrom & Leyton Clarke / Lotus Sport UK Lotus EvoraA class win at Silverstone is needed, with Belshaw/Clutton outside the top six, or second in class, so long as Belshaw/Clutton do not score at all.
Dan Denis & David McDonald / Scuderia Vittoria Ginetta G50A class win is required, with Belshaw/Clutton failing to score.
The British GT Championship is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and OAMPS.
Silverstone timetableFriday 7 October: 0900-0950 & 1420-1510 testingSaturday 8 October: 0935 qualifying; 1600 Round 10 (120 mins)
Ticket details http://bit.ly/rtQftL
Provisional championship standings
GT3 & overall=1 Glynn & Jim Geddie / Ferrari 121.5 points=3 Duncan Cameron & Matt Griffin / Ferrari 113.5=5 Mike Guasch & Matt Bell / Audi 110.5=7 Michael Lyons & Charles Bateman / Ferrari 107.59 David Ashburn / Porsche 103=10 Gregor Fisken & Tim Bridgman / Porsche 89.512 Hector Lester / Ferrari 88.5 etc
GT4=1 Peter Belshaw & Marcus Clutton / KTM 178.5=3 Freddy Nordstrom & Leyton Clarke / Lotus 152=5 Dan Denis & David McDonald / Ginetta 141.5 etc
GT3B=1 John Dhillon & Aaron Scott / Ferrari 137.5=3 Tom Alexander & Adrian Willmott / Aston Martin 27
GT Cup=1 Jordan Witt & Anthony Reid / Chevron 81.25=3 Bjorn & Anders Gustavson / Ginetta 13.5
