Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup front-runner Pepe Massot endured a frustrating first event of the 2014 season at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit over the weekend, 29th/30th March, after missing out on a potential victory in the opening race of the year.Qualifying on the front row of the grid for round one on Saturday, the Spanish 18-year-old missed out on pole position by a mere 0.1 seconds but with the outside of the grid at Brands Hatch often more favourable at the start, he had high hopes of leading the drag into Paddock Hill Bend.Doing precisely that, Massot anticipated the lights better than anyone to streak into the lead but officials later decreed his Ginetta G55 had rolled slightly in its grid box prior to the start – ultimately resulting in a bitterly disappointing drive-through penalty.Massot led the race for the first 13 laps, despite intense pressure from the chasing pack, but after serving his penalty he rejoined to finish the opening encounter of the season in a much lower than expected, or deserved, 14th position.“Race one was really a big disappointment”, he reflected, “I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong, but the officials thought I had so we just had to accept that and get on with it. It was a real shame as we were leading the race and it would have been perfect to start the season with a win.”Twice as frustrating for the Sheffield-based JHR Developments driver was the fact he then had to begin Sunday morning’s second round from 14th on the grid, as per the race one result. Despite a problem with the master cylinder, which began on the green flag formation lap, Massot was able to make an excellent getaway from the seventh row and by the end of lap one he was ninth.Following a five lap Safety Car period, racing got back underway on the seventh tour with Massot in the middle of a tight three car battle. Even though fluid from the master cylinder was leaking onto his front tyres, causing a lot of understeer, he worked wonders to retain his position but on lap 16 at Paddock Hill Bend the lack of pressure in the brakes resulted in an excursion off the road.Luckily able to rejoin from the gravel trap, Massot pitted and the JHR mechanics swarmed around the Ginetta G55 to put the brake bias to the rear wheels – enabling the teenager to at least score some points with a 14th place finish.Aiming for a strong conclusion to the weekend after an event of major frustration, the Barcelona native achieved just that in round three with a sensational drive through the order from 14th place into the top five.Working his way into the top 10 by one third race distance, Massot continued his great progress and was into sixth place on lap 12 before moving up into fifth two laps later. Closing in on the rear of David Pittard’s car, Massot piled on the pressure to take the flag on lap 24 just 0.1 seconds adrift. He also posted the second fastest lap of the race in the process to confirm his race winning potential.“The last race was OK, we had good pace”, he commented, “We know we’re quick and the problem in the second race was no fault of mine or the team’s. Now I’m looking forward to Donington – I won there last year so, of course, I’m expecting to be fast there again.”Next on the schedule for the Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup is a visit to Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire on Easter weekend, 19th/20th April.2014 Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup Driver Standings (after Rd3):7th Pepe Massot, 34pts