NEWS

British GT: Snetterton Preview

The 2011 British GT got away to a brilliant start last month at Oulton Park with a host of delectable new cars and some close and exciting action. The drama of refuelling pit stops and the unknowns provided by the new track look certain to make Snetterton an even greater challenge.  Appropriately enough it is the reigning champion, David Ashburn, who leads the championship to Norfolk. The Trackspeed Porsche racer won the season opener at Oulton with driving partner Richard Westbrook, and then placed fourth in race two. However, it is not Westbrook who will be teamed with Ashburn this weekend but Phil Keen, last seen in British GT two seasons ago in a class-winning KTM X-Bow; he is also a race winner in FIA GT3s.

Corvette Motorsport team Speedworks Motorsport, are aiming for a solid points finish this weekend and Team boss Christian Dick believes the team’s Corvette Z06R is capable of placing inside the top ten in Sunday’s second round at Snetterton.

“It would be good to get off the mark after an encouraging debut at Oulton Park last month and there’s no reason why we can’t do that.” Driver pair Piers and Ron Johnson tested Speedworks’ challenger, new to the sports car series this season, at the Norfolk circuit earlier this year. Dick hopes that will give them an edge over their GT3 class rivals. He said: “Both of them have had a run on the new layout and they liked it. “I think a couple of the other teams have done the same, so nobody will have a massive advantage, but it’s good that our guys will feel comfortable.”

Series organisers SRO expect a bumper 27-cars field for Sunday’s two-hours race on the new 300 circuit A single race format with a compulsory pit stop for a driver change demands a different approach to that used at the first meeting of the season. Dick said: “Fuel mileage will be our biggest test because the Corvette is a thirsty beast. “The drivers will need to be a little bit more conservative with the car to look after the tyres too.

“A longer race means qualifying is not as important and, while it’s always nice to start as close to the front of the grid as possible, there is an opportunity over two hours to make up ground.” Two hour-long practice sessions on Saturday are followed by a 30-minutes qualifying period later in the day. Sunday’s race is due to start at 1.15pm.


Six GT4 cars are expected in Norfolk, with another KTM for Greek gentleman racer Athanasios Ladas and Michael Mallock, and a further Ginetta for Scuderia Vittoria’s championship newcomers Dan Denis and David McDonald; both of these pairings were podium men at Oulton. 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.

Snetterton timetable

Saturday 14 May: 0930-1030 & 1300-1400 practice; 1725-1755 qualifying
Sunday 15 May: 0900 warm-up; 1315 Round 3 (120 mins)

*Quotes gathered by Andrew Simpson