Return of the 100 – Silverstone Hosts GT Cup’s Second 100-Minute Race

After a well-deserved summer break, the GT Cup speeds back into action at Silverstone for rounds 12, 13 and 14 of the season. The iconic British circuit will also play host to the second GT Cup 100-minute endurance race.

It’s still incredibly tight at the top of the points tables, and with double points on offer from the 100-minute race, everything could change this weekend. Sitting in first place of the Overall Championship points table is Paddock Motorsport’s Mark Smith, just six points clear of Topcats Racing’s Fraser Fenwick and Iain Campbell. Third in the title fight is the SVG Motorsports entry for Neil Wallace and Ian Astley, just 16 points further back.

The weekend’s format will run the same as the season opener at Donington Park. While both days feature free practice followed by split qualifying sessions, Saturday sees racers running two Sprint Races on the same day, as Sunday hosts the single, 100-minute endurance race.

The longer race format has proven enticing as new entrants and extra drivers join the field. In Group GT3, AF Corse returns to the championship with Marcos Vivian and Franco Castellacci in their vibrant Ferrari 296 GT3. Group GTC sees two invitational entries from Paddock Motorsport and Lone Wolf Racing. Tim Docker will be aboard Paddock’s McLaren Artura Trophy, marking the first McLaren in Group GTC, while the Lone Wolf entry sees John Turner and Ray Grimes in a Ferrari 488 Challenge. A third invitational entry from Oselli Motorsport bolsters the numbers in Group GTA as Chris Valentine will be taking the Aston Martin Vantage out for a spin.

Elsewhere on the grid, new drivers appear in established entries. Richard Chamberlain has brought Nigel Greensall on board for the weekend, the first time the CTR Developments car has had a second driver this season. Peter Erceg in Group GT3 is once again joining forces with Marcus Clutton, the pair have already proven quite formidable in earlier races. DWG Motorsport’s Jack Gadd will be joined by Daniel Brown in the #81 Group GTC Lamborghini Huracan.

Some extra new faces make an appearance this weekend as several entries see driver changes. In Group GTC, the #23 Topcats Racing Lamborghini sees team manager Charlotte Gilbert subbing in, bringing back last season’s championship-winning pairing. Jamie Stanley also joins Frank Morris in Group GTC, as James Pickford steps out for the weekend. Luke Bennett is the new co-driver for Simon Griffiths in the Group GTH Innovation Racing Ginetta, and Dominic Paul subs in for Triple M Motorsport’s Grahame Tilley, alongside Will Tregurtha.

We’ve already spoken about the Overall Championship points table, but how do things look in each group?

As the leader of the Overall title fight, it should come as no surprise that Mark Smith is also leading the Group GT3 battle, though by a somewhat larger margin. Peter Erceg sits second in the Group, 61 points behind Smith. Darren and James Kell sit a further 11 points back, but with the 100 Minute Race this weekend, those gaps could well shrink.

Groups GTC and GTB now run as one under the Group GTC banner, and it’s Topcats Racing’s Fraser Fenwick and Iain Campbell leading the way. The pair sit on 280 points, a whopping 77 ahead of second-placed Grahame Tilley and Will Tregurtha. Frank Morris and James Pickford currently occupy third in the Group Title table.

It’s been Aston Martin up front in Group GTH as Archie Clark and Tom Canning top the tables for Feathers Motorsport. Though the on-track battles have been getting feistier as the season goes on and both SVG Motorsport and Innovation Racing have been making gains. Marc Elman and Owen Hizzey sit 49 points adrift from Clark and Canning, with Innovation’s Simon Griffiths just seven points back in third.

SVG Motorsport currently holds the top spot in Group GTA with Neil Wallace and Ian Astley proving to be quite the formidable pair. Innovation Racing’s Brent Millage is 57 points behind in second, while Lewis Tindall and Mack Priestwood for Anthony Seddon Racing round out the top three.

In Group GTO meanwhile, Paul Bailey and David Brabham lead the way ahead of CTR Developments’ Richard Chamberlain.

Expect plenty of close racing this weekend from new faces and GT Cup veterans alike, with double points to play for, there’s plenty on the line! On-track action begins on Saturday with Free Practice at 10.40, with Qualifying shortly after. All three races will be broadcast live on the GT Cup YouTube channel and Facebook page.