British GT Championship Heads to Oulton Park: A Crucial Easter Weekend
Following an exhilarating display at the Silverstone 500, the British GT Championship now transitions to the 2.692-mile International layout of Oulton Park for its first sprint races of the 2025 season. With two one-hour races on tap, participants are poised to seize critical points, enhancing the competitive stakes.
2 Seas Motorsport Expands Its Lead
The #42 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG team, featuring Charles Dawson and Kiern Jewiss, currently leads the standings after a commanding win at Donington Park and a strong second-place finish at Silverstone. Their performance, despite a 30 kg weight increase at Silverstone (now reduced to 25 kg), has given them a 75-point lead, 30 points clear of their closest rival, the #77 Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S driven by Morgan Tillbrook and Marvin Kirchöfer. The McLaren duo’s consistency is evident, with finishes of second and fourth.
Challenges Ahead
Oulton Park’s unique layout presents a stark contrast to Silverstone’s expansive track, demanding precision over raw speed. This shift may alter traditional pecking orders, particularly as Dawson and Tillbrook—both adept amateur drivers—prepare to navigate the challenging circuit.
Reigning champion Rob Collard, driving the #1 Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2, returns after a medical hiatus and will look to build momentum alongside his new teammate, Hugo Cook.
Qualifying Dynamics Shift in Sprint Format
In the sprint races, qualifying places rely heavily on the amateur driver’s performance, placing additional pressure on less experienced competitors. Notably, the #7 Blackthorn Aston Martin duo, featuring seasoned driver Jonny Adam and Giacomo Petrobelli, is expected to excel in this format.
The competitive landscape includes other noteworthy entries, such as:
- The #8 Paddock Motorsport McLaren team, featuring former LMP1 driver Marvin Plowman.
- The returning Spirit of Race, racing the new Ferrari 296 GT3, aims to capitalize on their heritage at Oulton Park.
GT4 Pro-Am Tightens
In the GT4 category, the fight for supremacy sees the #90 Optimum Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 and Century Motorsport’s #71 BMW M4 GT4 tied at 64.5 points after two rounds, demonstrating consistent pace but also heightening the stakes in Oulton’s sprint format.
Key Performers to Watch
In GT3, Blackthorn’s #7 Aston Martin and the returning #24 McLaren of Oliver Webb and Andrey Borodin will be key entries to watch, alongside Team Parker Racing’s Porsche, which aims to break into contention.
The GT4 Silver class features a competitive field, with Mahiki Racing keen to overcome previous technical issues for a better performance at Oulton, particularly after their suspension misfortunes at Silverstone.
Race Weekend Schedule
Track action commences on Saturday, May 24, with practice and qualifying, leading into the double-header races on the late-May Bank Holiday. Race 1 is slated for 10:45 AM, followed by Race 2 at 3:50 PM.
In conclusion, Oulton Park’s challenging circuit is expected to provide a compelling backdrop for what promises to be an intense race weekend as teams vie for valuable championship points in the British GT landscape.
