Snetterton British GT Weekend: Key Insights and Developments
The Snetterton circuit in Norfolk is set to host a pivotal weekend in the 2025 British GT Championship, with drivers bracing for high track temperatures and a competitive sprint format. Following an intense build-up featuring a paid test and practice sessions under oppressive heat, the forecast for Sunday promises cooler conditions, likely impacting team strategies for the races.
Key Race Format and Weather Conditions
Drivers will utilize Pirelli DHG slicks, facing challenges due to high humidity surpassing 60% and track temperatures exceeding 30°C. Round 6 is scheduled for 10:50 AM, followed by Round 7 at 3:50 PM, with the latter benefiting from additional rubber laid down by preceding support races, including the GB4 and Ginetta series.
Blackthorn’s Title Challenge
Blackthorn Racing is now in contention for the GT3 title after a breakthrough victory at Spa. Their performance, led by Giacomo Petrobelli in the #7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo, has positioned them just two points behind 2 Seas Motorsport’s #42 Mercedes-AMG after accruing 87 points. Petrobelli remarked, "We want to do as well as we can. I think we have a car that can be good at any track."
Despite facing a 10-second pit stop penalty in Race 1 for starting in a front-row position, the team remains optimistic about their competitiveness against rivals like Lamborghini and McLaren.
Mahiki Racing’s Manufacturer Switch
Mahiki Racing made headlines by transitioning from Lotus to Ginetta mid-season, deploying the G56 GT4 Evo just a day before Spa. Garage manager Chris Emery cited the need for change due to underperformance with the Lotus platform. “We just got to a point where we had to make a change,” he explained.
Blake Angliss, stepping up as a full-time driver, expressed excitement over his new role. "It’s good to finally showcase what I can do," he stated, qualifying sixth in the GT4 category for Race 2.
GT3 Silver-Am Title Competition
The GT3 Silver-Am title is heating up between Bridger Motorsport and Beechdean Motorsport. Bridger’s Honda NSX GT3 Evo leads by 17.5 points going into Snetterton. Jay Bridger, driving the #86 Honda, anticipates a competitive first race. "Johnny needs to try and get as big a gap as possible for me," he emphasized.
Warm-Up Session Results
In the morning warm-up, Sven Müller clocked the fastest lap at 1:47.532 for Team Parker Racing’s #66 Porsche, closely followed by Hugo Cook in the Lamborghini and Carl Cavers in the McLaren GT3 Evo. Notably, Cavers, new to Optimum Motorsport, acknowledged the challenge of adapting from Porsche to McLaren.
Conclusion
As teams prepare for a crucial race day at Snetterton, strategic elements will take precedence in the drivers’ approaches. All eyes are on the conflict for GT3 Silver-Am supremacy and Blackthorn’s potential title push, underscoring the high stakes across the board in this competitive championship landscape.
