Avon Tyres British GT Champions Crowned at Brands Hatch

Dodge Viper pilots, James Gornall and Jon Barnes, were crowned 2008 Avon Tyres British GT Champions at Brands Hatch (13th July). Gornall and Barnes needed to score only five points more than their rivals at the Kent circuit in order to secure the prestigious sportscar title. In the weekend’s two 60-minute races around the famous 2.3-mile Grand Prix loop, the Viper scored a win and a seventh place, more than enough to take the crown.

The Team Trimite Brookspeed duo’s victory was their fourth of the season, with the potential to increase that tally at the remaining rounds in Silverstone (August 17) and Donington Park (October 12).

The Brands Hatch event also saw the inaugural GT4 class championship wrapped up by IMS Motorsport Ginetta G50 drivers, Stewart Linn and Matt Nicoll-Jones.

“The whole championship win has been totally unexpected,” admitted Team Trimite Brookspeed boss, Martin Braybrook. “I was really nervous at the start of the year because people kept telling me that if I didn’t have a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, I was on to a loser. But Jon and James have just kept bringing the car home.”

Race two at Brands Hatch almost saw the Champions-elect come unstuck, after a loose wheel brought them unexpectedly into the pits and a dangling exhaust set fire to the bodywork of their Viper. But by that time, their only remaining rivals had suffered their own troubles, and retired their Ferrari 430 with a broken alternator belt.

“It wasn’t necessarily the way we would have wanted to win the title,” said Gornall. “But the championship is ours so I won’t be doing any complaining.” Barnes added: “The second race did leave us a little deflated because we had some bad luck and we could’ve won the race. But I’m delighted to be the new Avon Tyres British GT champion.”