Simpson Tops Rain-Soaked British GT Practice at Donington

Photo: British GT

Mike Simpson went fastest in both Free Practice sessions for the British GT Championship finale on Saturday, with his Tolman Motorsport Ginetta G55 GT3 thriving in the wet conditions.

He led the way in the morning’s first session with a 1:44.599 around the Donington Park circuit, before bettering this with a 1:41.524 in Free Practice 2.

Simpson pipped Phil Keen to the top spot in the second run with a minute to go. The championship leader had to settle for second in his Barwell Motorsport entry.

The other Barwell Lamborghini Huracan GT3 was third with Alexander Sims at the wheel, ahead of Richard Neary on a strong run in his Am-class Team ABBA with Rollcentre Racing BMW Z4 GT3.

Team Parker Racing and the No. 17 TF Sport crew, the two other title contenders, came fifth and sixth in the afternoon’s session, respectively.

Sandy Mitchell secured the top spot in practice amongst the GT4 runners, in his McLaren 570S GT4 for Black Bull Ecurie Ecosse.

He posted a 1:49.653, putting him five-tenths ahead of Century Motorsport’s Nathan Freke, who had gone fastest in the morning’s session.

Free Practice 1 was red-flagged to retrieve Abbie Eaton’s Maserati GT MC GT4 from the gravel trap, while the second session had two red flag periods, one of which was to recover Rick Parfitt Jr.’s stricken Bentley Continental GT3.

Qualifying gets underway at 4:15 p.m. local time.

RESULTS: Free Practice 1
RESULTS: Free Practice 2

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.