Academy Motorsport driver Sean Huyton won both Ginetta Challenge races at Snetterton last weekend despite qualifying outside the top ten for both events at the Norfolk circuit’s new ‘300’ lay out.
A wet qualifying session led to mixed grids for both races as some drivers were able to set their best times in the small window between the weather improving and a red flag waving when privateer Richard Southgate span and became stranded on track.
The opening race therefore saw Autosport journalist Ben Anderson starting from pole position on his series debut alongside the inexperienced Rick Parfitt Jr, while the G20 of Stuart Pearson was third.
Huyton started the race down in 12th place, with fellow Oulton Park race-winner Mark Davies 18th and erstwhile points leader Clive Pearson in 22nd!
Nevertheless, Huyton made a breathtaking start to the race and was up into second place by turn 6 behind Pearson, who had got the better of Anderson at the new Montreal hairpin.
Huyton made his move for the lead towards the end of the opening lap, passing Pearson at Murrays, although when Anderson also tried to squeeze through he spun, rejoining down in 11th.
Huyton went on to take a comfortable victory ahead of Piranha Motorsport’s Ryan Ratcliffe, while Anderson fought his way back up the field to complete the podium in his HHC Motorsport-run car. Mike Robinson (TCR) and Graham Johnson (Colards Motorsport) rounded out the top five.
Davies looked set for a superb result after a charge through the field every bit as impressive as Huyton’s. The Yorkshireman was eighth by the end of the opening lap and had moved into second place when he suffered rear-end damage and dropped away to seventh.
It was a similar story for Richards, who had also worked his way from the back of the field into second place when he spun while pushing to close on Huyton. Although he was able to rejoin, he finished down in 12th.
Race 2 also saw another mixed grid with Pearson starting on pole from Anderson, and Huyton 11th, Richards 15th and Davies 27th and last.
Anderson didn’t make a good getaway allowing G20 runners Pearson and Harvey Booth to initially move ahead, although the ex-Formula Vee front runner quickly recovered to take second, with Richard Sykes (HHC Motorsport) also moving past Booth after a flying start from 13th.
Sykes was up into second place by the end of lap 2, but now had a charging Huyton on his tail. The field was then bunched by a Safety Car following Lee Moulden’s (Track Cars) off, but after a delay caused by the SC failing to pick up the leader, the restart came with just one lap remaining.
With Sykes leading the pack, Huyton launched himself down the inside at Murrays, grabbing the lead and forcing the HHC man wide and into a spin that allowed Ratcliffe up to second and Richards to third. Johnson and Davies completed the top five and, while Sykes would recover, but only to 14th at the finish.
In the G20 category, Gary Simms (Optimum Motorsport) and Pearson shared the wins,both also taking a second place finish. Privateers Matt Flowers and Booth each scored a podium.
Ginetta Challenge results – Rounds 3 & 4, Snetterton 300
Round 3
1 Sean Huyton, Academy Motorsport, G40, 9 laps, 20:09.989
2 Ryan Ratcliffe, Piranha Motorsport, G40, +9.944
3 Ben Anderson, HHC Motorsport, G40, +13.066
4 Mike Robinson, TCR, G40, +15.043
5 Graham Johnson, Colards Motorsport, G40, +21.963
6 Thiago Calvet, Optimum Motorsport, G40, +30.139
7 Mark Davies, Optimum Motorsport, G40, +35.599
8 Gary Simms, Optimum Motorsport, G20, +37.008
9 Stuart Pearson, Driver, G20, +39.041
10 Lee Moulden, Track Cars, G40, +43.023
11 Lee Mowle, Optimum Motorsport, G40, +43.147
12 Clive Richards, Colards Motorsport, G40, +49.694
13 Matt Flowers, Driver, G20, +50.992
14 Harvey Booth, Driver, G20, +52.680
15 John Saunders, Track Cars, G40, +59.043
16 Paul Latimer, Track Cars, G40, +1:00.964
17 Tony Robinson, Colards Motorsport, G40, +1:03.477
18 James Owen, Driver, G20, +1:22.619
19 Craig McIlvar, M-Sport Racing, G20, +1:32.491
20 Richard Southgate, Driver, G20, +2:16.403
21 Vance Kearney, Track Cars, G40, +2:22.917
22 Kevin Begley, Track Cars, G40, +1 lap
Not classified
Paul Morgan, Driver, G20, 7 laps
Rick Parfitt, HHC Motorsport, G40, 6 laps
Tom Mallett, Driver, G20, 6 laps
Richard Sykes, HHC Motorsport, G40, 0 laps
Rory Bryant, Piranha Motorsport, G40, 0 laps
Round 4
1 Sean Huyton, Academy Motorsport, G40, 9 laps, 20:09.458
2 Ryan Ratcliffe, Piranha Motorsport, G40, +1.485
3 Clive Richards, Colards Motorsport, G40, +2.898
4 Graham Johnson, Colards Motorsport, G40, +3.114
5 Mark Davies, Optimum Motorsport, G40, +3.168
6 Mike Robinson, TCR, G40, +3.873
7 Stuart Pearson, Driver, G20, +14.396
8 Rick Parfitt, HHC Motorsport, G40, +14.501
9 Gary Simms, Optimum Motorsport, G20, +15.296
10 Harvey Booth, Driver, G20, +15.800
11 Rory Bryant, Piranha Motorsport, G40, +15.972
12 Matt Flowers, Driver, G20, +17.006
13 Lee Mowle, Optimum Motorsport, G40, +17.079
14 Richard Sykes, HHC Motorsport, G40, +17.159
15 Paul Morgan, Driver, G20, +17.355
16 Vance Kearney, Track Cars, G40, +17.660
17 Craig McIlvar, M-Sport Racing, G20, +18.379
18 Ben Anderson, HHC Motorsport, G40, +18.559
19 James Owen, Driver, G20, +19.584
20 Paul Latimer, Track Cars, G40, +19.592
21 John Saunders, Track Cars, G40, +20.397
22 Tony Robinson, Colards Motorsport, G40, +20.557
23 Kevin Begley, Track Cars, G40, +27.171
24 Thiago Calvet, Optimum Motorsport, G40, +35.682
Not classified
Lee Moulden, Track Cars, G40, 4 laps
Tom Mallett, Driver, G20, 0 laps
Richard Southgate, Driver, G20, 0 laps
Championship Standings (after 4 rounds)
G40 Challenge
1 Sean Huyton, 130pts
2 Clive Richards, 97
3 Mike Robinson, 92
4 Ryan Ratcliffe, 89
5 Mark Davies, 74
6 Graham Johnson, 59
7 Richard Sykes, 53
8 Lee Mowle, 44
9 Ben Anderson, 37
10 Lee Moulden, 34
G20 Challenge
1 Gary Simms, 138
2 Stuart Pearson, 112
3 Matt Flowers, 106
4 Harvey Booth, 96
5 Craig McIlvar, 70
Next round: 18-19 June, Brands Hatch
Watch Ginetta Challenge highlights from Snetterton on Saturday 28 May at 6:55pm (BST) on Motors TV.
Andy Wilkinson
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