Donington Park Hosts Penultimate GT Cup Showdown

After what feels like an incredibly long summer break, the GT Cup returns to the track this weekend. Donington Park hosts the sixth weekend of the 2022 GT Cup season where fans will be treated to four action-packed races on the Grand Prix circuit.

Eleven cars will line up on the Group GT3 grid as invitational entry Cook Motorsport boosts the group’s numbers. Currently leading the standings (and leading the overall title fight) is the pairing of Simon Orange and Michael O’Brien in their McLaren 720S GT3. They’ll be facing some tough competition from the likes of RAM Racing and Tecserve, all in Mercedes AMG GT3s. Paddock Motorsport, Greystone GT and Enduro Motorsport are also flying the McLaren flag making it five 720S GT3s lining up on the grid. Greystone GT’s Richard Mason and JOn Lancaster are changing things up a bit this weekend returning after a break from racing, swapping their usual 720S GT3 for a Lamborghini Huracan GT3.

Group GTC also has a rather Lamborghini flavour to it with three of them making up the bulk of the group. Lucky Khera and pro partner David Macdonald are still sitting pretty at the top of the standings (with a hand on the overall title trophy too.) Topcats Racing with HEX.com are only fielding one Lamborghini this weekend with Jensen Lunn and Charlotte Gilbert joining forces for the first time. Team Webb makes up the third Huracan entry with Century Motorsport’s Ginetta G56 spicing up the grid a little.

Group GTH sees ten entries this weekend with machinery from McLaren, Mercedes and Porsche. Leading the group standings is Valluga Racing’s James Wallis and Sam Maher-Loughnan so be sure to watch for their red, white and blue Cayman at the sharp end of the field. Paddock Motorsport is again running two McLaren 570S GT4s but with some fresh faces in their line-up – the #25 this weekend will be in the hands of newcomers Louis Smithen and Ollie Hall.

Several invitational entries this weekend bring Groups GTB and GTA back onto the grid this weekend. GT Cup regulars Saxon Motorsport and Whitebridge Motorsport will both be running BMWs in Group GTB, with a 24-7 Motorsport’s Audi R8 LMS finishing the grid. Group GTA sees a pair of Ginettas joining the field from JMH Automotive and Topcats Racing with HEX.com.

Bear in mind, change is coming to the points tables as the championship nears its final rounds. To be eligible for the championship title, cars must have competed in five of the seven weekends. The GT Cup may not have dropped scores, but for successfully starting, the final eight races, an additional 20 bonus points are up for grabs. Keep those spreadsheets handy! Four races will be contested at Donington Park, with drivers claiming points for not only the Overall and Group titles, but also the Sprint and Sporting challenges.