Century Motorsport driver Charles Clark has praised the new SRO GT Academy initiative, which pits FIA Silver-graded drivers aged under 30 against each other for a chance to win a fully-funded drive at the 2027 Spa 24 Hours.
Clark joins Barwell’s Jarod Waberski and 2 Seas’s Aaron Walker as one of three candidates in the 2026 British GT Championship fighting for this coveted seat, and described the added motivation it has brought to Century Motorsport’s British GT GT3 class return.
Century came back with the #44 BMW M4 GT3 Evo shared between Clark and defending Porsche Carrera Cup GB Am Champion Jonathon Beeson in the GT3 Silver-Am category.
“I think if you ask any driver, an amateur or a professional, I think the Spa 24 is one of the best races in the world, alongside Le Mans,” Clark tells DSC, having entered the past two editions of the Spa 24. “It’s one of the most iconic tracks, and to drive around there at night is something really special.
“To have something to aim for this year, about getting a free drive for next year, is absolutely massive for someone with not a lot of budget; it really helps. So grateful for SRO to put attention towards Silver drivers. I think it’s great for the sport.
“We’re here to win a championship this year, and it (the Spa 24 seat) is just a bonus, but I am really enjoying working with JB. It’s his first year in GT3, so it would be nice to continue with him in the future as well, and do some more endurance races.
“If I’m being honest, when I’m out there and qualifying, I don’t really think about that aspect of things, but when you’re outside, I definitely think about it a lot.”
Century already made a great statement at the Silverstone 500 season opener, climbing from 12th on the grid to finish in second place overall.
After taking seventh and eighth overall at the Oulton Park sprint races, the #44 BMW duo are second in the outright GT3 standings behind Beechdean’s Andrew Howard and Ross Gunn.
Within their GT3 Silver-Am title battle, they narrowly trail Barwell Motorsport’s #78 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 pairing Waberski and Alex Martin by 2.5 points.
The 2027 Spa 24 Hours seat will put four drivers together as teammates in the Silver Cup class, each from one of SRO’s four global continental series: British GT, GT World Challenge America, Asia, and Australia.
Clark and the other candidates are being assessed using criteria beyond just their race results.
This evaluation includes factors such as the fastest qualifying and race times, their position in the order when the pit window opens in the 1-hour sprint races where the Silver driver starts, and the average time across each driver’s fastest 10 race laps.
Likewise, they will have points deducted for accidents and behaviour on and off the circuit, although a precise British GT SRO Academy points classification has yet to be outlined.
“From my previous [British GT] experience in GT4, finishing every race is the biggest thing,” he adds. “I know it sounds very obvious, so not a lot of contact and keeping clean and being clever and maximising those weekends where you’re maybe not the quickest car.
“Maximise the package you have and just focus on yourselves every weekend, focusing on how you can improve your car, not worrying about too many other people.
“We are here to win a championship, but we just have to enjoy it as we go along and take those points when we can.”
Speaking with DSC after the Oulton Park race meeting, Century Motorsport owner and team principal Nathan Freke admitted that the BMW struggled in qualifying at the narrow circuit venue, which made it difficult to overtake and show the M4 GT3 Evo’s full potential race form.
Century has had great success in the GT4 category with eight titles across Pro-Am, Silver and Teams, but its 2023 outright GT3 success stands out in its list of accomplishments.
Fighting for an outright title will be tricky but not impossible, as the team’s focus lies in the GT3 Silver-Am classification.
With his teammate Beeson, Clark will capitalise on his valuable BMW GT3 experience at Spa to ensure Century regains the GT3 Silver-Am championship lead against Barwell.
Images courtesy of British GT/JEP
