British GT Snetterton: Weekend Paddock Notes

The Norfolk-based Snetterton circuit has been bathed in sunshine, with blue skies and soaring track temperatures defining the build-up to race day.

The intense sprint format of today’s races means that drivers will be racing flat-out whilst maintaining consistent tyre degradation on their new Pirelli DHG slicks throughout each stint.

Thanks to the current heatwave, track temperatures so far climbed into the high 30s (degrees Celsius), with humidity exceeding 60%.

Drivers and teams faced dry yet demanding hot conditions during Friday’s paid test and again on Saturday with free practice, pre-qualifying, and qualifying.

Fortunately, Sunday’s forecast suggests cooler conditions to start, with ambient temperatures in the low 20s rising steadily through the day.

This could impact strategy, particularly with Round 6 (Race 1) beginning at 10:50 and Round 7 (Race 2) at 15:50, when the track will be more rubbered-in following support series action.

The support package includes the GB4 Championship, as well as both the Ginetta GT and Ginetta Junior Championships.

Hot conditions were also a factor at Spa-Francorchamps, but this weekend’s heat is even more intense.

Petrobelli on joining the 2025 GT3 title fight for Blackthorn

Blackthorn elevated itself into GT3 title contention after its breakthrough win in the three-hour Spa enduro.

It marked a significant turnaround from their troubled season opener at Donington, where they were caught in a multi-class incident involving Mahiki Racing’s #88 Lotus Emira GT4.

Giacomo Petrobelli delivered a commanding opening stint at Spa in the #7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo.

The result puts the #7 pairing on 87 points – just two behind 2 Seas Motorsport’s #42 Mercedes-AMG (Charles Dawson/Kiern Jewiss), and one point ahead of the #77 Optimum McLaren (Morgan Tillbrook/Marvin Kirchhöfer).

Speaking to DSC, Petrobelli reflected on Blackthorn’s growth.

“I think I’m really proud of what the team has done over the year,” he said. “If you look back at last year, the progress we’ve made is huge. Of course, now we’re in the thick of it, and we want to do as well as we can. I think we have a car that can be good at any track.

“It’s no longer just a sort of ‘Spa special’. We’ve got a car that’s competitive everywhere – we’ve just got to put it all together.”

On Friday, Petrobelli reportedly had a minor off in the #7 Aston, prompting Blackthorn to use parts from their spare car.

After starting on the front row, the #7 crew will serve a 10-second pit stop compensation penalty in Race 1.

“Clearly, we’ve got a 10-second penalty in Race 1, which doesn’t help,” he noted. “At Spa, we had a margin – here, we don’t, so it’ll be interesting. “I think we’ll be close – certainly with the Lamborghinis, and probably with one or two other McLarens as well.”

Mahiki explains mid-season switch from Lotus to Ginetta

Mahiki Racing made headlines at Spa by switching manufacturers, from Lotus to Ginetta, receiving their new G56 GT4 Evos just one day before the event began.

Garage manager Chris Emery explained the decision.

“Obviously, we struggled being a new team with a brand-new car,” he told DSC. “We didn’t necessarily struggle, but it definitely became a challenge.

“Going into year two, we thought it would be easier, having learned the car. But the platform hadn’t moved forward from where we left off. So we just got to a point where we had to make a change – for the team and for the drivers.”

Ginetta stepped in immediately.

“We had the conversation on a Tuesday. They stopped the production line the following Monday and got three cars into production. I went up that Monday just to see what was going on – five guys were crawling over each car. Ever since then, they’ve been very proactive.

“With every race car, there are always bits and pieces you need to replace, and Ginetta’s response has been great.”

Angliss on his promotion to a full-season seat at Mahiki

Mahiki announced Blake Angliss as their reserve driver at the beginning of the season before he stepped in when the team fielded Ginetta machinery at Spa-Francorchamps.

He told DSC about his brewing excitement in his maiden British GT sprint race meeting and taking on more of a role in the sprint qualifying format.

“As an individual, it’s good to finally showcase what I can do,” he said, having qualified sixth out of eight GT4s for Race 2.

“Obviously Steven’s [Lake] an Am – he’s not a bad Am – but it’s just nice to [say] this is what I can do and this is what I bring to the table, showcase myself a little bit.

“I want Steve and me to do well, in the same car. If I’m there or thereabouts and can bring him up [in the races], then happy days.”

Stay tuned to DSC’s British GT coverage in the coming weeks for a full interview with Angliss.

Cavers returns to British GT

Carl Cavers returns to British GT with Optimum Motorsport, partnering Callum Macleod in the #3 McLaren GT3 Evo.

Mark Price is expected to return for the 2-hour Brands Hatch race in five weeks.

Last year, Cavers drove for Century Motorsport in their BMW M4 GT3 Evo after having stepped up from piloting the BMW M4 GT4 car in 2023.

“It’s great to be back in British GT,” he told DSC. “I’ve missed endurance racing, and when the opportunity came up, I jumped at it.”

Cavers has also raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship this year and is adapting to the McLaren machinery.

“I’ve been racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup, which is rear-engined, so the McLaren is still very different.

“But you get used to adapting to different cars – it’s just a matter of how long it takes.

“I could probably do with another day or so in the car – but to be fair, everyone would say the same. We’re not far off the pace. With a bit more seat time, we should be okay,” he said before the 60-minute pre-qualifying session.

Cavers qualified last in the GT3 field for the opening race, unsurprisingly given the high level of regular British GT competition.

Nevertheless, he looks to enjoy his time during today’s pair of races.

GT3 Silver-Am title battle heats up

Bridger Motorsport and Beechdean Motorsport are duelling for the GT3 Silver-Am title as the only competitors in the sub-category.

These two teams are at the opposing ends of British GT experience level, yet the fight has been fierce between the two outfits.

Bridger’s #86 Honda NSX GT3 Evo2 and their drivers Jay Bridger and Jonny Ip lead by 17.5 points over the #97 Beechdean Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo in the GT3 Silver-Am standings.

Beechdean scored their best season finish at Spa; however, Snetterton’s prominent Bentley and Senna Straights could favour the Honda’s straightline speed.

For Race 1, Ip starts the #86 Honda four grid positions (in the combined GT3 order) ahead of Beechdean’s Andrew Howard, who recently spoke to DSC about Beechdean’s ongoing campaign.

On the other hand, for Race 2, Tom Wood starts the #97 Beechdean Aston Martin two places ahead of the #86 Honda of Jay Bridger, so all is to play for on race day.

“In Race 1, I think Johnny needs to try and get as big a gap as possible for me, and he’ll do that,” explained Bridger. “He’s a very good Am, so I’m pretty confident he’ll be very racy in the first stint.

“My job will be to try and get the pit stops right. Hopefully, I can come out in front of the other Silver (Beechdean), and then it’s just going to be a case of trying to maintain that position, which will be challenging.

“But with our straight-line speed, if I keep it tidy, hopefully we can beat them. […] I’ll just basically try and keep as close as I can to the pack [in Race 2].

“And then when we swap over, hopefully Johnny will make some progress against the other Ams.”

Müller tops morning warm-up for Team Parker

Porsche contracted driver Sven Müller topped the 15-minute warm-up session for Team Parker Racing’s #66 after he set a 1:47.532 lap time.

Hugo Cook was the second-fastest in the #1 Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 with his 1:47.688 time, followed by Cavers’ #3 Optimum Motorsport McLaren in third with a 1:48.442.

Four-time British GT champion Adam was fourth in the #7 Blackthorn Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo with a 1:48.801, and Tillbrook rounded out the top five for the #77 Optimum Motorsport McLaren.

In GT4, the #30 Team Parker Mercedes-AMG driver Phil Keen completed a 1:56.596 ahead of Charlie Robertson’s #71 Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 Evo, who set a 1:56.646.

Brown finished third in the #90 Optimum McLaren (Artura) with a 1:57.156, followed by fourth-placed Harry George in the #17 Optimum McLaren.

Josh Miller rounded out the top five for the #84 Mahiki Racing Ginetta, after his lap time of 1:58.503.

Video Preview

Robert Ladbrook previews the second of two British GT sprint race meetings this season at Snetterton.