Giddings hoping to sign off British GT season with flourish at Donington

British GT Championship racer Jake Giddings heads to Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, 10th/11th September, determined to try and end the campaign on a positive note after a frustrating season beset by mechanical troubles and on-track dramas.

Going into the 2016 grand finale at the Leicestershire track, the 21-year-old from Wisbech hopes the No.47 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 car he shares with Kieran Griffin will have a fault-free run to give the JWB Motorsport duo an opportunity to break back into the Pro-Am championship top six.

As a result of a whole catalogue of unfortunate troubles throughout the season, the team-mates are still seeking their first silverware of the year even though, on several occasions, Jake has delivered pace a match for the podium – and more besides.

At Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit back in June, the Irish TV, Finesse Paving and Civil Engineering, Cowley Road Garage and Toppesfield-supported driver starred with a new GT4 lap record which also earned him the Sunoco Fastest Lap of the Weekend Award.

During the subsequent event, at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Jake lapped with top three GT4 pace in race conditions and last time out at his home track, Snetterton 300 Circuit, he again showed a good turn of pace with top four times.

Frustratingly though, a variety of technical gremlins and mechanical issues have had a bigger say in the outcome of races in 2016, ultimately meaning the former British GT4 Champion and his JWB team-mate have missed out on much bigger points hauls.

“It’s true we haven’t had the best season, or the most straightforward either”, said the Aston Martin driver, “It’s been quite a frustrating year with one thing and another, but we have been able to show flashes of our true pace at times.

“For Donington we obviously want to try and end the championship with our best result of the year, if we have no issues with the car then I can’t see any reason why that shouldn’t be possible. Kieran has been making some big improvements recently, he’s definitely upped his pace, so as long as we don’t have any dramas I’m confident we can challenge for a decent result to give everyone a boost.”

Ahead of round nine of the British GT Championship season, Jake and Kieran have three outright GT4 points finishes to their credit with a best of seventh place at Rockingham in the second race of the campaign. In the Pro-Am standings in GT4 the duo holds seventh place, just 8.5 points outside the coveted top six, and with a slim outside chance of challenging for the top five.

Following two practice sessions at Donington Park on Saturday, 10th September, qualifying for the GT4 competitors will get underway around 16.30. On Sunday, 11th September, the eagerly awaited final day of the season will start with warm-up at 09.35 followed by the big race - which will be screened live on Motors TV - beginning at 13.00.

2016 British GT Championship GT4 Driver Standings (after Rd8):
17th Jake Giddings & Kieran Griffin, 14pts

2016 British GT Championship GT4 Pro-Am Driver Standings (after Rd8):
7th Jake Giddings & Kieran Griffin, 63.5pts

2016 British GT Championship GT4 Team Standings (after Rd8):
12th JWB Motorsport, 14pts

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