As the 2015 Ginetta GT4 Supercup comes to a dramatic climax in Brands Hatch this weekend, Century Motorsport is set to enter a landmark entry of six cars to strengthen its bid to win both the drivers’ and teams’ championship.
With Tom Oliphant extending his commanding lead in the driver’s standings in Silverstone, he is an all but sure bet to become the 2015 Champion, however the teams’ championship table is not so strong, with Century leading by a slender 17 points going into the final three rounds.
First to join Tom, Ollie Jackson and Osamu Kawashima in Brands Hatch is Century stalwart Steve Fresle. Having completed his first full championship season racing in GT Cup, where his season highlights included victories at Rockingham and Donington Park last time out, Steve returns to Brands Hatch 12 months after making his successful Ginetta GT4 Supercup AM class debut. Hoping to end his season on a high, Fresle praised the support of his team throughout 2015.
Joining Steve is GT Cup teammate Ruben Anakhasyan. The Russian driver graduated from racing a Lotus to GT Cup in a Century Motorsport run Ginetta G55 this season, with a season best result of third place in the sprint race at Snetterton. Looking ahead to 2016, the Russian driver has sighted graduation to the Ginetta GT4 Supercup as a possible option for next season.
The final joinee to the six-car line up is 2015 National Formula Ford 1600 Pre-90 Champion Matthew Cowley. Having enjoyed a strong season in the competitive single seater series, 17-year-old Cowley is also reviewing his options for 2016. The Manchester driver who celebrates his 18th birthday on Sunday, will be looking to make a strong impression in the competitive GT series, despite being some what thrown in at the deep end as the championship boasts its largest grid of the season.
Steve Fresle – #36:
“We had a lot of fun in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup last year, but the gulf in class between the Pro’s & AM’s in the last race of the weekend was immense, and it will be good to see if we can get any closer this time. The last weekend of TOCA is always a fantastic event and hopefully it will be even better this year when we can be on track with Tom & Osamu for three clean rounds and a championship for both and Century, where else would you want to be this weekend?”
“A big thank you to Nathan who has been giving me tough love all season, Tim for quietly tweaking the car, Ant, Tom, Chelsea & Chips who have kept the car on track and the rest of the guys at Century who have straightened, repaired and prepped a great car all season in GT Cup. Of course a big thank you to Buckler Environmental, Mica Projects, and Bridge Controls who help get me onto the black stuff.”
Ruben Anakhasyan – #88:
“I’m really looking forward to taking part in the final round at Brands Hatch. My 2015 GT Cup season has had some ups and downs, with my best result being 3rd place in the sprint race. Considering it’s my first season in the Ginetta and I missed the first three meetings, I think we made some progress. I’m considering my options for 2016, and GT4 Supercup is definitely one of the most attractive ones. It’s one of the reasons we decided to join for the final meeting.”
Matthew Cowley – #17:
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge of driving the G55 after a good year in the Formula Ford. I’m sure with the background and knowledge at Century Motorsport, they will help me in settling in and being comfortable with my first outing in a GT car.”
Nathan Freke – Team Principal, Century Motorsport:
“I’ve known about this extended line up for quite a while now and it’s something I’m really excited about. It’s been a really good year for us in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup, leading the drivers’ championship from early on and helping both Ollie and Osamu to come on leaps and bounds as the season has unfolded. I don’t think anyone has ever run this amount of cars within the same series in the paddock, so it’s an achievement I’m very proud we can take on. Steve and Ruben have enjoyed some good results in GT Cup this season, while Matthew has shown he’s one to watch from his performances in Formula Ford 1600. Hopefully they can all have a good weekend and help us to seal both the drivers’ and teams’ championships this weekend!”