Breakell Racing enjoyed their best weekend in Ginetta competition so far at Brands Hatch this past weekend (26/27 June), leading a race in the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup for the first time as Reece Somerfield stormed to a hat-trick of top six finishes. Making great progress in their first season of Ginetta racing, the Lancashire team saw Somerfield’s impressive performances in the GT4 SuperCup supplemented by another strong showing from rookie Aqil Alibhai in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship. A tough qualifying session put Somerfield 14th on the grid for the first race on Saturday, however he didn’t stay there for long. Gaining three places on the first lap alone, he then sensationally went from 11th to sixth in one lap of the short 1.2 mile Brands Hatch Indy circuit. Somerfield went on to hold the position for the remainder of the race, before gaining more ground in the second outing. Shooting up to fourth on the first lap, he slipped back a place soon after before fighting back to fourth in the closing laps for his best result of the season so far. That result secured Somerfield a front-row start for the reverse grid race three in his Ginetta G55, and a typically rocket start moved him into the race lead. Unfortunately damage caused by contact from a rival hampered his podium chances though, though a determined drive netted him sixth at the finish. For Alibhai meanwhile, the weekend provided another opportunity to make some progress in his debut season in the ultra-competitive Ginetta Juniors. The South African talent started the weekend in style with a best qualifying performance so far of 19th overall and 10th of the rookies. Alibhai’s challenge in race one was hampered by an early pitstop following contact from another competitor, however he fought back well in race two to narrowly miss out on a points finish in 21st place. A strong run in race three saw him battling for the points again before he was unfortunately caught up in a freak multi-car incident caused by fluid dropped on circuit by another car. James Breakell – Team Principal: “Leading a race in only our second weekend in the Ginetta GT4 SuperCup is a fantastic feeling. Reece has a great record around the Indy circuit and he bounced back from a tricky qualifying session to absolutely star in the races. “His race one charge was a joy to behold, and it put him right into the mix for the reverse grid draw in race two. To start on the front row was a great platform and he gave it everything, but sadly the damage sustained early on cost him. It takes nothing away from a great weekend though. “As the shortest circuit on the calendar, Brands Hatch Indy produces incredibly close racing in the Juniors and Aqil did a great job in some action-packed races. Luck was against him at points sadly, but it was another good learning weekend and he made some positive steps forward with his pace.” Breakell Racing were due to be competing in three Ginetta championships over the weekend. A planned entry into the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge at Silverstone with Morten Dons was scuppered though by new travel restrictions from the driver’s home country of Denmark. The team are aiming to be back on the GT5 Challenge grid in two weeks’ time at Donington Park (10/11 July), while after a mini break, the GT4 SuperCup and Juniors return to action at Oulton Park over the weekend of 31 July/1 August.
Image from Jakob Ebrey Photography.