Nantwich racing driver Jordan Witt produced one of the very best drives of his career to win his maiden British GT Championship Silver Cup victory and first ever outright podium in the series.
Witt produced an incredible performance in the drying fourth round of the Intelligent Money British GT Championship season at Donington Park yesterday (August 16).
Following a fantastic opening to the race from 2 Seas Motorsport team-mate Jack Mitchell, Witt was unstoppable in his No.10 McLaren 720S to seal the class win.
It marked a triple celebration for the duo having earlier raced to a top three Silver Cup finish in an even more dramatic two-hour encounter.
Witt started round three from the pitlane, due to an issue fitting the anti-roll bar to the car, and on a very slippery track he made terrific progress.
Witt handed over the car to Mitchell mid-race from ninth position – having just set the fastest race lap at that point – and the latter then raced strongly to ultimately finish the contest in seventh overall and third in Silver.
“It’s absolutely mega to have taken our first Silver Cup win, and my first ever outright podium in British GT,” said an elated Witt.
“I’ve got to say a massive thank you to the 2 Seas Motorsport guys, my team-mate Jack [Mitchell] and my sponsors Vibe Audio and Yelir World.
“The team gave us a great car again, I think this weekend has made us realise how fast a pairing we are.
“I honestly didn’t think that result was on in race two, I was just concentrating on the class podium as we were a minute behind the overall podium at the start of my stint.
“When I got into P3 overall the team didn’t want to tell me, as they knew I’d probably push harder to go for second!
“In race one I just pushed a bit too hard at times, but when I reined it in I was fast. It’s been a fantastic weekend.”
World Copyright: Nick Dungan / Beadyeye
Earlier rain left Donington’s 2.49-mile GP Circuit very wet ahead of the opening race on Sunday.
When racing proper got underway on the third tour Witt was 20th overall from his pitlane start, but in the space of just two laps he had climbed into 11th.
Lapping impressively, the Cheshire driver was two seconds per lap quicker than the Ferrari of Duncan Cameron and duly passed him on lap nine.
On lap 35, Witt set the fastest lap – 1m 41.501 seconds – and then pitted to hand over the McLaren to Mitchell with around 55 minutes to go.
Round four started with Mitchell seventh on the grid and third in Silver.
With track conditions having improved, tyre choice was a gamble but the 2 Seas Motorsport entry still opted for wets for the opening stint.
Making an electric start, Mitchell surged into the top four and then took third at Craner Curves.
Not finished there, he then sliced his way into second at the Old Hairpin and on lap two out of Hollywood he passed the slick-shod Bentley of Scott Malvern for the outright race lead.
Witt joined the race with around 35 minutes to go, with slick Pirellis bolted on, and held ninth and second in Silver.
On lap 21, the flying Witt caught and passed to move into first place and fifth overall.
He was the quickest of the top five runners and lapping very impressively.
On lap 34, Witt regained the class lead and also took third overall when the No.36 car of Stewart Proctor slipped back.
World Copyright: Nick Dungan / Beadyeye
Witt was able to keep Proctor Jnr at arm’s length during the last few laps and he duly took his richly deserved first overall podium in British GT with third place as well, of course, as Silver Cup victory. At the flag, he was just 1.9 seconds shy of second overall.
The fifth round of the British GT season takes place at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit in Kent, August 29-30.
2020 British GT Championship ‘Silver Cup’ Driver Standings
3rd Jordan Witt/Jack Mitchell, 70.5pts
2020 British GT Championship GT3 Driver Standings
8th Jordan Witt/Jack Mitchell, 36pts
(Copyright free images courtesy Patrick Gosling/Beadyeye – top image: Jordan Witt (left) and Jack Mitchell on the ‘socially distanced’ podium)
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