2022 British GT season comes to a close at Donington Park

The 2022 British GT Championship came to an end at Donington Park last weekend, and with a double entry for Academy Motorsport it was a set to be a strong end to the season.

Matthew Cowley and Marco Signoretti returned to complete the season, sharing the team’s No.61 For Mustang. Together the pair have enjoyed a strong season, claiming victory at Donington Park earlier in the season. For the final round, Academy Motorsport stalwart, Will Moore made his return to the team for the first time this season, joined by American driver Erik Evans in the team’s second Ford Mustang.

With qualifying complete, both cars had some work to do on Sunday afternoon. However, after starting in eighth and ninth places, respectively, there was plenty of time in the two-hour race to make amends.

Signoretti and Evans each took the start in their respective machines. Still learning the circuit and the car, Evans drove superbly to hold a strong position in the opening laps, in somewhat slippery conditions. Although it was a dry race, the autumnal sun had yet to make its mark on the circuit as we approached the race start.

With memories of victory earlier in the season here at Donington Park, Signoretti was keen to repeat this victorious performance. After climbing as high as second place within the first half an hour he was forced to pit with a broken track rod. A quick fix by the team and he was back on track, however somewhat further back.

Despite issues for Cowley and Signoretti, it was a respectable seventh place finish for Moore and Evans. Commenting on the final round of the season, Managing Director, Matt Nicoll-Jones said: “It’s been great to see both cars out racing at Donington Park. It’s a shame Matt and Marco suffered some bad luck, as they were looking strong for a good result, which is frustrating. Will and Erik did a superb job. Will hasn’t been in the car all year, and to say this was Erik’s first race in the Ford Mustang, on a new (to him) circuit, I was very impressed.

“Now the season has come to a close we are looking ahead to and working on 2023.”