Xentek Motorsport returned to the top step of the Ginetta GT Championship podium with a race victory for Luke Garlick during the annual G Fest event at Anglesey (29-30 June).
The South Yorkshire team made their first ever trip to the picturesque coastal circuit of Anglesey International Circuit in North Wales with a three-strong GT Championship entry once again; siblings Luke and Conner Garlick joined by Callum Noble for his second outing of the season.
Two days of pre-event testing allowed the trio to get up to speed around the 2.1-mile circuit, before they were greeted by persistent rain for the first day of race action. After a subdued qualifying session, a strong opening race saw Conner just edge out Luke for a PRO class podium finish.
The second race was full of promise for the brothers but ended in double disappointment, with both suffering misfortune whilst running in the podium places. Noble had something to smile about though, taking the chequered flag third in the AM class for his maiden Ginetta podium.
Luke bounced back from his race two frustration by qualifying second fastest on a dry circuit on Sunday morning. From there, he mounted a challenge for the race win on-the-road before a post-race penalty for the driver ahead ensured he was awarded his second victory of the season so far.
Conner made it a memorable one-two result for the team, taking his podium tally for the season to seven, while Luke notched his ninth of the campaign with second in the final race of the weekend. Noble meanwhile added a brilliant trio of fourth place class results to his podium.
Alongside their GT Championship exploits, the team also returned to the GT Academy grid as Phil McGarty made his second appearance of the season. Getting back in the groove during pre-event testing, he qualified sixth fastest in the GTA class.
The long-time Ginetta racer went on to record four strong race finishes in the mixed weather conditions, improving his pace each race and scoring a best result of fifth in class in both Sunday races.
Sarah-Jayne McKenna – Team Manager: “It was an up and down weekend, but there were certainly some highlights to celebrate across the event. Anglesey was a new challenge for us and all of our drivers adapted well to racing here in a Ginetta for the first time.
“Luke kept battling after a tough Saturday and its fantastic to see him get another race win under his belt. Conner deserved his two podiums and arguably had the pace for more, while we were absolutely over the moon to see Callum’s progress in the G56 rewarded with his first trophy.
“It was great to welcome Phil back in the GT Academy and he made great progress across the event. We’re hoping to go racing with him again soon, while the whole team is excited to see what we can go and achieve next time out at Snetterton.”
The Ginetta GT Championship returns to the British GT Championship support package for its next race outing, with a trip to Snetterton in Norfolk in two weeks’ time (13-14 July). Prior to that, Xentek Motorsport return to British Endurance Championship action this Saturday at Oulton Park (06 July).
Images from Jakob Ebrey Photography.