Breakthrough Victory for Harry George at Brands Hatch
The penultimate round of the 2025 British GT GT4 Championship saw Harry George and his partner Luca Hopkinson arrive at iconic Brands Hatch GP Circuit in search of their first overall GT4 win of the season. Without Thursday and Friday testing, the duo and the Optimum Motorsport team went straight into the weekend but delivered a weekend to remember. Ending the weekend at the top of the podium.
Saturday – Finding Pace in a Hurry
Since there was no running early in the week, Saturday's free practice was the initial opportunity to find rhythm. The duo turned a reduced 14-lap programme, reserving tyres for later, but still turned in a 1:32.251. The pre-qualifying session brought still more improvement with a 1:31.984, though both drivers recognized that more pace remained in the car.
Qualifying followed the combined time practice, and Luca was first out. He drove a solid lap of 1:31.042 that would place him P2 in his group. Harry was next out and had a strong 1:30.934 to place him P6 in class. Combined, the two's lap times averaged out at a 3:01.976 that placed them P2 on the overall starting grid and on the front row for Sunday's two-hour feature race.
Sunday – From the Front Row to the Top Step
Harry set the pace for the race and was not afraid to make a move. With a daring lunge around the outside into Druids, he moved into the lead on the opening lap. There was a safety car out immediately due to other cars coming together, and just before the line, Harry was moved back to P2 for the restart.
Undeterred, he stuck to the race leader, consistently posting fast laps and relentless pressure. The turning point arrived just a few laps later when the front-running vehicle encountered a mechanical issue, pushing Harry into P1. From there, he extended the gap with strong pace, building a comfortable margin before handing the car over to Luca.
Luca took it steady in the second stint, getting it exactly right and bringing the car home across the line for historic first overall GT4 victory for both the driver’s.
A Well-Earned Breakthrough
The victory at Brands Hatch marked Harry and Luca’s first overall GT4 win, the result of hard work and persistence in British GT. Having spent multiple seasons learning, developing, and pushing themselves forward, the pair finally stood on the top step. Proof that their commitment and determination have paid off.
With the final round of the season just ahead, this breakthrough win has given Harry, Luca, and the Optimum Motorsport team not only the reward they’ve been chasing but also the confidence to keep pushing for even greater success.
Image Credit: Xynamic
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