The Avon Tyres British GT Championship returns this weekend and it takes to the iconic track of Spa-Francorchamps.

Wrotham based Oman Racing Team will be on track and hoping to finish on the podium at the world famous circuit.

With two wins from the opening four races, Oman Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 drivers Ahmad Al Harthy and Michael Caine currently lie joint fourth in the championship standings, a mere half a point off third place, and are determined to bounce back with a strong performance after a disappointing weekend last time out at Snetterton. The fast and flowing Belgian track should suit both the Aston Martin Vantage V12 and the drivers well.

Meanwhile, the #5 Vantage will once again be handled by Rory Butcher and former BTCC racer Jeff Smith following their successful first weekend racing together at Snetterton last month. The pairing showed encouraging pace last time out and both are aiming for a points scoring finish during the championship’s only overseas visit.

The Motorbase Performance-run squad heads to the iconic track in buoyant mood after completing a successful test session there last week ahead of both the British GT weekend and the Spa 24-hour race at the end of July. Spa, which sits in the Ardennes Mountains, is revered as one of the top three race tracks in the world and offers drivers a fantastic three-dimensional challenge. However, the area is also noted for fickle weather, with conditions prone to sudden changes and rain is often a threat.

Competition will be tough as the British GT Championship heads to the longest track on the schedule with potentially the biggest grid of the season, with almost 40 cars expected to gather in Belgium.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Michael Caine said: “Spa is the best circuit we race on, and one that should be well suited to our car. Snetterton wasn’t an Aston Martin track, but Spa is much faster and similar in some ways to Silverstone, where we were strong all weekend. I don’t see any reason why we can’t go there and be challenging for the podium.”

After qualifying at 15.50 on Friday, both 60-minute races run on Saturday (12 July), starting at 09.15 and 13.50. General circuit admission is free of charge. The action will be covered in an edited highlights programme on Channel 4 scheduled to be shown at 7am (GMT) on Sunday 20^th July.

Pictures supplied by Jakob Ebrey.