How the GT Cup is thriving despite the pandemic

International sportscar racing aces Darren Turner, Oliver Webb, Adam Carroll and Jon Lancaster are among the drivers. Four Lamborghini Huracan GT3s are due to take part in the season opener, plus a further three Super Trofeo machines. Then there are seven GT4 McLarens, and GT3 cars from McLaren, Nissan and Mercedes. No, this is not a top-level European or even worldwide GT series being discussed, but instead the entry list for this weekend’s first round of the GT Cup at Donington Park.

It’s quite a remarkable collection of cars and drivers that makes up the 38-strong field set to do battle in Leicestershire. And it gets better – for the Brands Hatch Grand Prix round in May, a capacity 46 entries have been received, and there are eight reserves! Considering we are still in the middle of a pandemic, with wide-ranging economic implications, and these are hardly the cheapest cars you can go racing in, it makes the achievement all the more impressive. The COVID-19 restrictions may well have played a small part in the strong entry, as competing in Europe is now not an option for many, but the success the GT Cup is enjoying in 2021 is down to a number of key factors.