Adam Smalley took his third win of the season at Thruxton and a 4th in Race 1 in another strong showing in the Ginetta GT5 Challenge.

Smalley headed to Thruxton for Round 2 of the 2019 Ginetta GT5 Challenge and the fastest circuit on the calendar.

Qualifying saw Smalley put in the 4th fastest time overall, but was penalised for track limits, meaning he would start 8th in Race 1 and 4th in Race 2.

The opening race of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon and proved to be a thrilling encounter. Ruben Del Sarte rose from fourth on the grid to lead at the end of the opening lap, while Geri Nicosia went from seventh to second.

Nicosia moved to the top next time around and was soon heading a superb five car battle for the lead. Del Sarte, Malin, Smalley and Scott McKenna were in hot pursuit, the latter fighting through from tenth on the grid.

Changing positions between themselves almost every lap, Del Sarte regained the advantage at one stage but it was Nicosia who came through to take his third win in the last five GT5 Challenge races at Thruxton, while McKenna and Del Sarte went on to complete the podium.

Reigning Ginetta Junior champion Smalley finished a strong 4th at the chequered flag, gaining four positions over the course of the hectic race.

Race two took place on Sunday afternoon in front of a bumper crowd in Hampshire and the live ITV4 television cameras, with a stunning start from Malin seeing him rise from third on the grid to take the lead into Campbell corner on the opening lap.

Smalley ended the lap in front ahead of Nicosia and Mutch and pushed hard to remain infront despite the enormous pressure for behind and the slipstream effect working against him in the lead.

While Smalley remained out front, it was far from easy for him as his closest pursuers made numerous challenges to try and dethrone him.

A brilliant drive ensured that Smalley could fend them off to take the third win of his debut GT5 Challenge season so far, twelve months on from enjoying a win in the Juniors at Thruxton.

Smalley will next be in action at Silverstone on the 8-9 June, ran alongside the British GT Championship.