A RUNCORN team is best in class in the UK’s premier sports car series after three races of the season.

ABG Motorsport’s KTM X-Bow finished first in the GT4 category in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship’s second round at Snetterton on Sunday.

But driver pair Peter Belshaw and Marcus Clutton did not make things easy.

The former had moved to the head of the class in the opening stint of a two-hours race only to stay out on track too long before handing over to teammate Clutton for a mandatory pit stop.

It cost the pair a 71-seconds time penalty.

“We need to recalibrate our watches,” quipped Belshaw afterwards.

“It made the race quite exciting though.”

Rejoining behind the Lotus Evora of Freddy Nordstrom, Clutton gradually reeled in his rival before recapturing the class lead in the contest’s closing stages.

The X-Bow was ninth overall too.

Belshaw added: “We never gave up hope of catching the Lotus despite the time penalty.

“Marcus did a sterling job and pulled him back in, so everything ended up in our favour.”

ABG’s second class win of the term – the first came at home circuit Oulton Park at Easter – leaves Belshaw and Clutton at the standings’ summit.

Nordstrom brought the Lotus home second in the category, while Jack Drinkall (Lotus Evora) finished third.

The sister KTM of Greek driver Athanasios Ladas and Michael Mallock, also prepared by ABG, took fourth in class.

The series resumes for round four at Brands Hatch next month.