RACING EXPOSURE :: Club level motorsport e-magazine

The 2011 grid for the Avon Tyres British GT Championship is expanding in all directions, not just in the field-leading GT3 category. The latest team to announce its participation in the GT Cup class is Swedish squad Magic Racing, which will field a Ginetta G50 in selected events.

Magic’s driver strength will be led by team principal Björn Gustavson, who will be joined at the Donington Park round of the championship by Ginetta G50 Champion and now BTCC racer Frank Wrathall. Magic plans also to race at the Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Spa and Silverstone meetings and there are plans that Björn’s brother, Anders Gustavson, will co-drive at these events. British GT race-winner Phil Quaife will be their driver coach.

“I am delighted to be racing in British GT this season,” said Björn. “After a year racing in various events in Sweden and the UK it’s great to be able to focus on the GTC class for 2011.”

Added team manager Jonny Westbrook: “British GT is the blue riband championship in the UK and that’s why we have chosen to run our Ginetta in the GTC class. While we may not have the outright pace of some our competitors, I believe we have the infrastructure in place for some strong results. We’re a young team and are definitely looking toward GT3 in the future. [Championship manager] Benjamin Franassovici has been a great help and I’m really pleased to have people of the calibre of Phil Quaife and Frank Wrathall on board.”

Frank Wrathall said: “It’s great to have been given this opportunity. I jumped at the chance to work with Björn and the Magic Racing team again. The car is great to drive and I’m looking forward to competing in British GT.”

Franassovici welcomes Team Magic: “With the influx of new and increasingly exotic machinery to GT championships across the globe, it’s easy to forget that the UK is home to some superb engineering talent. Chevron and Ginetta are two UK manufacturers that will be represented well in British GT this year, and the arrival of Team Magic further adds to the diverse and exciting line-up we have across all of the classes.”

The British GT season gets underway on Easter Monday at Oulton Park. The series is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and OAMPS.

Pic: Jakob Ebrey

Phil Burton and Adam Wilcox – podium finishers in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship in 2009 and ’10 – are to return to the series this year with their Predator CCTV Ferrari 430 Scuderia, the duo announced today.

Often a qualifying pacesetter last season, Wilcox hopes that the bad luck which sometimes affected their race results will be a thing of the past: “We have had some misfortune in British GT over the past year, but that said we were always up there and on the pace when it was all together. The Ferrari has been rebuilt over the winter and a few problems have been highlighted, so we are all confident we can be right at the front of the field yet again but this time come away with the results. We lost a couple of chances for victory last year due to minor problems; hopefully 2011 will be our year for some luck.”

A new squad will be preparing the Scuderia for Lichfield-domiciled Wilcox, 34, and his Cheshire-based co-driver Burton, Gerry Wainwright Motorsport taking over from Rowan Racing for 2011.

Burton and Wilcox are the latest in a long line of British GT competitors to announce their intentions to enliven the grid for 2011. The MTECH team plans a twin-Ferrari attack with race winners Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin driving one of the squad’s new 458s, while 2009 champions David and Godfrey Jones are set to debut the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 in the UK.

Other teams to have declared their intentions include reigning champions Trackspeed, which plans to have two Porsche 911 GT3Rs in the pack, and new team Scuderia Vittoria, planning to field a Ferrari 458 and an Ascari KZR1. United Autosports will field two Audi R8 LMS machines. Further exciting announcements about new cars, teams and marques are expected in the coming weeks.

“It is great to see Phil and Adam returning with the Scuderia,” Says championship manager Benjamin Franassovicci, “and I am sure that they will be a competitive force with the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, which I expect to be competitive this season even with the arrival of new machinery. I am very pleased also that entries in the GT3, GT3 Class B, GT4 and GT Cup classes are shaping up already and I am confident that we will have a minimum grid of 20.”

The first event on the British GT calendar is the 8 March media day at Silverstone and the following full-day test event. The championship is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and OAMPS.

Pic: Jakob Ebrey

A two-car squad of Lotus Evora GT4 cars is to be fielded in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship by a works-backed team, it was confirmed today. The machines will be entered under the Lotus Sport UK banner, and one of them will be raced by Porsche champion Ollie Jackson.

Motorsport group CM Consolidated, a recent investor in well-known paddock names such as Showtrax, Corbeau and Luke Harnesses, is behind the new team. Former BTCC and Le Mans racer Gary Ayles is to manage the squad.

CMC has signed a long-term agreement with Lotus Motorsport and will enjoy partner status with the Norfolk-based supercar manufacturer. In addition to the two-car assault on British GT, Lotus Sport UK hopes also to take part in some rounds of the FIA GT4 European Cup.

“We are extremely proud and excited to be working alongside Lotus Motorsport during an extraordinary period in its history,” said a CMC spokesman. “To be associated with such an iconic brand at this stage of its motorsport programme is just fantastic. We cannot wait to get our hands on the cars and to start testing.”

The team says that its driver line-up has yet to be finalised: “It will include the recently crowned Porsche Carrera Cup Pro Am 1 Champion Ollie Jackson. The pairings will feature the requisite combination of a quick professional alongside up and coming young talent or seasoned gentleman racers from around the world. Driver interest is high.”

The arrival of Lotus Sport UK on to the Avon Tyres British GT grid is welcomed by championship manager Benjamin Franassovicci: “This is great news for the series and particularly for the GT4 category – it marks a coming of age for the class, I believe, and I am sure that based on the current interest and the variety of cars looking at entering this season, that the racing will be very exciting.”

British GT, the opening round of which takes place at Oulton Park on Easter Monday (25 Apr) is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and OAMPS.

The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is set to welcome a new team to its ranks this season – one with plans to field a brace of GT3 cars, a Ferrari 458 GT3 and an Ascari, in the country’s leading sports car series.

Scuderia Vittoria has been formed by ex-BTCC racers Tom Ferrier and Danny Buxton and seasoned team manager Piers Masarati to contest not only British GT but also other forms of sports car and saloon racing, as well as the FIA GT3 European Championship. The Essex-based squad is currently preparing an Ascari KZR1 for its first tests and expects delivery of its Ferrari in March.

“The Ascari is currently in build at Ascari in Spain,” says Masarati, “and will be ready for testing in two weeks; we will be out at the Ascari circuit in Spain in mid-February and will be using this chassis to prepare all our drivers. The 458 will arrive from Ferrari in the first batch being sent to the UK, in March.

“We are targeting British and European GT3 – the programme will be led by our customers – and we hope to be able to name our driver line-up within a few weeks. We will be sharing Chad Racing’s entry in Europe and pooling our cars.

“Scuderia Vittoria will also be running a number of cars in the Renault Clio UK Cup, where we hope to make a good impression with Danny Buxton running the team, and we hope also to carry on racing Ginettas, for which programme we are actively seeking drivers.”

Masarati is a former class champion in British GT and since switching to team management has achieved success with single-seater and sports car teams. His new partners Ferrier and Buxton are both seasoned pros in many forms of racing – Ferrier was a race winner in British GT in 2010 with Chad Racing while Buxton has claimed Ford Fiesta and two Renault Clio championship titles.

British GT Championship manager Benjamin Franassovicci said: “We welcome Piers, Tom and Danny and their new team and look forward to their participation in 2011. It is certainly shaping up to look like a remarkably competitive and exciting season, and there will be announcements soon about the return of some exciting marques to the championship.”

Meanwhile, today (Thursday) at the Autosport International show at Birmingham’s NEC, the Avon Tyres British GT Championship gets into the swing of the new season with the launch of new championship branding and the appearance of several contenders scheduled to grace the grid in 2011.

On the Lotus Cars stand, the sports car manufacturer’s latest GT4 offering, the Evora, is featured in full Avon Tyres British GT livery, and visitors to the stand between now and the show’s close on Sunday (16 Jan) can take advantage of a fantastic offer on tickets for the British Formula 3 and British GT meeting at Rockingham in September.

They can pick up a special voucher – in the form of an attractive fridge magnet – which will get them 2-for-1 on Rockingham passes; they are also available from the BARC and Sunoco/Anglo American Oil Company stands.

In addition, the stand of British GT broadcaster Motors TV boasts one of the United Autosports team’s Audi R8 LMS machines, and there will be personal appearances at Autosport International by team drivers John Bintcliffe, Jay Palmer and Matt Bell.

British GT is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and OAMPS.

Pic: Jakob Ebrey

A works-supported Chevron GR8 is to compete in the 2011 Avon Tyres British GT Championship, the Cheshire-based sports car manufacturer confirmed yesterday (Thursday). The announcement came at the Autosport International show, where the latest specification of Chevron’s mid-engined 2-litre GR8 was unveiled.

The car will be driven by ex-BTCC racer and Le Mans driver Anthony Reid and talented youngster Jordan Witt, and will contest the championship’s GT Cup category. Reid – with co-driver Chris Hart – gave the Chevron a stunning British GT debut in October, the GR8 finishing seventh overall and a runaway class victor in the season-closing two-hour race.

Reid brings a wealth of experience and chassis development expertise to the project. The 54-year-old Scotsman won the Japanese Formula 3 Championship in 1992 and was British Touring Car Championship runner-up in ’98. Among his many sports car successes was third overall in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1990.

Twenty-year-old Witt, from Cheshire, enjoyed a remarkable first full season in motor racing in 2010, scoring four wins and five second-place finishes in the inaugural Chevron GR8 series, as well as winning the Class B championship title in the Sportmaxx Production Cup.

Chevron Racing Cars hopes that competitors in its own Chevron GR8 Challenge – which gains championship status in 2011 – will join the works-supported machine on the British GT grid. “Teams and drivers competing in the Chevron GR8 Challenge have the option of running in other championships, like British GT,” said managing director Helen Bashford-Malkie. “The GR8 is designed as a low-maintenance proposition, so in prospect is an entertaining season’s racing at comparatively modest cost.

“The Chevron was extremely competitive at Donington and will, I am sure, be snapping at the heels of the GT3 cars during 2011.”

Avon Tyres British GT Championship manager Benjamin Franassovicci added: “It is great to see the Chevron name back on the grid; I am sure the GR8 will be a popular option for many drivers looking for a cost-effective route into British GT.”

British GT is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and OAMPS.

Pic: Jakob Ebrey

Champion team Trackspeed is to return to the Avon Tyres British GT Championship next year to defend its titles, it can be confirmed today. The Surrey-based squad plans to field two Porsche 911 GT3Rs in the series and will, says team manager Ricki Martino, be going all out for another championship victory.

“It looks like it is going to be a very tough year to win,” says Martino, “but we fully intend to be out there giving it our best shot. The new cars coming in will make it a challenge for everyone, and the improvements to the technical and sporting regulations will make it closer still. I can see the title fight going down to the final round.”

Martino says that Trackspeed is working with one “very strong” gentleman driver, whose identity will be revealed shortly along with that of his team-mate: “He is all sorted and is now weighing up his options with regard to his co-driver. Once that is decided we will be in a position to make an announcement. As for the second car, we are working hard on persuading David Ashburn to return to defend his title – I wouldn’t rule it out yet.”

Ashburn and his co-driver Glynn Geddie claimed four British GT race victories in 2010, with David taking the driver title and Glynn championship second.

It’s unlikely that Trackspeed will enjoy such a smooth ride in 2011, given the strength of opposition which is gathering. The MTECH team – a double race winner in 2010 with Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin – is to return with two of the potent new Ferrari 458 Italia models, while United Autosports will field a brace of Audi R8 LMS machines. Pyro Motorsport, the team behind the 2009 champions, David and Godfrey Jones, has meanwhile confirmed that it is to build a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 car for the brothers.

Championship manager Benjamin Franassovicci said: “It is great news that Trackspeed is to return to defend its British GT title. I think the field which is assembling will be the most diverse and exciting that the championship has seen for several seasons. At least 12 prestigious brands are set to take part, and three of these with new models; this, combined with the new ‘time penalty’ format during pit stops, convinces me that races in 2011 will be even more exciting.”

Next year’s Avon Tyres British GT Championship will feature a three-hour late-summer race at Donington Park, as well as a trio of two-hour races. The provisional calendar for the series also includes a visit to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. There will be eight events in total, with the championship kicking off with a two-hour refuelling race on Easter Monday, 25 April, at Oulton Park.

Among the regulation changes planned for the coming season is a switch from success ballast to a pit-stop time penalty formula. For 2011, cars achieving success will not have their performance pegged back by the addition of extra weight but will instead be penalised with a longer driver-change pit stop.

There will be revisions also to the championship class structure, with the introduction of a GT3 ‘Class B’ to accommodate older cars which are still competitive but do not conform to the latest FIA homologations. GT3 will continue as the championship’s ‘premier division’, and there will be classes also for GT4 cars and GT Cup machinery.

British GT is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and The Independent.

Avon Tyres will be the title sponsor and official control tyre supplier for the British GT Championship until the end of the 2014 season.

The new agreement will see powerful GT cars from manufacturers as diverse as Ferrari, Porsche, Audi and Aston Martin do battle on Avon rubber for an additional three years, starting in 2012.

Since Avon Tyres began supplying the British GT championship in 2006, hundreds of drivers have completed some 200,000 racing miles.

Cooper Tire Europe managing director, Julian Baldwin, said, “We have enjoyed working with the British GT Championship and are delighted to have formalised an agreement with the championship organisers for a further three years. The constantly changing mix of cars, each with different characteristics, really tests our expertise but the Avon crew enjoys meeting the challenge head-on.”

Stephane Ratel, SRO Chairman and promoter of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship, commented, “Avon Tyres has shown great dedication to our championship, both on track and behind the scenes. The nature of GT racing brings special challenges for a tyre supplier and Avon has always delivered a superior product that delivers equal performance across a wide range of machinery and generates fantastic race action.

“I am certain that Avon Tyres will continue to support British GT with marketing and promotion, bringing the excitement and aspirational glamour of top-flight GT racing to the race fans of the UK.”

The provisional calendar for the 2011 Avon Tyres British GT Championship kicks off at Oulton Park on April 23-25.

There is plenty of racing around the country this bank holiday weekend.

Snetterton – British F3, British GT, Formula Ford, VW support races

Oulton Park – HSCC Gold Cup

Mallory Park – CSCC and Monoposto

Thruxton – Great and British

Silverstone – 750MC

Rockingham – Britcar & BRSCC

Castle Combe – A Plant LUX Sportscar Raceday

Lydden Hill – Quaife MSA British Rallycross Championship

And on two wheels…

Anglesey – Hottrax bike racing

Brands Hatch – Thundersport GP Bike Races

Cadwell Park – British Superbikes

Free is a price Racing Exposure likes!

The Cooper Tire British F3 International Series and the Avon Tyres British GT Championship will be thundering into the home of British motorsport, Silverstone, on August 14/15 and you could be there to catch all the action.

The two tyre manufacturers are offering VIP tickets to watch the F1 stars of the future, plus a grid full of mouth-watering sports cars on the newly-christened Silverstone GP circuit.

The winner will enjoy two VIP tickets, with entry to the paddock area as well as breakfast, hot and cold buffet lunch with reserved table, open bar and afternoon tea.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply visit www.avonbgtpromotions.co.uk/silverstone or www.coopertyrespromotions.co.uk and fill in the application form to be automatically entered into the free prize draw.

Closing date for the competition is 2^nd August 2010.

Spring is here! The sun is in the sky, the flowers are starting to blossom and the sound of race engines fills the air. Over the past two days (Tuesday, 16^th March and Wednesday, 17 March 2010) many top teams from British GT, BTCC, Fiat Abarth 500’s and Clio cup have been hammering around Oulton Park preparing for the up and coming season. The queue in the café was like a who’s who of British Motorsport. In front if me on the Tuesday were names like Jason Plato, Paul O’Neil, Aaron Scott, Christian Dick, Jamie Stanley and Andrew Jordan.

Racing Exposure managed to sneak into the Speedwork’s Motorsport garage and collar drivers Christian Dick and Jamie Stanley. Both drivers will be campaigning a Ginetta G50 in the GT4 class of the British GT championship. Stanley, 26 and 2009 Lotus on Track champion had this to say:

‘Last Tuesday (9^th March 2010) was my first run in the Ginetta and went fantastic. Speedworks were fantastic and we worked through a lot of things ahead of the first proper test today. A few people have asked me what its like to drive and the best way I can describe is it like trying to drive a bucking bronco!’

Jamie’s driving partner for this season will be experienced Ginetta racer Christian Dick. On Tuesday Jamie had a majority of seat time to allow him to get as much practice in as possible. Today (Wednesday 17^th March) Christian was in the hot seat, lapping around the Cheshire circuit just to get back into the groove. Speaking to Racing Exposure, Christian revealed how well the 2 days have been:

‘On the GT front it is going well. Jamie tested yesterday and today I have been using the day to get my eye back in and back up to pace. On these two days we have both posted very competitive times so as a driving pair we should be very strong. We are looking forward to the season as we still have 2 more tests and I feel we will be in a strong position.’

Adam Wilcox and Phil Burton were another British GT pairing out testing there stead before the Easter Weekend opener here at Oulton Park. Wilcox and Burton will be racing there GT3 Ferrari F430 this year and Adam is hoping to challenge for the title:

‘The car is going excellent. I am looking forward to the start of this season. At the end of last season we scored the most points over 4 races so if we can keep that form up into the new season we should be at the top of the field. The car is much better now so really excited about this season.’

Burbling down the pit lane on Wednesday morning was the very striking and very stealthy black Ford GT from RPM Motorsport piloted by Alex Mortimer and Peter Bamford. Unfortunately the powerful beast won’t be competing on Easter weekend here at Oulton Park as Alex explains:

‘Unfortunately we are not here at Easter with the Ford GT. We were hoping to but we wont be able to make it now. During the course of the season we hope to compete in certain British GT meetings but the main aim for 2010 is the International GT Open. When it comes to the car, it is going very well. The twisty circuit doesn’t really suit the big powered car but it goes really well.’

Sticking with the common theme, Easter Weekend, Ben Winrow was out testing his Fiat 500 Abarth before the first race meeting of the Trofeo Abarth’s at Oulton Park. The 2008 Clio cup champion is really looking forward to the coming season as he tells Racing Exposure:

‘The car is going well around here. It is a bit of a unknown due to this being the first year for these cars. Team Pyro helped me win the Clio Cup in 2008 so I am very happy with me team. The car does feel good around here and the balance is very good indeed. We are feeling good and we have been posting competitive times but we will have to wait until race weekend to see just how competitive we will be.’

Coming away from Easter, GT Cars and Fiats a whole range of BTCC cars were out in preparation for the season. Amongst the drivers who were behind the wheel there was one famous face in the Team Dynamics garage. However, this drivers identity will have to remain a secret from the time being……

A driver that can be reported on is Andrew Jordan who spent the Two Day test in his very striking Vauxhall Vectra. In between in his many track sessions he managed to find five minutes to talk to Racing Exposure:

‘We have been going well so far. At the moment we are right on the pace of Matt Neal but I am taking it with a pinch of salt. You cant really judge pace until the first quailyfying session. The car is great fun around here and if we keep focused and keep scoring points I reckon we could be right up there come the final race.’

Racing Exposure also managed to grab Mike Jordan for a quick chat on what he is racing this year and how he feels Andrew is doing:

‘This has been the best 2 day that we have had this year. The car is going very well indeed and we are very pleased with it. As for myself, I am hoping to contest the Britcar with the Mustang and I am also going to compete in some other Britcar races in a GInetta G50 as well as the Spa 24hr alongside the Jones brothers in there Ascari. I always want to do a bit more but at least I am doing a bit of something.’

On the subject of Matt Neal, he was out on the Wednesday with his car sporting it’s new livery. After being at Oulton Park only the other week, Matt was just experimenting with setups and various other items. He had this to say for Racing Exposure:

‘We are just trying new stuff out. It is one step forward two steps back at the moment due to playing with various settings and testing certain areas back to back. There isn’t as much grip as the other week but the car feels good.’

Matt Neal’s biggest on-track rival, Jason Plato was Cruze-ing around in the WTCC Chevrolet Cruze that is new to the BTCC circus. Jason had been sharing the days with Clio Cup racer Alex Macdowall sharing half a day each. Jason kindly spoke to Racing exposure:

‘Yesterday was about getting comfy in the car, a process that takes a bit of time. I am still not completely comfy in the car, it doesn’t fit like a glove yet and this is what we are aiming for. Apart from that, the car feel good and is going well but there is still time to found in certain areas.’

Alongside Plato, another long time BTCC Driver, Dave Pinkney was out on track in his ex works  Vauxhall Vectra. Unfortunately for the popular character, his car wasn’t playing ball:

‘We are currently experiencing problems with the car. There is a vibration on the radiator and we have no spare rads left. The Jordans kindly leant us a spare but that has now sprung a leak. The team is currently trying to fix it and we hope to be out there later. At the moment, we are lacking in testing. We still need time in the car to sort out the settings and various other things but we hope to mix it with the front  runners this coming season and look forward to coming to Oulton Park. It is like a English Summers garden here, everytime we come.’

Testing alongside a Andy Neate in the WSR BMW’s was Rob Collard. Racing exposure managed to get him before he went out on his final run:

‘It is very good to be at Oulton Park. This is one of my favourite circuits as it presents a real challenge and there are some super corners. Over the course of this 2 day test we have been experimenting with different setups and tires. We are very happy with where we are at the moment. For the most part of this afternoon we have new rubber on and will be going for some seriously quick times. ‘

After seeing this test session, the BTCC should be hotly contended this year with the likes of Jordan, Collard and Neil going so well. When it comes to the British GT’s the same applies. So much talent in quick cars is going to make life very intresting. I, for one, cant wait until Easter weekend when it all kicks off at Thruxton for the BTCC and Oulton for the British GT!

Jamie Stanley completed his first run in the Speedworks Ginetta G50.  Stanley took to his and Speedworks’ local racing track, Oulton Park, on the 9th March. The aim behind the day was to shakedown the car and for Stanley to get used to his new machine before his first timed run next week.

Stanley, a successful Lotus driver with experience of GT cars behind him thanks to runs in Britcar had this to say about his day:

‘My first run in the Ginetta was fantastic, Speedworks were fantastic and we worked through a lot of things ahead of the first proper test on Tuesday 16th. a few people have asked me what its like to drive and the best way I can describe is it like trying to drive a bucking bronco!’

Jamie will be out at Brands Hatch this weekend driving a Lotus Elise S1 in the Britcar championship before his test day in the  G50 next week.

Your first chance to see Jamie and Christian Dick (Driving alongside Jamie and also team principle) will be at the British GT meeting at Oulton Park on Easter weekend.

Photo – Xtreme Photography

Speedworks Motorsport will race full-time in the prestigious Avon Tyre British GT Championship in 2010, with Cheshire pairing Jamie Stanley and Christian Dick driving.

The team will field a Ginetta G50 in the GT4 class of the championship with support from FOX International, suppliers and manufacturers of the world’s finest fishing equipment. This major sponsorship deal will allow the team to contest all eight events, which includes trips to major international circuits such as Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, with the aim of securing the Avon Tyres British GT4 Championship title.

Dick, who is also team principal and co-founder of Speedworks Motorsport, showed frontrunning pace during the team’s two appearances in British GT last year, while it will be Stanley’s first experience of the series after winning 11 out of 15 races in the ultra-competitive Lotus Elise Trophy in 2009.

“It’s a natural step up for me after my success in the Lotus,” said Stanley, who already has some GT racing experience after racing a Ferrari 430 in Britcar at Snetterton last year. “The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is an international-level series with a good reputation internationally. I’m confident that it is the best place for me to take the next step in my career with such strong support from FOX International.”

The Sandbach-based outfit made two successful appearances in the championship, which features exotic machinery from Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche, in 2009. Dick believes that the speed shown by the team, which will also continue to race in the one-make Ginetta G50 Cup this year, in its 2009 Avon Tyres British GT Championship appearances prove that it will be able to take GT4 victories.

“It’s a great move for the team to be race in a major international championship, and we take a lot of confidence into the season after our performances last year,” said Dick. “It’s a competitive series with a lot of strong drivers and teams, but the team has had an enormous amount of experience and success in running the Ginetta G50, and Jamie is a strong driver, so we hope to
be fighting for race wins and the title.”

The Avon Tyres British GT Championship kicks off at Oulton Park in Cheshire on April 3/5, with the season finale at Donington Park in Leicestershire on October 16/17.

Picture Removed

Despite today being a MSV track day rather than Test day, racing teams still turned out in force. One particular championship was being represented very well indeed, the VW Cup. Having got more and more successful over the years with more competitive, bigger and more varied grids, it is no wonder that the teams are out to fine tune there vehicles.

A pair of distinctive red and white VW’s, one Golf and one Corrado, were being shaken down after the long winter by Didge and brother Alex Dziurzynski. After a season in Ginetta’s, Alex has come back to the VW cup. Well, all working out financially. Alex had this to say to Racing Exposure:

‘Me and my brother, Didge, are out today. We are testing both the Corrado and the Golf. The plan this year is to stick with the VWs but it is all dependent on financial backing!  We would like to run both cars and hope to attend the Oulton Park meeting here in Easter, we just have to keep our fingers crossed that we get the money.’

Getting used to his quicker and updated Scirroco, Mike Kurton was fine tuning his new stead. The Scirroco has been updated the ‘R’ spec with a much quicker and smoother car to drive. Racing Exposure managed to grab a quick chat with Mike on his hopes and thoughts for the 2010 season:

‘This is the first time out with the new and updated car. For this years championship we have a new Scirroco R which has been completely updated and should be on the pace this year. With last year being a development year for the Scirroco we didn’t do to well in the championship. We finished 7^th but condisdering that we missed two races and had 4 DNF’s that isn’t bad going! So we do hope to be at the sharp end this year with a quicker, more reliable car.’

Steve Chaplin’s 3.2 V6 Beetle was the final VW out tweaking and trying out there car ahead of the 2010 season. Hoping to improve upon his result last time he raced at Oulton Park, he had this to say:

‘The car is going well. Today’s aim is to work on the suspension and the overall set up of the car. At the moment the suspension is working very well and the car feels good. We are hoping for a really good title challenge this year. Helping to fettle the car and set it up are driver Phil Keen, AST Suspension and Powerstation who help with the technical and timing side of the car. Unfortunately the Beetle isn’t best suited to this circuit. The car is more suited to an open, flowing circuit rather then the tight, technical challenge that Oulton Park offers. When it comes to the first round here at Oulton Park on Easter Weekend, we are hoping for a better performance than last year. 9^th was the best we managed at this round last year with a DNF to go alongside that, so hope to have a huge improvement over that. Our target for the Easter Weekend meeting is a top ten finish in both races.’

After seeing how the cars were going around Oulton Park and speaking to the drivers, it looks like 2010 is going to be a season to remember!

Photography – Matt Sayle