Two more teams have announced their entry into the new for 2010 'G4' class of British GT Championship, joining an ever growing field.
The class, which will race alongside the flagship GT3 class in the British series combines the cars eligible for the GT4 and Supersport classes last year, and the latest entrants bring one car from each area to the grid.
The Sandbach-based Speedworks team will return to the field with a Ginetta G50 (perhaps the quintessential GT4 car in British championship). Returning to the driver's seat, having made a single start for the team last year will be Christian Dick, though he will be joined by a new driver to British GT as Jamie Stanley graduates from the Lotus Elise Trophy.
The Chester-based driver won 11 times in the series last year, and is looking forward to progressing in GT racing. “It’s a natural step up for me after my success in the Lotus,” he explains. “The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is an international-level series with a good reputation; I’m confident that it is the best place for me to take the next step in my career.”
The car is one of at least four examples of the Yorkshire-based manufacturer's work expected to take the grid for the season opener at Oulton Park on April 3. Another of the G50 machines will be entered by Team Osbourne Racing, with reigning European GT4 drivers' champion Joe Osborne sharing driving responsibilities with Osman Yusuf.
“I’m really looking forward to British GT again,” says Osborne, who won a pair of races last year in a Invitation class Barwell Motorsport run G50Z. “Running a team will certainly be a steep learning curve. I hope to do this and FIA GT3. Osman is coming on very well; he will be close to pace at all the tracks. The Ginetta we are using is the same car I won European GT4 with last year, so we know it’s a quick car.”
The second team confirmed for the new class is ABG Motorsport who will enter a Supersport-spec KTM X-Bow for Bejamin Harvey and Scottish Formula Ford Champion Rory Butcher. “I am glad to have it all sorted because it is still only March,” says Butcher, 22, “We have testing sorted – we’ll be going to Spa, Oulton Park and Rockingham. It is a great feeling to be so organised. It is a massive opportunity for me and a step up. This is going to be a tough year but I am really looking forward to the challenge.”
The 'G4' class will also see a Lotus 2-Eleven of Piranha Motorsports and a Nissan 350Z run by ProMotorsport for a driving line-up that is set to include Faithless singer and regular racer Maxi Jazz. The 2009 European GT4 teams’ champions, RJN Motorsport, are also expected at some of the later rounds, also with a 350Z.
“It is certain that G4 is going to be a competitive class this season,” enthuses British GT manager, Benjamin Franassovici. “With at least seven cars and four marques represented at the opening rounds. There is strong interest also from further teams running Aston Martins and Lotus cars, including the new Evora, so I believe G4 will grow further still.”
