Ecurie Ecosse's famous livery on a BMW Z4 GT3 (Image Credit: Ecurie Ecosse)
The Ecurie Ecosse name is to return to a major British championship this year after the announcement that Barwell Motorsport will run a BMW Z4 GT3 for the team in this year's Avon Tyres British GT Championship.
Mark Lemmer's Barwell Motorsport had previously confirmed programs in both the British GT Championship and Blancpain Endurance Championship with the BMW Z4 GT3, both of which will now in conjunction with Ecurie Ecosse. The two squads previously united last season for the Spa 24 Hours when they ran an Aston Martin DBRS9 to finish in 20th position.
All four drivers from that Belgian weekend will drive for the team in 2012. Oliver Bryant and Alasdair McCaig will drive in the British Championship, Joe Twyman and Andrew Smith filling two of the three seats for the Pro-Am class category of the Blancpain Endurance Series, with a third seat open to a suitably qualified driver with the necessary budget.
Smith commented; “we are all very excited to be involved in the continuing development of the Ecurie Ecosse comeback. We are confident the BMW Z4 GT3 is the best chassis out there and I have no doubt that our combination of car, drivers and team will prove competitive.”
“This is a very exciting development for Ecurie Ecosse,” said Ecurie Ecosse team boss Hugh McCaig. “We looked at a number of options for 2012 following the race at Spa last year but believe, with the combination of BMW's Z4 GT3 and guys at Barwell, that we absolutely have the right ingredients in place to achieve success. We also have a team of ambitious and talented young drivers who have shown their commitment to this programme through a tireless effort to put the deal together in an extremely challenging economic environment. Ultimately we want to be back at Le Mans and this is a fantastic step in the right direction.”
L-R Twyman, Bryant, Smith and McCaig - Ecurie Ecosse's four drivers from the 2011 Spa 24 Hours will all drive in the team's dual campaigns in 2012
Ecurie Ecosse has already attracted several sponsors for their coming twin campaigns including John Clark Motor Group, Cotton Tree, Bremont and Ragus.
Ecurie Ecosse were originally formed in 1951, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in 1956 and 1957. Hugh McCaig took over the team in 1981, taking the team into the C2 class of the World Sportscar Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ecurie Ecosse went onto to field Vauxhalls in the British Touring Car Championship, most notably for the late David Leslie.
