Daniel Lloyd is to join Bhia Tech Racing for the Blancpain Sprint Series to share a McLaren MP4-12C GT3 with Estonian Sten Pentus.
Lloyd, who was last week announced as part of the Beechdean AMR team for selected races of the Blancpaign Endurance Series will begin his Sprint Series campaign this weekend at the French Nogaro circuit.
“My career goal has always been to race at Le Mans one day, so driving in the Blancpain Sprint Series this year with Bhai Tech Racing is the perfect next step on the ladder,” said the 22-year-old former Porsche Scholarship winner. “We’ve been working so hard at putting together a full international deal for at least five months – this move is definitely the right decision for my career.”
“Racing in the Sprint Series puts me in the perfect place to get noticed by all of the major sportscar manufacturers. I really can’t wait for the first round, I took part in the official test recently at Paul Ricard and I’ve been practicing pitstops with the team this week – the McLaren is awesome to drive. Along with the Endurance Series races I’ll be doing, it’s fantastic to confirm my full 2014 season.”
The Italian Bhia Tech team join the Sprint Series after clinching the double to drivers’ and teams’ championships in the GTS class of the International GT Open series last season with the GT3 McLaren. Lloyd, Pentus and teammates Fabio Onidi and Giorgio Pantano in the sister car will be the only McLarens on the grid as the season starts at the Circuit Paul Armagnac where they will line up against opposition from teams including HTP Motorsport, Belgian Audi Club WRT and Fortec Motorsport.
The Qualifying and Championship races of the opening weekend are scheduled for 1:15pm UK time on Sunday and Easter Monday respectively. The event will be streamed live on the championship’s website www.blancpain-gt-series.com/live.
