Series organisers are confident that the two-hour endurance race at Silverstone on 15 August could is set to enjoy the biggest grid of the year in the British GT Championship with double-points on offer in both the GT3 and G4 class for the event.
The race, which will be run on the 'Bridge' layout – the old Grand Prix track – at the Northamptonshire track.
“We have a lot of interest for the first of the season's two-hour races, particularly from the G4 class,” said series manager Benjamin Franassovicci. “I am confident there will be a minimum of 20 cars on the grid at Silverstone for this fantastic event.”
The enlarged grid will include three Aston Martin DBRS9 with familiar teams, sponsors at drivers returning to the British series.
Championship regulars Paul Whight and Michael Bentwood will be joined by Stuart Hall – a race winner in 2009 as well as a Aston Martin factory driver at Le Mans – and Tom Black in a car prepared by Vantage Racing under team manager Hugh Chamberlain, the sportscar legend pensive on the chances of future entries following the Silverstone race.
“We are very happy finally to have the car ready to race,” he said. “The Silverstone race will be a good test for the car, which is completely new to us. Depending on how things go, we may look at doing more British GT races later on.”
However, much of the attention for the three cars will be taken by the return of the Beechdean Racing colours aboard an Aston Martin in a combined effort with Barwell Motorsport. Andrew Howard, another front runner from 2009 – only just missing a podium at Silverstone – will be joined by another driver from the Aston Martin works rank – FIA GT1 regular Darren Turner.
“The Aston has been fully upgraded to 2010 spec and will run again in the Beechdean Motorsport colours, prepared by Beechdean-Barwell,” said Howard, who has been involved in the Beechdean-Mansell team in the Le Mans Series, limiting his 2010 race appearances. “What's really exciting is that Aston Martin have released Darren to drive with me; it's fantastic.”
