ProSpeed Competition have become the latest European based GT racing team to put their names on the entry list for the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.
The Belgian team, who propelled Richard Westbrook to the 2009 GT2 class drivers’ championship in the FIA GT Championship have since found a new home in the Blancpain Endurance Series but are set for a one-off appearance on the British GT grid for next month’s three hour race at Silverstone.
The team will run a Porsche in the premier GT3 class for the American pairing of Charles Espenlaub and Charlie Putman. Both men are experienced GT drivers, having raced with Dempsey Racing in the GT class of the Rolex Series. Wyoming native Putman is also a past champion in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.
Both men are part of ProSpeed’s line-up in the Blancpain Endurance Series, but have decided to add a further date to the European excursion.
“We are running the British GT race at Silverstone because our ‘American’s Adventure in Europe’ had to include the best tracks of Europe,” said Putman. The May 26 race be the first at the track for both he and Espenlaub. “Silverstone is certainly a must do on that list! It will be an honor to get to race at this distinguished and historic track with some of the most distinguished sports car drivers in the world. The ProSpeed team has made our transition to the east side of the Atlantic a fun experience, and just reminds me of how much we racers and race fans are all alike, regardless of what country we call home.”
“I am really looking forward to running with ProSpeed at Silverstone in British GT,” added his teammate. “We did our first laps on a test day at Silverstone in March and I loved the track instantly. Very easy to see why it is a world famous track, its reputation is well deserved. Also, I cannot wait to be racing in British GT; the competition looks extremely fierce. Three hours at Silverstone among the best teams and drivers in the world, I will be needing a few pints after that… good times.”
The competition is likely to only get harder in the 180-minute race, the jewel-in-the-crown of the this year’s British GT Championship with more international entries expected for the race that will enjoy live TV coverage on Motors TV.
Stark Racing, with team owner Ian Stinton taking on half the driving duties, will return to the series adding their 2012-spec GT3 Ginetta G55 to the grid with a co-driver yet to be confirmed.
Furthermore several UK based teams already confirmed for the season have already announced they will add cars for the race with FF Corse and Blendini Moto planning on fielding a GTC and GT4 class car respectively alongside their GT3 entries.
The Blendini run Ginetta G40, to be shared by Rory Bryant and Anthony Rodgers will use the Silverstone weekend as a starting point for a campaign that will also take them to the remaining rounds of the championship. As well as them the GT4 class will be bolstered by as many as 10 entries from the SRO-run European GT4 Cup.
