The Barwell Motorsport run Ecurie Ecosse team has confirmed dual GT3 campaigns for the 2014 season with the BMW Z4 GT3.
The team will run a single car in both the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the Blancpain Endurance Championship, where they will slot into the Pro-Am category of the series, which includes the Total 24 Hours of Spa.
An extension of a sponsorship deal with Black Bull Whisky will see the cars sporting a new livery on the cars and a new name above the door as the team runs under the Ecurie Ecosse powered by Black Bull name.
In 2013 the team raced in both the British GT Championship – where for the second successive year they were in contention for the title right into the final race – and the GTC class of the European Le Mans Series.
Marco Attard will remain with the team’s British GT squad. However, with 2013 co-driver Olly Bryant moving to the squad’s continental line-up he will be joined by Alexander Sims for the 2014 season. A former Autosport BRDC Award winner Sims is now a BMW Motorsport factory driver, hoping to give the Z4 its first British title on his first season in the championship.
“I’m over the moon, as getting a full-time drive in a championship as prestigious as British GT is just fantastic,” said Sims. “It’s a great opportunity to embed myself within BMW’s network of teams, and to work alongside a gentleman driver as talented as Marco. Ecurie Ecosse and Barwell enjoy a very impressive track record together, with last year especially strong thanks to Marco and Olly. I simply cannot wait for us to begin working together.”
In the Blancpain Endurance Series line-up Bryant joins Andrew Smith and Alasdair McCaig (Bryant’s co-driver for the 2012 British GT season). Joe Twyman will complete a four man team for July’s Spa 24.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have such a fantastic driver line-up across both championships, and it’s great to be able to welcome Alexander to our fold,” said Barwell team principal Mark Lemmer. “He is undoubtedly one of the most exciting young British talents in the world of GT racing. I fully expect Ecurie Ecosse and Barwell to be pushing for both titles!”
