Tom Onslow–Cole will join the Avon Tyres British GT Championship grid this season, sharing driving duties Paul White.
White is a long time sportscar racer, previously having raced in the British Endurance Championship. He also shared an LMGTE Am Vantage GTE with current British GT champions Jonny Adam and Andrew Howard for the Silverstone round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2012.
He and Onslow-Cole together, with the Aston Martin Racing MD John Gaw, drove a GT3 Vantage last year when the British Endurance Championship visited the Brands Hatch Grand Prix track. White and Onslow-Cole were also part of the KPM Racing team for both the 24 Hours of Dubai 24 and the 12 Hours of Mugello races driving a Volkswagen Golf.
Onslow-Cole announced earlier this year that he would move away from the British Touring Car Championship for this season. He closed out the 2013 season as part of Airwaves Racing’s three car line-up in the BTCC, having started the year with Tony Gilham’s team driving the Volkswagen Passat.
“I really feel that the time is right for me to go and explore GT racing, it’s got huge appeal right now and I don’t think this move will come as a shock to many,” said Onslow-Cole. “Paul and I have already competed in some endurance racing events together and we have proved to be a really strong pairing with podium finishes across Britcar at Brands Hatch, the 24 Hours of Dubai and the 12 Hours of Mugello.”
It is intended that the move to British GT be part of a move into international GT racing in the future, with details of those plans, as well as those of the domestic campaign to be confirmed in the near future.
However, it is likely that the pairing will have to miss the opening races of the British GT Championship at Oulton Park as the series has reached the Cheshire track’s grid capacity.
“It’s a shame not to have an entry to the opening round, as it would be good to contest the whole championship,” said White. “If anyone has an entry and doesn’t think they’ll be able to use it, they should definitely get in touch as we are currently finalising our plans.”
“The full grid is testament to the fact that the British GT Championship is on the rise. It is very competitive and there are some teams that have been running in it a few years but I think Tom and I are a solid pairing with lots of potential – we both look forward to taking on the challenge.”
