2012 Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup champion Carl Breeze is facing the prospect of missing the 2016 racing season following the withdrawal of long-time sponsor Bluechip.
In a post on his Facebook page, Breeze announced that due to “financial restructuring” the company has had to pull out, leaving him struggling to raise the budget required to get out racing this season.
It would mark the first season in over fifteen years that Breeze has not competed on the BTCC package, stretching back beyond his title-winning campaign in Formula Renault UK in 2001.
Breeze followed that success up with a spell in the BTCC itself, taking regular top ten finishes between 2002 and 2004, before competing in the SEAT Cupra Championship for four years.
In 2009, Breeze switched to one-make Ginetta competition, and that’s where he’s remained ever since with two years in the G50 Cup followed by five in the GT4 Supercup.
Stunning consistency has seen him record seven consecutive top three championship finishes, with a record 29 race wins, 82 podium finishes and 23 fastest laps in his 135 race starts in the Supercup era.
After also enjoying a victorious LMP3 protoype debut in the 6 Hours of Estoril last season with Team LNT, Breeze had set his sights on a move into GT3 competition for 2016.
“It’s with much sadness that it looks like I won’t be racing this year due to lack of budget!” Breeze announced on Facebook.
“Bluechip, who have been a tremendous supporter of my career for the last nineteen years have unfortunately had to pull out for this season due to financial restructuring within their business.
“It’s fair to say without their fantastic support, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the success I have winning five British championships and over 100 wins and podium finishes to date.
“Hopefully something will materialise this year, but without a big chequebook it will prove difficult unless a funded team comes calling.
“I will continue to work hard and if I can’t race this year, I will focus my efforts on being back out for 2017!”
