Team HARD have announced plans to expand their motorsport portfolio in 2017 with a first time entry in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, with Dan Kirby named as their first driver.
The move will mark the first time that the British Touring Car Championship regulars, who will mount a three-car BTCC entry again in 2017, have raced full-time on the TOCA support package.
The Kent squad are no strangers to Ginetta machinery though, having campaigned G55 GT4’s in this year’s British GT Championship, and in one round of the Britcar Endurance Championship.
The team were crowned the 2016 British GT4 Teams Champions, having taken a maiden class win at Silverstone, with ex-Supercup driver Jordan Stilp amongst their driving team.
Kirby will be competing in the Ginetta G55 that Will Burns raced to second overall in the Supercup this season, with Burns having graduated to the BTCC in 2017 with HARD.
He got his first competitive taste of a G55 with the team during the Britcar Into the Night finale at Brands Hatch, ultimately finishing second in class alongside team-mate Tom Knight.
Kirby also contested rounds of the BMW Compact Cup and Michelin Clio Cup Series this year, with his Supercup move coming as part of a partnership between his Trade Price Cars dealership and the team.
“I’m mega excited to be competing in the GT4 SuperCup with Team Hard. I knew that’s where I wanted to be after testing with the team as well as our recent successful Britcar debut,” said Kirby.
“Also commercially this is an exciting partnership for my business. Motorsport and vehicle sales can work hand in hand. With Team Hard’s following and fan base we can create a fantastic offering to new potential customers.”
Team HARD owner Tony Gilham added: “We were looking to expand on the TOCA package and the Supercup is something we’ve been looking at for quite a while. It’s a good championship for us to get involved in and it’s a further development of our relationship with Ginetta.
“We’ve learnt a lot about the car in British GT following a very successful debut campaign. This has created lots of interest so encouraged us to look at our options as we continue to grow and develop as a team.
“Daniel will be racing in the Am class and we’re really looking forward to it. He showed great pace out the box at Brands recently so will be interesting to see how he develops next year.”
