Balfe Motorsport have completed their entry list for the GT3 and GT4 class in the 2021 Intelligent Money British GT Championship, with Jack Brown and Ashley Marshall running a GT4 McLaren.
The pair will be entering the #90 McLaren 570S GT4 for this season, a car the team knows well after Euan Hankey and Mia Flewitt took it to fifth in the GT4 class last year.
The Grantham-based team took Shaun Balfe and Rob Bell to third in the 2019 GT3 Teams’ standings, before taking a year out from regular competition in British GT’s premier class in 2020.
They did score 13 points across their wildcard appearances though, at Donington Park and Snetterton, with Stewart Proctor and Joe Osborne behind the wheel of the #36 720S.
Stewart Proctor will join son Lewis, who competed with Optimum Motorsport last season, in Balfe’s GT3 entry for this season.
Brown finished as runner-up in the 2019 Ferrari Challenge Europe Trofeo Pirelli series in his second season at that level, having previously won races in Caterham Tracksport.
“I’m really looking forward to racing again, it has been a long time and it’s especially exciting to be racing on the full Brands Hatch GP track,” Brown said.
“For me, the fun element is the most important thing and as long as I come away from the races and the series as a whole feeling that we gave it our best, and the results are fair, then I’ll be happy.
“I love the driving, but I have many other things to do outside of racing.
“The business is very important to me and I don’t want the car to turn into my office.
“But yes, the racing does give me a great buzz, nothing comes close, not even running the road car down to zero fuel before going to the petrol station!”
Marshall graduates from five seasons in Ginetta GT5 Challenge to make his GT4 debut this season.
“I’m looking forward to getting started and the British GT Championship will be different from what I’m used to in Ginetta racing and to be joining a team as successful as Balfe Motorsport running a great brand like McLaren makes it extra special,” he added.
“I’m about to compete in what is probably the most competitive GT4 championship in Europe.
“It feels very much the right step – a natural progression for me as race driver – and after a lot of planning and thinking, it’s surreal to think that I will actually be on the grid at Brands Hatch with Jack who’s experienced and quick.
“I think we’ll be close in terms of pace as a driver pairing and I can only see lots of positives going into the new season.”
The pair won’t have to wait long for their first taste of life in British GT, with the season set to begin at Brands Hatch on 22/23 May, supported by the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship.
