BRITISH GT REVS UP FOR A BREATHTAKING SEASON

Porsche, Corvette, Aston Martin, Ferrari, KTM, Maserati, Mercedes, Audi, Lotus, Ginetta, Chevron. the roll call of manufacturers set to be represented in this year’s Avon Tyres British GT Championship is already mouthwateringly long and – with seven weeks to go before the opening rounds – is set to get longer and even more exciting before the lights flash green at Oulton Park.

There will be three GT3 supercars completely new to the championship: the Corvette Z06R, Ferrari 458 and Mercedes AMG SLS, as well as the first full-season entry for the Audi R8 LMS and return visits from the Porsche 911 GT3R, Aston Martin DBRS9 and Ferrari 430 Scuderia.

In the other classes, the new-for-2011 GT3 ‘B’, GT4 and GT Cup, there is healthy interest also and newcomers like the Lotus Evora GT4 and Chevron GR8 to boost the excitement, as well as a promise of more cars to come.

“I am very pleased to say that the grid for this season is looking extremely positive,” says championship manager Benjamin Franassovici. “In fact, it is the healthiest it has been for several seasons, with good numbers as well as some quality machinery and top drivers. The average grid last year was 17 cars and we are comfortably on target already to exceed that number by 25 per cent.

“In racing terms it is early days yet – the first races are not until Easter – so I am hopeful that some more deals which I know are close to fruition will be completed and that we will have a truly spectacular field at Oulton Park.”

The Avon Tyres British GT Championship will feature a number of important revisions for 2011, not least the adoption of a time-based success penalty system rather than a cumulative weight penalty arrangement. There are a greater number of longer races also, as well as a revised points scoring system and a wholly new class.

For full details of the revisions and runners and riders for 2011 visit www.britishgt.com