BRITISH GT SECURES LIVE COVERAGE ON FRONT RUNNER TV

This year's coverage will be broadcast live to millions of households in the UK via several platforms – Photo: Jakob Ebrey/British GT

British GT Championship fans will be able to watch this season’s UK rounds, as well as those of its MINI Challenge support category, live and for free thanks to a new deal with Front Runner.

Launched in October 2016, Front Runner is the UK’s first and only free sports channel. It is currently available in 19 million homes across the country via Freeview, FreeSat, TalkTalk, YouView, BT and Sky’s television services.

2017’s campaign is the first in British GT’s 25-year history to feature live coverage from every UK round.

Oulton Park’s two 60-minute British GT races kick off the season on Easter Monday (April 17) – the first time that particular round has aired live – before the championship visits Rockingham for a two-hour contest a fortnight later (April 30). Snetterton’s double header then takes centre stage on May 28 ahead of the championship’s blue riband, three-hour Silverstone 500 event on June 11.

Spa-Francorchamps, British GT’s only race outside the UK, isn’t covered by Front Runner’s deal, but the channel’s live coverage does return in time for Brands Hatch’s penultimate round of the season on August 6. Donington Park then closes the campaign – and most likely decides this year’s GT3 and GT4 champions – on September 24.

Front Runner leads the way in showcasing the best action sports from across the globe. Its output also includes lifestyle and documentaries from the worlds of motorsport, ice hockey, professional fighting and poker. However, British GT and MINI Challenge are the channel’s first season-long live motorsport signings.

Viewers can watch Front Runner on Freeview channel 91, FreeSat 250, YouView/TalkTalk/BT 91 and Sky 468.

British GT Championship Manager Benjamin Franassovici:“This is fantastic news for British GT & MINI Challenge, their drivers and teams, who together with Front Runner now have a platform capable of reaching millions of new and existing fans. It’s really exciting to be bucking the trend of motor racing, and sport in general, by offering live free-to-air coverage throughout our 25th anniversary season. There’s nothing quite like seeing Ferraris, Aston Martins and Lamborghinis battling for real on track, while the manic MINIs also add thrills and spills to proceedings, but at least now anyone unable to attend our races needn’t miss out on the action at home.

“We have already received more than 30 paid entries across GT3 and GT4, and additional interest in both classes remains high. Further exciting team and driver announcements are expected in the coming weeks.”

Front Runner’s Ryan Scarratt:“We’re delighted to be broadcasting live British GT and MINI Challenge coverage on Front Runner. I’m sure motorsport fans everywhere will be tuning in to watch all the action as it happens this season. Offering more live sports is certainly an area of focus for us this year: we screened the 24H Series Dubai live in January; live darts is coming to Front Runner screens this month; and there will be British GT in April. There are exciting times ahead for sports fans across the UK.”

British GT’s media day takes place at Snetterton on March 28 ahead of the championship’s opening round at Oulton Park over the course of Easter weekend (April 15 & 17).

Tom Hornsby (Source: British GT)