Loggie switches to 2 Seas for 2023 British GT title defence with Gounon

Ian Loggie will attempt to defend his Intelligent Money British GT Championship title with 2 Seas Motorsport this season after switching teams over the winter.

However, his #1 Mercedes-AMG GT3 once again features factory star Jules Gounon who shared the co-driver’s seat with Callum Macleod throughout 2022.

Theirs is the first of two 2 Seas-run GT3 entries confirmed for the upcoming campaign. The team’s second ‘formidable driver line-up’ will be announced soon.

However, on paper it’s difficult to envisage a stronger pairing than British GT’s reigning champion and a Pro co-driver that has won the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, Daytona 24 Hours, Kyalami 9 Hour and LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour (twice) over the past 12 months.

Gounon, who is also the reigning Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup champion, finished first and second with Loggie on his British GT debut last season before scoring further podiums at Spa and Donington. That 100% rostrum record helped the French-Andorran finish fifth in the final standings despite only contesting four of nine races.

Loggie, meanwhile, also won with Macleod at Snetterton en route to his first overall drivers’ title with RAM Racing after previously clinching the Pro-Am crown in 2020 and ’21.

However, Loggie is also no stranger to 2 Seas with whom he clinched a podium at the Gulf 12 Hours in early 2022. That result was the foundation of a trophy-filled campaign that also featured podiums in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, the FIA Motorsport Games, 24H GT Series and GT Cup, as well as the overall Asian Le Mans Series title.

“I can’t wait to be back on the British GT grid this year, wearing the #1 that we worked so hard to earn last year; that’ll be a very proud moment for me,” said Loggie.

“After many great years with RAM Racing I felt the time was right for a change, and 2 Seas is a great team. I have history there, having raced in the Gulf 12 Hours with them, so I know how capable they are of turning out a fantastically competitive Mercedes-AMG.

“To be back with Jules is also something special. He’s one of the best GT3 drivers in the world and I learned a load working with him last year. With him alongside me for the whole of this season I know we’ll only get stronger and stronger as a partnership and the aim is to go for race wins and podiums from the very start as we try and defend this championship title.”

2 Seas, meanwhile, is gearing up for its third full-season British GT campaign after first winning with McLaren in 2020. It returned last year with Mercedes-AMG, James Cottingham and Lewis Williamson who remained in title contention until the final round at Donington.

“We are delighted to welcome back Ian, and have Jules join the team for the 2023 British GT campaign,” said 2 Seas co-owner Isa Al Khalifa. “Both drivers have scored some strong results over the past few years, and we had some great battles with them last season.

“Ian is one of the most experienced drivers on the British GT grid and looking to retain his championship title, while Jules’ list of accolades while racing in a Mercedes-AMG is second to none, including impressive results at Daytona and Bathurst already this year.

“With this pair on track, and the experienced team we have put together over the past few months, we are confident we can help them push for another strong season. We will also be confirming a second formidable driver line-up in the coming days, which we think could set the cat amongst the pigeons, so it is going to be an exciting year.”

Both 2 Seas entries are expected to appear at British GT’s Donington media day on March 14 ahead of the championship’s season opener at Oulton Park on April 8 & 10.

Written by Tom Hornsby