TRACKSPEED RETURN WITH TWIN-PORSCHE CAMPAIGN


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Trackspeed will run two Porsche 911's in the 2011 Avon Tyres British GT Championship. Photo: Jakob Ebrey.

Champion team Trackspeed is to return to the Avon Tyres British GT Championship next year to defend its titles. The Surrey-based squad plans to field two Porsche 911 GT3Rs in the series and will, says team manager Ricki Martino, be going all out for another championship victory. “It looks like it is going to be a very tough year to win,” says Martino, “but we fully intend to be out there giving it our best shot. The new cars coming in will make it a challenge for everyone, and the improvements to the technical and sporting regulations will make it closer still. I can see the title fight going down to the final round.”

Martino says that Trackspeed is working with one “very strong” gentleman driver, whose identity will be revealed shortly along with that of his team-mate: “He is all sorted and is now weighing up his options with regard to his co-driver. Once that is decided we will be in a position to make an announcement. As for the second car, we are working hard on persuading David Ashburn to return to defend his title – I wouldn’t rule it out yet.”

Ashburn and his co-driver Glynn Geddie claimed four British GT race victories in 2010, with David taking the driver title and Glynn championship second.

It’s unlikely that Trackspeed will enjoy such a smooth ride in 2011, given the strength of opposition which is gathering. The MTECH team – a double race winner in 2010 with Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin – is to return with two of the potent new Ferrari 458 Italia models, while United Autosports will field a brace of Audi R8 LMS machines. Pyro Motorsport, the team behind the 2009 champions, David and Godfrey Jones, has meanwhile confirmed that it is to build a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 car for the brothers.

Championship manager Benjamin Franassovicci said: “It is great news that Trackspeed is to return to defend its British GT title. I think the field which is assembling will be the most diverse and exciting that the championship has seen for several seasons. At least 12 prestigious brands are set to take part, and three of these with new models; this, combined with the new ‘time penalty’ format during pit stops, convinces me that races in 2011 will be even more exciting.”

Next year’s Avon Tyres British GT Championship will feature a three-hour late-summer race at Donington Park, as well as a trio of two-hour races. The provisional calendar for the series also includes a visit to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. There will be eight events in total, with the championship kicking off with a two-hour refuelling race on Easter Monday, 25 April, at Oulton Park.

For more information visit www.britishgt.com


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