TF Sport is delighted to confirm that Derek Johnston and Matt Bell will front its 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship campaign in one of the team’s striking Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3s.
Tom Ferrier is rightly proud of what has been achieved during his first year at the helm of TF Sport – a new and exciting solo venture for the former British Touring Car and British GT ace, which boldly embarked on an enthralling voyage to the top flight of British and international sportscar racing in 2014.
TF Sport flourished with advanced technical support and feedback from Aston Martin as one of only a few official Aston Martin Racing Partner Teams worldwide, achieving race wins and podium finishes during a full-time campaign in the burgeoning British GT Championship and sporadic appearances in the Blancpain Endurance Series, International GT Open and Dutch Supercar Challenge.
Today’s announcement makes TF Sport the first British GT entrant to reveal its 2015 GT3 driver line-up. Naturally, the team’s aim is to continue on an upward trend and consistently vie for victory next season and, attracting as potent a pairing as Johnston and Bell not only validates the team’s achievements, but gives a very clear indication of its intentions.
Johnston, aged 52 from Newcastle, won the 2009 Radical European Master Series and made a successful transition to GT racing, a spell in the Pirelli Ferrari Challenge acting as a precursor to race wins in the Ferrari 458 Challenge and a GT Cup title win in 2012.
“I’m really excited about joining the TF Sport fold and, while I had a large list of possibilities and it took a long time to consider the options, everything slotted into place quite naturally,” said Johnston. “I really liked what I saw and heard from Tom (Ferrier) and I respect the job he has done to build TF Sport, putting together a superb team of mechanics and engineers and creating a very professional outfit. I briefly tested the works Aston Martin last year and this year’s test with TF Sport at Donington Park was positive. The V12 Vantage GT3 is a very nice car to drive and it gives you the feeling that you’re in something special. Tom’s hopes and ambitions are the same as mine – to achieve podiums and race wins – and, having had a couple of difficult seasons in British GT, I think we have all the ingredients to achieve our goals in 2015, particularly with Matt (Bell) aboard.”
Fellow Geordie, Bell, most recently took an Audi R8 LMS to an emphatic victory in his first ever Petit Le Mans on America’s ultra-challenging Road Atlanta course, but also capped off a turbulent British GT campaign on a high with a podium finish at Donington Park’s season finale in September.
The 25-year old is brimming with enthusiasm following an initial test in TF Sport’s Aston Martin and has high hopes and expectations for 2015, saying: “I was quick everywhere I went in 2014 but had a bit of a target on my car and was prevented from maximising my potential. I’m very excited about joining TF Sport and, having recently tested the Aston Martin, I’m surprised by how impressive it was. I knew it was a powerful car, but it exceeded my expectations in terms of its speed, adjustability and driveability. I was also impressed by the way TF Sport operates – it’s all very professional. I’ve known Tom (Ferrier) and some of the team’s engineers for some time now, and I was delighted when Derek (Johnston) asked me to drive alongside him, as he has shown himself to be very capable. I truly believe we will be in a position to take the title fight to the established frontrunners next year.”
Aston Martin Racing Managing Director, John Gaw, said: “This is a very exciting pairing to have in an Aston Martin for the 2015 Avon Tyres British GT season and, with TF Sport behind them, they have a real chance of running right at the front. Matt (Bell) and I first met the year we had his brother Rob as a factory driver for Le Mans and we have had many discussions since then, so it’s great to see him now driving an Aston. Its third time lucky with Derek (Johnston), as this is the third year I have tried to convince him he can win under the Aston Martin umbrella. Everyone knows he only goes racing to win, so this is these are the exact drivers everybody at Banbury wants to see racing the V12 Vantage GT3. We wish them and TF Sport all the best with this venture and look forward to celebrating some wins with them.”
British GT Championship Manager, Benjamin Franassovici, added: “Tom Ferrier’s team has done an amazing job this season with Paul Bailey and Andy Schulz in GT3, and Andrew Jarman and Devon Modell very nearly clinching the GT4 title in their first season. I expect Derek (Johnston) and Matt (Bell) to be a very quick in GT3; Derek is a racer and Matt has come close to taking the GT3 crown in the past, so I think they will definitely be a title contender for next year. On the team front, TF Sport reflects what British GT is all about; professional racing but, at the same time, an approachable, impeccable presentation. Tom and his team are a pleasure to work with. And I’m even starting to get used to Derek’s foreign accent.”
TF Sport Director, Tom Ferrier, said: “Everyone at TF Sport is over the moon about this new driver partnership for the 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship. Derek (Johnston) is definitely one of the quickest Am drivers on the scene and Matt (Bell) is at the top of his game as a professional driver too. Without a doubt, TF Sport’s aim is to win races and I’m sure, with the support of Aston Martin Racing, we can do that and hopefully more. We cannot wait to get started with our pre-season testing programme!”