The world famous home of the British Formula 1 Grand Prix is set for the biggest outing of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship season with almost forty cars taking to the grid on June 1 for the Silverstone 500 three hour jewel-in-the-crown of what has become arguably the best national GT championship in the world.
Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Ginetta, Lotus, McLaren, Nissan, Porsche and Toyota are all set to do battle with the unique mix of professional and amateur drivers – including six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy.
The Silverstone 500 is the third round Blue Riband event of an already thrilling 2014 Avon Tyres British GT Championship with bountiful entries across both GT3 and GT4 classes. As well as the class wars and overall victory in contention, further awards for the Mobil 1 Service Centre Master of the Weekend and the Driver of the Weekend Blancpain Gentleman Trophy are at stake too.
The season so far has seen GT3 and overall wins for Aston Martin, BMW and Ferrari with honours in the first race of 2014 taken by the #4 Oman Racing Team Aston Martin of Ahmad Al Harthy and Michael Caine before the #79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 of current championship leaders Marco Attard and Alexander Sims took the chequered flag first in the second of the two races of the opening round at Oulton Park. Rockingham’s two hour enduro saw #18 FF Corse pairing Gary Eastwood and Rob Barff emerge victorious in their Ferrari 458.
In GT4 three teams have taken victory, with the #407 Beechdean Aston pairing of Jake Giddings and Ross Wylie with the #49 TF Sport Aston of Andrew Jarman and Devon Modell taking the top steps in Oulton’s two races and the #55 Academy Motorsport Ginetta of Oli Basey-Fisher and Matt Nicoll-Jones taking honours at Rockingham. It’s the #407 pairing that head the championship coming into Silverstone, but with the #49 duo right at their heels.
Cars making a return for the three-hour race on Sunday afternoon include the #17 M-Sport Bentley Continental which impressed so much in the season opener with Steven Kane at the wheel, but this time partnered by Humaid Al Masaood, making his 2014 season debut. The #22 Preci-Spark McLaren MP4-12C of the Jones brothers, Godfrey and David, also makes a return after its Rockingham rest.
New GT3 entries for this event include the swelling of the United Autosports ranks with the return of 2011 champion Jim Geddie and son Glynn in their McLaren MP4-12C which was last raced In British GT at Silverstone in 2012. MB Racing increase the Aston consignment with Michael Brown and Jamie Wall in the #26 Vantage whilst AF Corse’s Ferrari 458 contingent becomes a trio thanks to Jacque Duyver and Charlie Hollings, who will add to their British GT tally of two events contested in 2013.
Elsewhere, there are changes to driver line-ups with Italian hotshot Alessandro Pier Guidi stepping in for Richard Lyons alongside Pasin Lathouras in the #29 AF Corse Ferrari and Alain Schlesinger joining Declan Jones in the #45 ABG Motorsport BMW M3 GT4.
In GT4 APO make their 2014 debut in a Porsche with the #69 car of James May and Alex Osborne making a return for their home race with a new marque from their previous Ginetta outings. ABG Motorsport are back with French historic driver Alain Schlesinger to join Declan Jones and there’s another Aston in GT4 with new team Track Group entering the #50 Aston for Bolaji Odunsi and fan favourite Paul O’Neill with an Aston GT4.
Silverstone will also see the debut of the #86 GPRM Toyota G86 of James Fletcher and Stefan Hodgetts. Set for a GT4 class debut later in the season, the exciting new car will race as an ‘invitational’ for this event.
Action starts for the Silverstone 500 with Free Practice 1 on Saturday 31 May at 09:30 – 10:30, then Free Practice 2 11:50 – 12:50 before qualifying at 16:05 – 16:50. Sunday 1 June see Warm-up 10:10 – 10:20 then the race itself 14:15 – 17:15.
Sofa fans will be overwhelmed to hear that the race will be televised delayed live on Motors TV – which is now available subscription free in the UK on channel 240. Highlights of the event will be televised on Channel 4 and BT Sport as well as on Motors TV.
Benjamin Franassovici, British GT Championship Series Manager:
“The Silverstone 500 is a fantastic event and one which encapsulates the excitement and vibrancy of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship in 180 minutes of quality racing on one of the world’s best-known and iconic race tracks. We have an exceptionally strong line-up and three hours of racing should provide a wonderful experience for those joining us at Silverstone or watching all the race on Motors TV.“
Entry List
1 Beechdean AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Andrew Howard Jonny Adam GT3
2 Generation Bentley Racing Bentley Continental GT3 Steve Tandy James Appleby GT3
4 Oman Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Ahmad Al Harthy Michael Caine (+75) GT3
5 Oman Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Liam Griffin Rory Butcher GT3
6 PGF – Kinfaun AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Phil Dryburgh John Gaw GT3
8 Triple 8 BMW Z4 GT3 Lee Mowle Joe Osborne GT3
12 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 R Jody Firth Warren Hughes (+75) GT3
13 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia John Dhillon Aaron Scott GT3
17 M-Sport Bentley Continental GT3 Humaid Al Masaood Steven Kane GT3
18 FF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia Gary Eastwood Rob Barff GT3
21 Strata 21 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Paul White Tom Onslow-Cole GT3
22 Preci -Spark McLaren MP4 12C Godfrey Jones David Jones GT3
23 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS Ultra Mark Patterson Matt Bell GT3
24 United Autosports McLaren MP412C Jim Geddie Glynn Geddie GT3
26 MB Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Michael Brown Jamie Wall GT3
28 HorsePower Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Paul Bailey Andy Schulz GT3
29 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia Pasin Lathouras Alessandro Pier Guidi (+85) GT3
30 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia Jacques Duyver Charly Hollings GT3
33 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 R Jon Minshaw Phil Keen GT3
38 MP Motorsport AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Mark Poole Richard Abra GT3
40 CWS 4 x 4 Spares G55 Ginetta GT3 Colin White Tom Sharp GT3
79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3 Marco Attard Alexander Sims (+10) GT3
80 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN Nissan GT-R GT3 Chris Hoy Alex Buncombe GT3
## Triple 8 BMW Z4 GT3 Derek Johnston Luke Hines GT3
41 Optimum G55 Ginetta GT4 Ryan Ratcliffe Matt Draper GT4
42 Century Motorsport G55 Ginetta GT4 Rick Parfitt Tom Oliphant GT4
43 Century Motorsport G55 Ginetta GT4 Morten Dons Aleksander Schjerpen (+30) GT4
44 Team Parker Racing Porsche 911 GT4 Barrie Baxter Dan Cammish GT4
45 ABG Motorsport BMW M3 GT4 Alain Schlesinger Declan Jones GT4
46 Twisted Team Parker G55 Ginetta GT4 Adrian Barwick Bradley Ellis GT4
48 Fox Motorsport / Paul McNeilly G55 Ginetta GT4 Paul McNeilly Jamie Stanley GT4
49 TF Sport Aston Martin GT4 Challenge Andrew Jarman Devon Modell (+30) GT4
50 Track Group Aston Martin GT4 Challenge Bolaji Odunsi Paul O’Neill GT4
55 Academy Motorsport G55 Ginetta GT4 Oli Basey-Fisher Matt Nicoll-Jones (+30) GT4
69 APO Porsche 911 GT4 James May Alex Osborne (+30) GT4
77 ISSY Racing / Oz Yuzuf Lotus Evora GT4 Oz Yusuf Gavan Kershaw GT4
## Beechdean AMR Aston Martin GT4 Challenge Ross Wylie Jake Giddings (+30) GT4
86 GPRM Toyota G86 James Fletcher Stefan Hodgetts INV.
Quotes
Jonny Adam, #1 Beechdean AMR, Aston Martin Vantage GT3:
Silverstone is a great track and venue for the three hour race. The layout itself a great challenge. High speed sections like Maggots and Becketts allow commitment and then slow technical parts like Brooklands and Luffield require patient and precision! It’s a great circuit for the Aston. Aero on the car is excellent so hopefully will suit the high speed natured sections of the lap. But expect the BMWs and Ferraris to be very fast around Silverstone. A good memory was winning in 2011 which was the last round of the championship but was the last every race for the DBRS9 Beechdean Motorsport car! We finished second last year behind Ecurie Ecosse but hopeful to challenge for the victory this season with the improvements we have made to the car over the winter.”
Michael Caine, #4 Oman Racing Team, Aston Martin Vantage GT3:
“It was great to get practice at Silverstone in the Blancpain Series before British GT as we can learn a lot from the data and should help for the 500. The Aston suits the Silverstone circuit configuration. The Aston is a great car so we should be near the top. The car feels great and we’ve been quick round there in the wet. If there’s changeable conditions, we’ll be ready. Silverstone is a great place to be. Our season started perfectly at Oulton, but seems to have gone downhill a bit since thanks to mistakes we couldn’t do anything about.
Warren Hughes, #12 Trackspeed, Porsche 997 GT3 R:
“Silverstone GP is a great track and really challenging. Commitment is needed in high speed, then it’s important not to try too hard and over drive in the slow speed. I like the longer format, particularly at the moment when we don’t have great one lap qualifying pace. The longer events hopefully will bring Jody’s strengths in to play a little more and we can get some points on the board. The season so far hasn’t gone at all well. A chassis was written off in practice at Oulton, and we had two DNFs whilst trying to come from the back. Rockingham was a disaster after first corner contact damaged the car, requiring lengthy repairs. However the thing that hurts more than those incidents is that we are not competitive enough. We are trying very hard to turn that situation around.”
Aaron Scott, #13 AF Corse, Ferrari 458 Italia:
“I’m really looking forward to Silverstone, it’s a fabulous circuit and the 3 hour race is a great challenge for all the teams and drivers. I’m a member of the BRDC and have happy memories for races at Silverstone, it was where I scored my first British GT pole position in 2008. I think the circuit will suit the Ferrari well and I have been really happy with the setup of my AF Corse in the first couple of races of the season, I expect the car to be strong again. It will be important for John and I to both be fast at Silverstone to get a good result so we will be working hard to make sure we are well prepared.”
Tom Onslow-Cole, #21 Strata21, Aston Martin Vantage GT3:
“Silverstone is my local circuit but, despite many races and even race wins there in BTCC, I haven’t actually raced the GP layout before. On the plus side, good knowledge of the national layout should me through around 20 per cent of it, how hard can the rest be?! Joking aside, I’m really looking forward to racing there in what is the longest event of the calendar. The longer the race the more important strategy becomes and that’s something that I’ve really enjoyed with my switch to GT racing.”
Paul Bailey, #28 HorsePower Racing, Aston Martin Vantage GT3:
“Silverstone is an absolutely fantastic circuit, although what makes it particularly demanding is its high-speed, flat layout, as it becomes increasingly difficult to judge your speed and braking points accurately over the course of a three-hour race. However, it’s exceptionally safe and anybody who gets to race on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit is a very lucky person.
Andy Schulz, #28 HorsePower Racing, Aston Martin Vantage GT3:
“Historically, Aston Martin has always performed well around the fast and flowing Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, so fingers crossed we can continue that legacy! I’m anticipating a great event and, having collated a huge amount of data and experience at Rockingham, we have some momentum going forwards. We’ve got to keep our heads down and hold it together and I’m sure we’ll have a fantastic race!”
Bradley Ellis, #46 Twisted Team Parker, Ginetta G55 GT4:
“I am looking forward to Silverstone as I haven’t yet done the 3hr format in British GT so it will bring new challenges. I am not sure the Ginetta will be that competitive as we’ve been one of the slowest cars in a straight line, but we’ll be pushing as hard as possible through the corners.”
Jamie Stanley, #48 Fox Motorsport / Paul McNeilly, G55 Ginetta GT4:
“I’m really looking forward to Silverstone as it’s my second home race of the year after Oulton where I grew up and now live in Milton Keynes. The track is super fast and really challenging the high speed corners should suit the Ginetta but the long straights make it tough for us against the more powerful Astons. There should be some bragging rights up for grabs as myself Andrew Jarman, Richard Abra and Joe Osborne are all part of the MKRDX (unofficial Milton Keynes racing drivers club) so I need to beat Andrew and it will be funny to see how Richard and Joe get on”
Devon Modell, #49 TF Sport, Aston Martin GT4 Challenge:
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend, as it will be a new experience for me. The characteristics of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage should suit Silverstone more than Rockingham, as it’s full of long straights and fast, sweeping bends. It’s also quite a wide track, which will help make allowing the quicker GT3 cars past less frantic for us GT4 drivers. Other than a few test days, I haven’t had much experience of Silverstone’s Grand Prix circuit, so it will be a new and exciting challenge for me. It’s certainly an opportunity I’m relishing! This will also be the first time I’ve run in all sessions, so I will be able to get a better understanding of the car and its setup. Having said that, I can’t complain about how my season has gone so far. It was a bit disappointing to lose the championship lead at Rockingham, but another podium finish at Silverstone would be fantastic. Of course, the main aim is always to finish first.”
Andrew Jarman, #49 TF Sport, Aston Martin GT4 Challenge:
“This weekend will be a new experience for me as I have never raced on the Grand Prix circuit nor competed in an endurance race this long. The track will suit the Aston Martin more than it did at Rockingham due to its long straights. I’ve not raced in an endurance race like this before and there will be some added factors, but it is certainly something I am looking forward to as it gives every driver the chance to spend more time behind the wheel and hone their skills.”
Gavan Kershaw, #77 ISSY Racing / Oz Yuzuf, Lotus Evora GT4:
“I have only done a hand-full of laps around the new circuit but have already become a real fan of the Abbey /Farm section, but remain ‘open to ideas’ of the quickest way through the Loop. The challenges of the fast corners of Copse and Stow are still great. The track limits and use of kerbs, and Astro turf has always to be maximised at Silverstone to find that extra bit of time, the new track limits rules will no doubt be challenged.”
Chris Hoy, #80 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN, Nissan GT-R GT3:
“Silverstone is our kind of circuit so I hope we can get out there and make amends for Rockingham. I’m very excited that we are racing at Silverstone; it’s a high-speed track so it should really suit the GT-R. I have more experience under my belt now so I’m looking forward to my first three-hour race.”
Alex Buncombe, #80 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN, Nissan GT-R GT3:
“We’re looking forward to Silverstone. It’s mega having Chris Hoy with me in the car, such a big name and it’s great for the sport and Nissan. He’s improved a lot, he’s a quick learner and he has the killer instinct to want to learn. When I tell him little things he can do on the track, he just goes and does it and that shows on his data. He takes it all on board well. The Nissan is a great car. We have been struggling with tyre wear though, so we’ll have to keep working on the car and as a team to improve that. We should be better here at Silverstone than we were at Rockingham and that’s the plan.”
Jake Giddings, #407 Beechdean AMR, Aston Martin GT4 Challenge:
“I’ve not driven the Grand Prix version of Silverstone except for on a corporate day so it’s going to be a fast and steep learning curve which is always fun. I am looking forward to the Maggots and Becketts complex as it’s a fast series of turns and I think the Aston will love it. Overall the car should be good at Silverstone it’s got a lot of high speed corners which is good for us because at circuits like Rockingham where it’s tight we suffer from understeer. To drive on a track like Silverstone we should be in a pretty good spot to push for a strong finish, and with Aston Martin Racing down the road it would be nice to be up there, to show what a great car they have built.”