In a move of pure synergy, Aston Martin Racing has announced that the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain will become a support and feeder series to the British GT Championship in 2014, with the two series sharing the billing at four meetings next season.
The GT4 Challenge offers highly-competitive racing in identical V8-powered Aston Martin Vantage GT4s for novice and more experienced drivers and aims to help develop race craft on and off the track. The format of the races varies from 60 to 100 minutes, with two drivers per car and a mandatory pit stop at every race. The schedule is compact and ‘arrive and drive’ packages are available.
“The British GT Championship is the highest level of GT racing in the UK and one of the top national championships in the world, so having the GT4 Challenge of Great Britain as a support race shows the level of professionalism of our one-make series,” said AMR MD, and British GT racer, John Gaw.
“Aston Martin Racing started with the GT4 and it continues to be at the heart of everything we do. Its excellent reliability, driveability and competitive running costs make it ideal for gentlemen drivers looking to start a racing career or just to have some fun. The recent improvements to the aero have put it right at the front of the GT4 pack and this was demonstrated at the last round of the British GT Championship when Richie Stanaway and Harry Whale finished second in their first race together.”
The provisional calendar looks like this:
• 19 April – Oulton Park (British GT)
• 3-4 May – Rockingham (British GT)
• 31 May – Silverstone GP (British GT)
• 28-29 June – Festival Brands Hatch
• 13-14 Sept – Donington Park (British GT)
• 18-19 Oct – Zandvoort (European GT4)
“There are a couple of ways to get involved in the GT4 Challenge of Great Britain,” explained AMR Customer Programmes Manager, Andrew Williamson. “You can buy a Vantage GT4 and enter, with or without the support of Aston Martin Racing, or you can pay for the very successful ‘arrive and drive’ service, which suits many drivers.
“The Aston Martin Racing Driver Training Programme will take a total novice from the first time on the track to a fully fledged racing driver in the GT4 Challenge of Great Britain.“
That Programme involves an initial assessment and training in a specially developed GT race car simulator. Once the basic skills have been mastered, drivers will take an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 onto a UK race circuit with expert tuition from an Aston Martin Racing instructor, who will coach them to pass the ARDS test and gain a National B race licence. Finally, entrants take part in an Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain test day and race.
One big difference between the GT4 Challenge and the BGT is that tyres will be provided for the Aston grid by Michelin, under a new exclusive agreement, with their technicians on hand throughout the season to offer technical support on race and test days. “Michelin’s mission has always been to develop tyres that deliver exceptional performance across a wide range of criteria,” said Malcolm Scovell, Commercial Director at Michelin Tyres plc. “A vital part of that process is using motor sport as a laboratory and making sure that innovations move from track to street. We’re extremely excited about this partnership with Aston Martin Racing, and we’re looking forward to working with the race teams to show how exceptional tyres can transform driving performance and driving pleasure.”
For more information about the GT4 Challenge of Great Britain, to arrange a test drive or to enquire about the Racing Driver Training programme go to www.astonmartin.com/gt4challenge, or contact:
Andrew Williamson, Customer Programmes Manager, on +44 (0) 1295 273 355.
