We’ve been waiting for official confirmation of this news for a little while and, with real regret, received the following statement from Ram Racing today:
“Following a difficult start to the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship, with a particularly challenging 24 Hours of Le Mans, British GTE team Ram Racing was planning to return to racing in September with renewed determination and vigour.”
“However, recent notification of a drastic cut in its expected funding for the second half of 2014 means that the team has been forced to withdraw from the FIA WEC and any further competition with immediate effect. New employment is being sought for the majority of the team’s employees who were released two weeks ago.”
“Ram Racing extends its heartfelt apologies and grateful thanks to all its drivers, technical partners, loyal employees, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the team’s many supporters. It would like to stress that it has worked tirelessly to try and avoid, or at least alleviate, the situation it finds itself in.”
“Ram Racing wishes all its competitors in both the LMGTE Pro and Am categories of the FIA WEC a safe and successful season – we are desperately sorry we won’t be there battling with you all on track.”
That’s a very sad end to a very promising, and initially very successful, programme which gave the team the European Le Mans Series teams and drivers LMGTE titles in their very first year (Matt Griffin and Johnny Mowlem taking the drivers title) after taking three race wins.
In total therefore Ram Racing’s record numbered just nine races, the 2013 ELMS (2 x GTE), 2013 and 2014 Dubai 24 Hours (1 x GT3) and Silverstone and Le Mans in the 2014 FIA WEC (1 x LMGTE Pro, 1 x LMGTE Am).
Despite the global economy recovering in recent year this news goes to show once again how fragile the business of motorsport can still be.
Ram Racing Honour Roll
2013
Dubai 24 Hours – Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 – Arya, Mowlem, Smith Jeannette – DNF
ELMS
Silverstone – Ferrari 458 Italia GTE x 2 – Mowlem & Griffin Pole and 2nd place, Jeannette and Montecalvo 3rd
Imola – Ferrari 458 Italia GTE x 2 – Mowlem & Griffin 1st, Jeannette and Montecalvo 3rd
Red Bull Ring – Ferrari 458 Italia GTE x 2 – Mowlem & Griffin 1st, Jeannette and Montecalvo 3rd
Hungaroring – Ferrari 458 Italia GTE x 2 – Mowlem & Griffin 2nd place, Jeannette and Montecalvo 6th
Paul Ricard – Ferrari 458 Italia GTE x 2 – Mowlem & Griffin Pole and 1st place, Jeannette and Montecalvo 5th
10 starts, 2 x pole positions, 3 wins, 5 further podium finishes
Teams GTE Championship Winners
Matt Griffin and Johnny Mowlem, GTE Drivers Champions
2014
Dubai 24 Hours – Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 – Mowlem, Griffin, Arya, Magnussen – 17th overall, 11th in class
FIA WEC
Silverstone – Ferrari 458 Italia GTE x 2 – Griffin, Parente, 6th in LMGTE Pro – Mowlem, Collins, Patterson 5th in LMGTE Am
Le Mans 24 Hours – Ferrari 458 Italia GTE x 2 – Griffin, Parente, Leo DNF – Mowlem, Patterson, Hamilton 12th in LMGTE Am
