Team Parker Racing is to add an Aston Martin GT4 effort in the 2015 British GT Championship to its current Ginetta G55 GT4 entry.
Caterham racers Terry Langley and Mike Hart will make the step up for the full season in the team’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4.
Langley is a front-runner in the Caterham R300 Superlight series, and Hart is the reigning Caterham Supersport champion. It represents a real local effort, with the team, both drivers and the car’s sponsor, Hinckley-based precision parts manufacturer Quantamatic, all hailing from Leicestershire.
Both Langley and Hart are eagerly anticipating their step up from the nimble Caterham sports-racers to the powerful Aston Martin.
“Without a shadow of a doubt it will be a big step,” said Langley. “We’re both used to very lightweight cars so it will be a challenge, but I’m confident we will be competitive and it will be a close and exciting championship.
“With Quantamatic and Team Parker Racing it keeps everything local, and the pedigree of the team in national and international racing is an added bonus. I can’t wait to start testing!”
Hart, who has already tested a GT4 Challenge Aston, added: “It’s been great to have five years in Caterhams that have been really good fun, but this is a good chance to step up. When I tested the Aston in July I really enjoyed it and it was useful to get a good idea of our pace, because I know that Terry and I are very evenly matched. We’ve been in the same team for two years in Caterhams so it’s good to go in with someone you know and trust.
“Obviously it will be a challenge but I think we can get some reasonable results, and GT4 is a good feeder to GT3 and beyond so this is a good way to dip our feet into it.”
Team principal Stuart Parker is excited about the programme, which becomes the team’s second confirmed entry in GT4 for 2015, alongside a car for former British GT champion Bradley Ellis and Adrian Barwick.
“It’s great for us to have two cars already confirmed for British GT and I’m sure Terry and Mike will do a good job with us,” said Parker.
“We’ll begin testing in February to get them up to speed but I’m confident they can be competitive pretty soon, and the fact that they’re so evenly matched will stand them in good stead in British GT.”
