RAM Racing has revealed its British GT plans for 2024, which includes the return of new BMW factory driver Raffaele Marciello as part of its driver squad.
Marciello returns to the team to race with John Ferguson in an unchanged line-up, following the Silverstone-based squad’s switch to BMW after a decade running Mercedes-AMG machinery.
This will be the team’s first change of manufacturer since joining the British GT grid in 2015, though the transition will be eased by the presence of proven winners Ferguson and Marciello in its M4 GT3. The duo secured victory at Snetterton last term after prevailing in one of the closest finishes in series history.
Ferguson is set for his fourth successive British GT campaign and a third in the GT3 ranks. In addition to last year’s win, he also triumphed for RAM at Snetterton in 2022 alongside Ulysse de Pauw.
“This is a big year for RAM Racing, and I feel we’re in a great position to hit the ground running,” said Ferguson. “Last year was a big rebuild, working toward being back with two cars for 2024, and the decision to switch to the BMW is logical. The M4 showed how strong it was by winning the championship last season, and it will be a force to be reckoned with again this year.
“To keep Lello alongside me is a huge bonus. He’s the best GT3 driver in the world and we were working so well together by the end of last year that going the extra mile to ensure the partnership continued made a lot of sense.”
Seen by many as the benchmark in global GT3 racing, Marciello will dovetail his British GT programme with an assault on the FIA World Endurance Championship’s top-tier LMDh class this term. Before that, the Swiss-Italian is set to make his competitive debut in the M4 GT3 at next month’s Repco Bathurst 12 Hour.
“I’m really happy to be back in British GT with John and RAM Racing,” said Marciello. “It’s a big year ahead, being my first as a BMW M works driver, and there’s a lot to learn.
“It will be a big challenge for myself and the team to switch car from the Mercedes-AMG to the BMW M4 GT3, and to find the right setups for the tracks. We had a good season overall last year, and we already know the areas where we can improve, so I’m expecting big things for us in British GT this season.”
In GT4, RAM Racing will race with Mercedes-AMG, with the duo of Harry George and Luca Hopkinson entered in the Silver class.
George was a podium finisher during his maiden British GT4 campaign last year, racing both an Enduro Motorsport-run McLaren and Mercedes-AMG alongside Darren Burke as the pair finished eighth in the championship. Prior to that George enjoyed successful campaigns in Caterham racing, finishing second in the 2022 310R Championship and runner-up in the 2021 Academy series.
Hopkinson graduates to British GT4 off the back of two seasons in the Ginetta Junior Championship. He finished on the podium twice last term, securing a top-10 finish in the championship standings. At just 17, he will be one of the youngest drivers on the grid.
In addition to being back up to two cars, RAM Racing has also completed an overhaul of the technical crew operating both the BMW and Mercedes-AMG sides of the garage. RAM team manager Stan Harper will be backed up by the highly experienced Keith Cheetham. The team has high hopes of strong results from the start of the campaign.
The season itself begins at Oulton Park on Easter Bank Holiday Weekend (March 30 + 1 April).
Images courtesy of RAM Racing
