Jann Mardenborough is set to return to the British GT Championship later this month, joining Team RJN for the Silverstone 500 in its second McLaren GT3 EVO.
The former GT Academy winner, whose career story was depicted in the recent Gran Turismo film, previously competed in the championship with RJN in 2012, scoring a win and two podiums en route to sixth overall in the standings.
Mardenborough now returns to partner up with Chris Buncombe. His brother Alex meanwhile, will be on the other side of the garage with his regular co-driver Simon Watts who was forced to skip Oulton.
“2012 was my first full season of racing, which happened to be in British GT,” said Mardenborough, who has spent the majority of his professional career contesting Japan’s Super GT championship.
“I’m looking forward to returning for a one-off in the Silverstone 500 endurance round. Since my time away racing abroad in Japan and other places I’m pleased to see the championship expand and grow with more top drivers and teams in both GT3 and GT4.
“To do battle against them paired with Chris and RJN, our intent is to win, and we’ve been preparing on and off track to direct ourselves to that vision.
“RJN and Bob Neville helped mould me into the driver and, more importantly, the person I am today. I find it very fitting to be working with them again. We will give our all.”
Chris Buncombe, who subbed for Watts last time out at Oulton, added: “I’ve known Jann from when he first made the step from virtual racing into the world of real racing alongside my brother at Team RJN so it’s a lovely story that this has now come full circle and we will be sharing a car together.
“Oulton was the first time in almost four years that I’d been in a race car so I plan to get familiar as quickly as possible and do the best job I can for the team and everyone involved in making this possible.”
Mardenborough’s British GT appearance is part of a potential wider programme for 2024 in preparation for full-time racing in 2025, details of which will be confirmed in due course.
Meanwhile, further Silverstone 500 entries will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Featured image courtesy of British GT
