Spirit of Race Ferrari driver Matt Griffin sits sixth on the British GT’s all-time win list and is hungry for more success in his return to the SRO-organised championship this year.
The Irishman, who launched his GT career in the UK-based championship in 2003 with a remarkable eight wins during his rookie season, is back in 2025 and searching for victory number 15.
His 2025 programme sees him rejoin the field after a five-year absence, racing with Ferrar’s latest GT3 racer (the 296 GT3) and longstanding teammate Duncan Cameron.
“It’s hyper-competitive and it always has been,” he says of the British GT Championship’s current crop of teams and drivers.
“Like it or not, Britain is the home of motorsport. British GT, in my opinion, is the toughest national championship in the world – often harder than many international series.
“Motorsport isn’t cheap, and someone has to cover the cost – typically the bronze drivers in a Pro-Am team. But British GT has always been very competitive.
“Winning a race now is probably harder than it was 10-15 years ago. The depth of the field has really improved.”
While Griffin’s association with the British GT Championship (now in its 33rd season) dates back to 2003, his history with Duncan Cameron in the UK-trotting series began during the Ferrari 430 era.
He first co-piloted a Chad Racing Ferrari 430 Scuderia GT3 with Peter Bamford in 2008, but it was in 2009 when he claimed the first of eight wins with Cameron (below).
Those early years of British GT racing helped set up Griffin’s lengthy and successful career, during which he has become a Ferrari mainstay, racing through each era of its GT3 programme.
“This year is the 15-year anniversary of when Duncan and I won both [Oulton Park] races in the F430 Scuderia GT3.”
Looking back, he has fond memories competing with each of Ferrari’s GT3 models. However, while the 296 has set the bar in the current era of GT3 racing in terms of drivability and serviceability, for Griffin, it’s the 458 that he places on the highest pedestal.
“It was the car that really launched my professional career with Ferrari,” he says.
“I did all the development work on it, and I raced it in both GT3 and GTE forms all over the world. Every driver has a car they’re emotionally connected to, and for me, it’s the 458 GT3.
“We had some amazing races in the 458, too many seasons where we went into the final race leading or fighting for the title, but it didn’t quite work out. With the 488, we had a brilliant win at Rockingham.
“I’d love to improve that (his position on the all-time winners list), but I don’t know how much the rest of the competitors are going to want me to do that!”
Ferrari is one of seven full-season manufacturers represented on the 2025 British GT entry. And although Spirit of Race is the only team racing with Ferrari on the grid and cannot rely on strength in numbers, Griffin believes he and Cameron can find a way onto the top step before the end of the campaign – BoP permitting!
“I’d like to win a race at the bare minimum,” he explains. “Right now, I’m not sure we’re quite there, especially with the current Balance of Performance (BoP).
“At Silverstone, there were three Ferraris, and we were clearly the fastest of them – quick in qualifying, quick in practice.
“The race didn’t go our way, but we were the best-placed Ferrari in P10. Maybe at Spa we’ll get a break on BoP and be more competitive. That’s just how endurance racing goes – ups and downs.
“Last year, Ferrari dominated in the SRO championships internationally, so it’s not surprising they’ve been pegged back a bit this year.”
Why is Griffin not aiming for the title? A clash between the British GT round at Donington Park and the season opener of the other championship he is contesting with Cameron – the European Le Mans Series – meant Spirit of Race’s start to the UK season was delayed.
He and Cameron then retired from the Silverstone 500 (kilometres) on their BGT return after taking damage from contact with Richard Neary’s #8 Team Abba Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo at Vale Corner.
Thus, Griffin and Cameron’s focus is on collecting silverware over the remaining weekends.
“I think it’s realistic [to aim for one victory this season],” he adds. “At Silverstone, if we hadn’t been taken out, we’d have been well within the top five – maybe even fighting for a podium.
“Right now, the car is stronger on long-run pace than in qualifying. I think Spa will suit us, maybe Donington (the season finale) as well. I’m not so sure about Snetterton.
“But I believe we have the right driver lineup and the right team – we just need a bit of luck and for things to fall our way.”
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