British team Trackspeed Racing returns to FIA GT competition for the first time since 2010 with a two-car entry for the FIA GT Series finalé at Baku in Azerbaijan and will be fielding all-pro lineups in the 997 GT3 Rs for the first time in the team’s history – Danny Watts and Martin Ragginger in one car and Stephen Jelley and Phil Keen in the other.
“We are very excited to be invited and now with two cars so a big thank you to British GT and the SRO,” said team manager Keith Cheetham. “We’re looking forward to having two Porsches in the sprint series along with our Pro line up. It should be a fantastic race for Trackspeed and team owner David Ashburn who will, for the first time, watch his team compete as an all Pro line up. The team is looking forward to working as a Pro team and hopefully show we can compete at the highest level. Baku and SRO are doing a fantastic job of helping us organize and prepare for what is going to be the highlight of our season.”
The team previously competed regularly in FIA GT2 and GT3, but have focussed on the British GT Championship since a part-season of FIA GT3 in 2010. Ashburn took the British GT Driver’s title in 2010 and Trackspeed have just secured the 2013 Team title with one round still remaining.
“I’m personally really excited to be reunited with Trackspeed as I last raced with the team back in 2006 in British GT at Brands Hatch, Donington Park and the Pau race in France, sharing with David Ashburn,” said Watts, who needs no introduction from DSC. “Our aim is to win both the races, as the Porsche should really suit the layout with its good traction. Martin knows the car very well indeed and is the perfect team mate to help me get back up to speed in a GT car compared to the LMP1 prototype I’m used to.”
Porsche specialist Ragginger, who can usually be found in ADAC GT Masters in 2013, shared a GT3 R with David Ashburn at the opening round of the FIA GT3 European Championship at the 2010 season opener at Silverstone. Keen and Jelley, meanwhile, are Trackspeed regulars in British GT this year and team up in the same car for the first time.
“I’m looking forward to Baku,” said Keen. “I enjoy street circuits and driving with Stephen will be good. The Porsche is a good car and I feel Trackspeed do a great job with the cars. A good result will be great, me and Stephen get on well, so hopefully together we can do a good job with the car and qualify well, then see how the races go.”
The Baku meeting, featuring two one-hour races, takes place on the weekend of October 19/20.
