Monday 1st March 2004

British GT Update

Latest news on teams, cars and drivers

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The 2004 British GT Championship is building up for a great season with more teams confirming their entries and nominating drivers.

The latest exciting addition to the championship is the Gruppe M Tech 9 squad which launched its new Porsche 911 GT3-RSR at Porsche Car GB on Saturday. The car will run in the N-GT class of the championship and will be driven by former T-Car and Porsche Carrera cup star Jonathan Cocker with his manager Tim Sugden, a recognised GT ace.

Testing for the new car begins this week, with the team planning to do some FIA GT rounds as well. All this has to fit around Cocker's studies: at just 17, he is studying Design & Technology and Travel & Tourism.

In addition, RSR has confirmed its TVR T400R for Lawrence Tomlinson and Nigel Greensall and Eclipse Motorsport will return for another season with Piers Johnson being joined by Steve Hyde for 2004. A third car will be run by Peninsula TVR for Graeme Mundy/John Hartshorne, who will dovetail a British GT campaign with an LMES programme.

The burgeoning GT Cup is filling up, too. Gavan Kershaw and Barrie Whight will team up in Kershaw's Lotus Sport Elise whilst a similar car will be piloted by Formula Honda graduates Rob Horsfield and Frazer Corbyn. Former Britcar racers Chris Beighton and Jon Finnemore will graduate to the championship with their Marcos Mantis whilst Keith Ahlers will return with his Morgan Aero 8.

[top fuel]

Thank God it's been anounced!! I've been sitting on the Steve Hyde Eclispe Drive for what seems like ages now!!

Great news that he'll be partnering Piers next season. Steve is a very quick "Gentleman" () driver who always seems to have been paired with a Paying Driver. It will be a great season for him, with another quick driver and a quick, well prepared car.

Good Luck to Steve Hyde and Eclipse for the '04 season!!

Paul.

[mannginger]

Ah so THAT's what you were mysteriously alluding to in the pub the other week.

Ear close to the ground and all of that!

Phil

[top fuel]

mannginger said:

Ah so THAT's what you were mysteriously alluding to in the pub the other week. Ear close to the ground and all of that! Phil

I'm guessing it was more important to keep the fact that Shane Wasn't driving rather than Steve was. Looking at the eclipse site they are very Vague about Shane, saying "his plans will be anounced soon" or something.

Watch this space!

[Machin]

Yes...... very intriguing, I must say I rather enjoyed watching Shane drive last season, especially the first race at Donington, and it'll be a shame he won't be there in a month's time....

[Ahonen]

Yes, it's a shame for us too, but Steve's a quick peddler and a good bloke, so it's great to have him on board this year. We've worked with him in the past, of course, scoring two podiums in three races at the end of '02.

We may not have Lynchy doing the driving for us this year, but he'll be around at the races in an ambassadorial role - which might soften the blow a little for his female, er, fans... He'll also be on TV competing in the Channel 4 programme The Games - the training schedule for which has been wearing him out recently!

Steve @ Eclipse.

[Big_M]

Ahonen said:

but he'll be around at the races in an ambassadorial role - which might soften the blow a little for his female, er, fans...

Thank God for that - me and my mate Diane both treasure the photos we had taken with Shane at Rockingham. Thought for a horrid moment he was replacing Bryan in Westlife