Thursday 25th March 2004

British GTs

Ready to race - large grid looks likely

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Plenty of teams were at Brands Hatch yesterday for the launch of the 2004 season of the British GT series.

With a Frenchman Stephane Ratel now running the show, the series has attracted a good field with quite a variety of cars ready to do battle at the beginning of April.

Several TVR T400Rs are ready to race including RSR Racing's brand new bronze example. The car was only recently completed by Blackpool. It looks fantastic and has obviously benefited from the development work done by previous teams. The car will be driven by Lawrence Tomlinson and Nigel Greensall. Greensall in particular is a spectacularly quick driver so if the car behaves it should be one to watch.

Another well known name taking part this year is Tim Sugden. He'll be behind the wheel of the GruppeM Tech 9 GT3 RSR. GruppeM are putting in huge amounts of money this season into both their British GT effort and several rounds of the FIA GT. The investment and the talent should put them at the front of the pack.

Ferraris were there in numbers too. We can expect 3 in the NGT class and a further four in GT Cup ensuring an impressive soundtrack.

In the Cup class the cars to watch are going to be the Noble M12 which should be particularly quick and also the Vauxhall VX220. Both cars look good on paper and remain a bit of an unknown quantity to the other racers so it's all to play for at Donington in two weeks time.

The Stealth that Brookspeed hoped to race this year won't now appear as it doesn't meet the requirement for the minimum number made (we're saying nothing!). A road going version did appear at Brands though.

The large and varied grid should mean plenty of entertainment for spectators at Donington on April 3rd and 4th.

Link: Team List

[DustyC]

The new grid sounds very interesting. Looking forward to the racing.

What were they all doing at Brands?

[Mannginger]

Press day I think - Ted goes to drink coffee and play with cars and drivers for a day!

edited to add: can't wait to watch this year - it's gonna be loud!

Phil

>> Edited by Mannginger on Thursday 25th March 07:30

[michelangelo]

Hi all,
yes, the new grid sounds very interesting!
Hope to be present in some races, I belive that British GT it's the best national Gt Chap. in the world (I don't know Japanese one).
Good & competitive cars, competitors & circuits.

Michelangelo

[mutley]

michelangelo said:

... I belive that British GT it's the best national Gt Chap. in the world (I don't know Japanese one). Good & competitive cars, competitors & circuits. Michelangelo

Have to agree with you

The Japanese series has highly modified cars some even more than the old GT1 and are (I think) in some cases to GTP spec.

[The DJ 27]

They're about the same pace as GTS cars. They have about the same power, more downforce but worse brakes. There are a couple of old longtail McLaren F1 GTR's running though.

[Ballistic Banana]

yep certainly looks a good Grid, Shame about the Stealth looks quite Hairy or should that be Scarey.

Cant wait

BB

[skinner]

Ballistic Banana said:

yep certainly looks a good Grid, Shame about the Stealth looks quite Hairy or should that be Scarey. Cant wait BB

Are you off to Donnington then?

[omgdave]

Ballistic Banana said:

yep certainly looks a good Grid, Shame about the Stealth looks quite Hairy or should that be Scarey. Cant wait BB

How about some help for a fan from the States:
Where can I find information on the Stealth?

Best,

Dave

[DustyC]

www.racecar.co.uk/stealth/prices.htm

Performance is UFO like.

[DustyC]

With exhausts like this it even looks UFO like!


>> Edited by DustyC on Friday 26th March 14:02

[john75]

Best bet for information on the Steath is Stealth Cars website.