British GT 2024

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Jamie Brown

Thruxton pit lane is too small for British GT. They never went back after the chaos in 2008.

Originally Posted by chunterer

You might think so, yet it is big enough to host the huge BTCC grids?

Thruxton and Croft should both be on the calendar imo.

I think there's also the consideration of the speed of Thruxton and with the pace differential between a GT3 and GT4 perhaps there was some apprehension about potential accidents when slower cars were getting lapped - especially with a peak grid size of 35. British GT has also historically been reluctant to hold standalone races for GT3 and GT4 cars - part of its USP is multi-class racing.
There's also tyres to consider at Thruxton - think of all the problems the BTCC had with punctures in 2016 and Porsche Carrera Cup GB in 2020/2021.

If we think about 2023 numbers BTCC had 27 cars versus British GT at about 33-35. Even at its NGTC peak the BTCC had 32. Some BTCC entries tend to be based out of marquees at BTCC meets whereas all 35 British GT entries would expect to have a pit garage. When British GT was visiting circuits like Thruxton, Croft and Knockhill the peak grid size was probably in the low-20s in the mid/late-2000s. There's also the need for full pitstop equipment for tyre changes and refuelling rigs (something the BTCC doesn't need) and a narrow pitlane like Thruxton or Croft (or Knockhill for that matter) would probably not be considered entirely safe.

There's also the consideration of facilities, tyre barriers, circuit infrastructure etc. - perhaps circuits like Thruxton and Croft meet the BTCC's standards given their cars are slower but don't meet SRO and British GTs high standards with fast GT cars.

[flatlandsman]

I think Thruxton is far too dodgy for several reasons. Yes the tyres, also the driver standard, you can eff up at Silverstone or Donington and not really get too badly hurt, Thruxton however is a very tricky track to learn and master, there are all sorts of lines that can work and throw in multi class to that you have a recipe for disaster with some of the distinctly average driving talent that pays its way there.

I think Combe is similar, even though that would be fabulous.

Arguably Knockhill could work but again perhaps too small. Maybe Anglesey even, though they seem reluctant to have anything other than club stuff there for all sorts of reasons. I think Silverstone is a joke in terms of not hosting much, they only give a toss about 1 week of the year these days, so in many ways good riddance, but their approach to anything other than f1 in recent years is almost sinister.

I am amazed they race at Oulton, really if you can race there usually when it's wet, why can't you manage some other equally scary venues!

In the end this is probably all about SRO and hosting fees aswell.

[Jamie Brown]

Century Motorsport - BMW M4 GT4 - Ian Gough / Tom Wrigley

https://www.britishgt.com/news/1005/...-title-assault


Mahiki Racing - Lotus Emira GT4 - Gordie Mutch / Ian Duggan

Mahiki Racing - Lotus Emira GT4 - Nathan Harrison / Steven Lake

https://www.britishgt.com/news/1006/...racings-emiras


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[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Jamie Brown

Century Motorsport - BMW M4 GT4 - Ian Gough / Tom Wrigley

https://www.britishgt.com/news/1005/...-title-assault


Mahiki Racing - Lotus Emira GT4 - Gordie Mutch / Ian Duggan

Mahiki Racing - Lotus Emira GT4 - Nathan Harrison / Steven Lake

https://www.britishgt.com/news/1006/...racings-emiras

I'm looking forward to seeing how the Lotus Emira GT4s get on - good-looking cars and to get two on the grid is always a good thing. Mutch and Harrison are very quick drivers

[BertMk2]

A few more announcements:

GT3:
ABBA Mercedes AMG GT3 Neary/neary
RAM Racing BMW M4 GT3 Marciello/Ferguson

GT4:
RAM Racing Mercedes AMG GT4 George/Hopkinson

[chunterer]

The RAM Merc to Bimmer switch is very significant.

That was the way for Ferguson to keep Yello as gun driver I guess. Plus gives Yello more drives as a factory driver.

Keeping Merc for GT4 though. Wonder why they didn't switch too?

[PeterY]

Harry George owns the Merc GT4 car, also Keith Cheetham going there and he has a lot of experience with the Merc gt4

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by PeterY

Harry George owns the Merc GT4 car, also Keith Cheetham going there and he has a lot of experience with the Merc gt4

Ok, thanks that makes sense of all this now.

[BertMk2]

Another GT3 McLaren entry - RJN returning with Buncombe and Watts.

More GT3 announcements this to come this week...

[rdjones]

Former Champion Rob Collard returns to the championship in Barwell GT3 Lambo he will share the car with son Ricky.

https://www.britishgt.com/news/1011/...barwells-lambo

[chunterer]

Two strong entries there it must be said

Having Buncombe in the series adds a quick driver.

Cottingham is doing WEC with United, does that mean he's out of Brit GT completely?

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Two strong entries there it must be said

Having Buncombe in the series adds a quick driver.

Cottingham is doing WEC with United, does that mean he's out of Brit GT completely?

Think in his interview for the announcement he said WEC was his sole focus

[Bcarr6]

About 1/3 of the way through the entry announcements this year, they have confirmed its the full 36 cars again.

Best guess is we will see about 14 GT3's this year. Enduro closed shop, plus a few others look like they are moving away, so I think 14 is my humble guess, that or anything above would be good news.

Mclaren leading for number of entries in GT3 again so far, same as last year, I think theres a chance we will see another 1-2 Mclarens in that class.

Hard to say who's in the favourite for wins so far out of the announcements, Rob Collard is always a quick AM but he doesnt have Sandy Mitchell this year to give him a heavy helping hand, I wouldnt say Ricky is as fast. Marciello is undoubedtly the class of the field but he was held back massively last year by his slow am. The Nearys are a very consistent pair, wouldnt be surprised to see them take a win.


British GT 2024 (11/36)

GT3 Class - 7 cars

Barwell Motorsport - Lamborghini Huracan GT3 - Rob Collard / Ricky Collard
Century Motorsport - BMW M4 GT3 - Carl Cavers / Lewis Plato
Orange Motorsport - Mclaren 720s GT3 - Simon Orange / Tom Roche
Paddock Motorsport - Mclaren 720s GT3 - Mark Smith / Martin Plowman
Ram Racing - BMW M4 GT3 - John Ferguson / Raffaele Marciello
Team ABBA Racing - Mercedes AMG GT3 - Richard Neary / Sam Neary
Team RJN - Mclaren 720s GT3 - Simon Watts / Al Buncombe

GT4 Class - 4 cars

Century Motorsport - BMW M4 GT4 - Ian Gough / Tom Wrigley
Mahiki Racing - Lotus Emira GT4 - Ian Duggan / Gordie Mutch
Mahiki Racing - Lotus Emira GT4 - Nathan Harrison / Steven Lake
Ram Racing - Mercedes AMG GT4 - Harry George / Luca Hopkinson

[samchevron]

Alex Martin will join former British GT champion Sandy Mitchell, completing the Barwell GT3 lineup in British GT this year.

https://www.britishgt.com/news/1013

[PeterY]

CWS - Ginetta G56 - Colin White/Tom Holland

Team Parker - Mercedes AMG GT4 - Seb Morris/Charles Dawson

2 Seas - Mercedes AMG GT3 - Kevin Tse/Maximillian Goetz

[PeterY]

2 Seas - Mercedes AMG GT3 - Ian Loggie/Phil Keen

[Bcarr6]

Thats 16 announced, 20 more to go...


British GT 2024 (16/36)

GT3 Class - 10 cars

Barwell Motorsport - Lamborghini Huracan GT3 - Rob Collard / Ricky Collard
Barwell Motorsport - Lamborghini Huracan GT3 - Alex Martin / Sandy Mitchell
Century Motorsport - BMW M4 GT3 - Carl Cavers / Lewis Plato
Orange Motorsport - Mclaren 720s GT3 - Simon Orange / Tom Roche
Paddock Motorsport - Mclaren 720s GT3 - Mark Smith / Martin Plowman
Ram Racing - BMW M4 GT3 - John Ferguson / Raffaele Marciello
Team ABBA Racing - Mercedes AMG GT3 - Richard Neary / Sam Neary
Team RJN - Mclaren 720s GT3 - Simon Watts / Al Buncombe
2 Seas Motorsport - Mercedes AMG GT3 - Ian Loggie / Phil Keen
2 Seas Motorsport - Mercedes AMG GT3 - Kevin Tse / Maximilian Goetz

GT4 Class - 6 cars

Century Motorsport - BMW M4 GT4 - Ian Gough / Tom Wrigley
CWS Racing - Ginetta G56 GT4 - Colin White / Tom Holland
Mahiki Racing - Lotus Emira GT4 - Ian Duggan / Gordie Mutch
Mahiki Racing - Lotus Emira GT4 - Nathan Harrison / Steven Lake
Ram Racing - Mercedes AMG GT4 - Harry George / Luca Hopkinson
Team Parker Racing - Mercedes AMG GT4 - Charles Dawson / Seb Morris

[PeterY]

Optimum - Mclaren 720s GT3 - Tom Gamble/Mark Radcliffe

[PeterY]

Optimum - Mclaren Artura GT4 - Jack Brown/Zac Meakin

[Bcarr6]

Toyota Gazoo Racing - Toyota GR Supra GT4 - Kavi Jundhu / Dan Vaughan

[Jamie Brown]

Steller Motorsport - Audi R8 LMS GT4 - Tim Docker / Jordan Albert


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[BertMk2]

Nice - there's some good variety in GT4 - 7 different manufacturers so far, hopefully we'll get a bit more variety in GT3 as well.

[Bcarr6]

Academy back with 2 new mustang GT4s

Erik Evans / Marco Signoretti
Matt Nicoll-Jones / Will Moore


22/36 cars announced, GT3 announcement later today before 2 more GT4s this week, so down to last 9-10 cars by end of the week. As with every year, anything above 14 GT3s is good by me!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

22/36 cars announced, GT3 announcement later today before 2 more GT4s this week, so down to last 9-10 cars by end of the week. As with every year, anything above 14 GT3s is good by me!

It's looking good isn't it? The Mustangs adding even more variety to the GT4 grid and we've got a decent amount of GT3 cars with more announcements to come.

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by BertMk2

It's looking good isn't it? The Mustangs adding even more variety to the GT4 grid and we've got a decent amount of GT3 cars with more announcements to come.

I really went off the boil with British GT, but the series has really pulled me back in the last few year. Fingers crossed the GT3 numbers continue to rise (and, as said above, we get a little more variety in the cars as well).