GT Cup..entries flooding in for first round
20th March 2009
Entries are now building up rapidly for the 2009 GT Cup series after the recession caused a slow but steady start. With the first round a months away twenty six cars have so far fully entered Donington Park on April 18/19 with a further five entries verbally confirmed. This leaves just six places on the grid for late comers. Organisers Bute Motorsport are hopeful the remaining places may well be taken by a number of competitors know to them who have still to finalise their plans.
Teams have found both the new Group One for cars of FIA GT3 pace and Group Four for more standard cars an attractive cost effective alternative to other GT series in the UK. Well over half the grid will be filled by teams that ran successfully last year whilst many drivers new to the GT Cup will also be racing.
The entry for Donington now includes Paul Whight in his Aston Martin DBRS9, Mike Gardiner in his Dodge Viper, Peter Seldon in his BMW GTR and Mike Donovan in his Porsche 997 GT3S plus front runners from last year like Pete Morris, Gary Eastwood and Craig Wilkins in their Porsche's and Leon Price, Jeff Leadley and Ian Hartley in their Ferrari's. Other Porsche drivers such as Henry Firman and Glenn McMenamin will boost an impressive showing for the German marque who will be joined by six Ferrari's ranging from 430 to 355 models and a range of other marque's such as Morgan with Howard Spooner in his Airo8.
Whilst many of the teams who supported drivers last year such as JMH, ABG, in2racing, Stratton Motor Company and Parr will be returning a number of new teams will also emerge in 2009. FF Corse headed by Anthony Cheshire will take over from Fiorano Ferrari and GT Marques formed by the highly experienced Paul Mace will be looking after Bertie Carruthers, Ray Dias and newcomer Alex Martin in Porsche 996 Cup cars. Also racing for the full season will be Will Goff in his Aston Martin Vantage GT4.
Organisers Bute Motorsport hope to issue a provisional entry list next week.
SUMMARY:-
- Support race at A1GP (on Brands GP Circuit) and FIA F2 (on Donington GP Circuit).
- Headline race at Knockhill 100km meeting.
- GT Cup remains a Series by choice to allow for refinement of format.
- Sporting and Technical Regulations refined and improved.
- Organisers are making every effort to keep costs and entry fees as low as possible providing outstanding value for money.
- Series remains open to MSA National B Licence holders with no professional drivers allowed.
- Full Entrant Hospitality at every round.
- New ‘Group One' for FIA GT3 cars.
- Eight Rounds and 16 races at key UK circuits.
- Pirelli tyres with one free tyre with every set of four bought offer.
CALENDAR:-
April 18/19th Donington Park ( National Circuit)
May 1/2/3rd Brands Hatch GP (Supporting A1GP)
June 13/14th Snetterton
July 25th Oulton Park
August 15/16th Donington Park GP ( Supporting FIA F2)
September 5/6th Knockhill
October 10th Silverstone International
October 24/25th Brands Hatch Indy
CONTACTS:-
Marc Haynes (Organiser) mob +44 7970919711
Hannah Wilson (Race Secretary) mob +447500 116687
Jock Simpson (Media PR) mob +447836228891
