Ferrari UK has announced the re-launch of one of the most successful privateer Ferrari GT teams in history, the Maranello Concessionaires Racing Team. The historic GT and sports-prototype team scored 24 outright victories while contesting 92 international races between 1961 and 1972 and its driver line-up included World Champions Sir Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill. Team founder, Colonel Ronnie Hoare, also established the original Ferrari UK distributor, Maranello Concessionaires Limited, which evolved to become today's Ferrari UK.

The new racing team, now named Team Maranello Concessionaires (TMC), will enter two examples of the very latest Ferrari 360GT race cars in all 10 rounds of the 2003 FIA GT Championship. The Team will build on the past successes and continue its tradition of promoting British driving talents onto the International racing scene. The team believes that the FIA GT Championship is the world's most competitive sportscar platform and provides an excellent showcase for Ferrari cars and British talents.

TMC will be managed and operated by Brackley-based Veloqx Motorsport. With its excellent record during 2002, a title-winning campaign in its debut season in the British GT championship, and its professional approach to racing, TMC will be ready to challenge the best teams in the world in 2003.

"Outside of Formula 1, nothing in motor sport can demonstrate the Ferrari brand strengths so effectively as the 360GT race car and participation in the FIA GT Championship", explained Richard Mackay, Managing Director of Ferrari UK. "By combining the expertise of Veloqx Motorsport with the proven driving talents of four young British race-winning heroes and the backing of Ferrari UK, we are confident that TMC will be a worthy team to carry the Maranello name and colours in this exciting Championship."

Sam Li, Team Principal of TMC, commented, "Veloqx Motorsport successfully took the British Ferrari challenge to other famous marques to win the British GT crown, after a very close battle in 2002. Now, we are ready to take that same challenge to the international level. The FIA GT championship is hugely competitive, and packed starting grids of 36 cars are anticipated for 2003. The car is very good, the technical partners are fully supporting the programme, the team has a wealth of engineering skills and undoubtedly the very best of British drivers."

The team has chosen four British drivers to continue the international track record previously created by legendary stars of the past. Jamie Davies, Ferrari's British GTO Champion of 2002, will head the TMC attack, partnered by Tim Mullen. Driving the other TMC 360GT will be 2001 British GTO Champion, Kelvin Burt and ex-DTM racer, Darren Turner.

Technical partnerships are important in securing motor racing
success, and TMC will to continue its relationship with Dunlop, which will become an exclusive technical development partner for 2003. Most of the Maranello Concessionaires victories from 1961 to modern times were scored using Dunlop tyres.

Team Maranello Concessionaires will conduct an historic re-launch of the famous team on 19 March, at the newly refurbished Tower Garage at Egham, Surrey the home of Maranello Sales Limited. As well as unveiling the 360GT in its new Cambridge Blue Nose livery, the team will make a full presentation of its race cars, drivers, sponsors and partners to an audience which will include many famous team drivers from earlier eras.

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