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| Ferraris to Star in British GT |
19.3.05
The British GT Media Day took place at Silverstone on 16th March, where
the teams taking part in the 2005 Championship were presented and then
took part in a test session.
The Ferrari interest is provided by 360s from Scuderia Ecosse, Damax and
JMH Automotive, all of whom have been successful in the FOC's Pirelli
Maranello Ferrari Challenge.
The British Series is just part of Scuderia Ecosse's
ambitious plans, which also include the Le Mans Endurance Series and the
Le Mans 24 Hour race in 2005. The team will run a fleet of three Ferrari
360 GTCs in the top class (GT2), with the full endorsement and support
of Ferrari and Michelotto.
After a fantastic debut season in the 2004 British GT Championship, where
the team narrowly missed out on overall victory, Scuderia Ecosse are out
to take the crown this time around.
Nathan Kinch and Andrew Kirkaldy will compete in the British GT Championship,
the LMES and at Le Mans itself whilst Chris Niarchos and Tim Mullen will
take on just the British series for Scuderia Ecosse. The team has yet
to choose a third driver for the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Phil Burton and JMH Automotive are another pairing to
graduate from the PMFC .Their 360/Ch, which will run in the GT3 class,
has been developed in-house by the addition of a front splitter, rear
wing, uprated suspension and centre-lock wheels (amongst other things)
and will run on Dunlop tyres. Burton is partnered by legendary racer Ian
Flux and the times recorded in pre-season testing have been very promising.
Damax will field two 360s in GT3 class; the first car
for for an established driver pairing with proven success, Marco Attard
and ex-World Sports Car Champion Nick Adams. The second car will be for
two drivers new to the team, Miles Hulford and Jamie Smyth. Miles, who
will still be 16 years old at the first race of the season, has had a
successful karting career and finished 2nd in the 2004 Formula Jedi Championship
in his first season in single seaters (incidentally his Dad is well-known
as an instructor at FOC Circuit Driving Days). Jamie Smyth has also been
very successful in Formula Ford Championships and in 2004 took part in
a number of British GT races in a Ferrari 360.
Damax have, through their drivers, also introduced two new sponsors to
the Championship with ARINSO International and ChronoSwiss supporting
Miles and Jamie respectively.
Team Principal Robin Ward is very excited about the team’s prospects
for success, which following successful winter testing, gives the team
every reason to be confident of podium places for both cars in the GT3
class.
Scuderia Ecosse's Nathan Kinch and Andrew Kirkaldy were
fastest during the three hour testing session, topping the sheets ahead
of their team-mates Tim Mullen and Chris Niarchos. The Burton/Flux JMH
car was the quickest in the GT3 class.
Click here for the full list of times.
The Series kicks off with Rounds 1&2 at Donington on 3rd April.
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mouse over pic for caption, click to enlarge] |
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Click here
to return to the Ferrari Happenings page.
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The Scuderia Ecosse 360GTCs |
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...were quickest at the
Media Day test... |
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...ahead of team mates
Niarchos/Mullen |
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| pics by British GT, JMH Automotive
& Damax |
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