TF Sport will begin its first full-time assault on the 2014 Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Cheshire’s picturesque and undulating Oulton Park circuit this Easter weekend (19-21 April).
One of Britain’s premier motor racing series, the British GT Championship is heading into arguably one of the most exciting seasons in its history.
The championship, which boasts a plethora of state-of-the-art GT3 and GT4-spec cars, ranging from BMWs to Aston Martins, has attracted the attention of over 60 drivers, including six-time Olympic cycling Champion, Chris Hoy.
TF Sport, which was recently named as an official Aston Martin Racing Partner Team – a prestigious accolade shared only among ten teams worldwide – will contest both the GT3 and GT4 classes this season with an exciting, high-calibre driver line-up.
Piloting the Surrey-based outfit’s stunning red-liveried Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 will be Paul Bailey and teammate Andy Schulz, who both took top honours in last year’s British GTC championship at Donington Park’s finale.
Bailey said: “I haven’t raced at Oulton Park for three years, although TF Sport and I tested there a few weeks back. It’s a very tight, unforgiving circuit. If you go off the track you will do a lot of damage.
“Andy (Schulz) and I have worked together for a long time. Last year we competed in the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship in a similar GT3-spec Aston Martin V12 Vantage. However, Britcar and the British GT Championship are worlds apart. It’s very nerve-racking, but I feel I’m well prepared.
“I think the realistic target is to finish the race, which may not sound like much, but this weekend is going to be a huge moment for me. This is by far the largest grid I’ve raced in is 12 cars and, considering the series is attracting the very best drivers Europe has to offer, I expect this to be very challenging.”
Schulz said: “I love Oulton Park and it was the venue for my first ever car race back in 1990. It’s a very demanding and technical track and TF Sport has worked hard on finding a car setup that works for us. We haven’t had much time to perfect it, but I’m very comfortable in the car and we’re not a million miles off.
“I’m not going to predict anything for this weekend, but my main goal is to finish both races so we can get some data and then see where we go from there with regards to the rest of the season.”
Piloting TF Sport’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 is Milton Keynes’ Andrew Jarman. Linking up with his local MK Dons football team to launch his 2014 livery last weekend, the ex-BARC Formula Renault racer has already proven to be a dab hand at GT racing, having clinched the 2013 Aston Martin GT4 Challenge crown at the first time of asking.
“It is a bit of an unknown heading into the first weekend of the season,” said Jarman. “Testing went really well and I hope to get a podium finish in the first race. I’ve raced at Oulton Park in both the GT4 Challenge and Formula Renault and it’s a track I quite like. However, with the size of field this season, it will be a case of staying out of trouble and getting some points.”
Completing TF Sport’s driver line-up and partnering Jarman is 23-year old Devon Modell.
The Maidstone-based driver capped off last year by winning the Michelin Clio Cup Series’ ‘Autumn Cup’ event at Rockingham Motor Speedway, before finishing second in class at the 2014 Dubai 24 Hours.
Modell will continue to compete in the Renault UK Clio Cup this season, flying between Donington Park and Oulton Park via helicopter to make both series’ qualifying sessions.
“It’s going to be a huge learning curve for the whole year, but I felt very comfortable the moment I first stepped in the car,” said Devon. “Oulton Park is one of the tracks I favour. I tested the Aston Martin, but we still have no idea where we are going to be come raceday.
“I’m aiming for the podium and, with such a strong teammate in Andrew (Jarman), we should be quicker than we were at the media day.We are both learning from each other and are very similar on times, which is a huge advantage.”
TF Sport Director, Tom Ferrier, said: “Both cars are on for some positive results at Oulton Park, but it’s always hard to know the team’s real pace until the drivers go out with the rest of the field running the same fuel loads and tyres.
“TF Sport entered this championship to win it but, being realistic, with Andy (Schulz) and Paul (Bailey) we would like to finish the season inside the top eight, and with Andrew (Jarman) and Devon (Modell) we’d like to be within the top three in GT4. I’d very pleased if we hit those targets, considering it’s the team’s first year in the series. I’m not saying we are going to go out there and win; we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground in this incredibly tough championship.”
Qualifying for the opening round of the 2014 Avon Tyres British GT Championship will take place at 16.20 on Saturday (19th April), with Rounds 1 and 2 at 11.15 and 15.45 respectively on Bank Holiday Monday (21st April).
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