Avon Tyres British GT Champion Bradley Ellis will contest the opening rounds of the European FIA GT3 Championship at Silverstone this weekend, 19&20 April, with the Swiss Matech team. The one-race deal will see the Croydon ace mounting his assault in the Ford GT alongside Ed Morris (Sittingbourne, Kent).

“I am delighted to have signed with Matech for the Silverstone European FIA GT3 round,” said Ellis. “It’s been a while since I have raced a GT3 car but I know it won’t take long to get back into the groove.”

Silverstone will be Ellis’ third outing in the European FIA GT3 Championship with Morris who first accompanied Ellis on his debut in the premier series at Monza back in June 2007 where the pair impressed with sensational second and third-place podium finishes for Team RPM. The second outing in Dubai didn’t prove as fruitful when the Dodge Viper suffered gearbox and engine failure, forcing the duo to miss the first race.

The opening rounds of the European FIA GT3 Championship will mark the first time Ellis has raced on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. “I have plenty of experience racing on the International circuit and I have done a number of corporate driving days on the Grand Prix circuit, but those were mainly spent sitting in the passenger seat. At least I have a few flying laps already under my belt as a result, but I am looking forward to getting to grips with the car and the Grand Prix circuit on Friday, when I’ll go out in the Ford GT for the first time.”

“I’ll be giving it my all at Silverstone and hopefully this one-race opportunity may lay the foundations for a strong future partnership racing with Ed and Matech.”

Ellis’ deal to race at the only UK round of the European FIA GT3 Championship has attracted support from the Lifestyle Europe car dealership in Redhill, Surrey. The Croydon racer’s relationship with the dealership stretches back to 1999 under the auspices of Hancock Ford, who supported Ellis in his junior British karting endeavours. Now Lifestyle Europe, the company boasts premises throughout Crawley, Horsham, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, and Gatwick.

Qualifying for rounds one and two of the European FIA GT3 Championship will be held on Saturday morning with round one scheduled at 15.45. Round two follows on Sunday afternoon, at 15.55. For further information and results, visit fiagt3.com