British GT

Chad Racing is to return to the Avon Tyres British GT Championship this season with a Ferrari 430 and two drivers with extensive experience of the car and of international sports car racing, it is announced today (Thursday).

Chad's machine will be handled by Paul Warren and Chris Hyman, and team manager Piers Masarati believes they will prove a useful combination: "They raced a 430 in the FIA GT Championship in 2007 and '08, know the car and love to race competitively. We hope for podiums on a regular basis and will be working hard to establish a stable and competitive car, as we did last year for Peter Bamford and Matt Griffin." Chad will be dovetailing its British GT campaign with its works Kia Belgian touring car programme, while Masarati - the 2005 British GT3 champion driver - continues in his role as manager of the successful Portuguese A1GP squad.

Ferraris won seven of last year's 14 British GT races, and Warren is hopeful that he and Hyman will be able to take advantage of that winning pedigree: "We both enjoyed driving the 430 in FIA GTs and we are looking forward to racing one in the UK. We found in the international championship that, with business commitments preventing us from testing ahead of the events, we were at a disadvantage to the many professional drivers taking part. We both know the British tracks well, the car is superb to drive and very competitive, and we are looking forward to the coming season."

Warren and Hyman met while racing Formula Palmer Audi single-seaters. They are backed by Felbridge Hotel and Spa, AIPS and by Meronden Office Solutions.

The Avon Tyres British GT Championship blasts into action at Oulton Park over the Easter weekend (11-13 April). The championship is sponsored by Avon Tyres and is further supported by motorsport insurance specialist AON, by Sunoco Racing Fuels and by Anglo American Oil Company.