Next weekend’s Silverstone two-hour endurance round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship looks set to enjoy the biggest grid of the season as a host of new and returning GT3 and G4 class cars turn out for the double-points spectacular.

There will be three Aston Martin DBRS9s in action at the 15 August race on Silverstone’s ‘Bridge’ Grand Prix circuit layout. Joining Aston-driving championship regulars Paul Whight and Michael Bentwood will be cars for 2009 race winner Stuart Hall, who will be partnered by Tom Black, and for a frontrunner from the 2009 season, Andrew Howard, who will be co-driven by works Aston Martin driver Darren Turner.

The all-new Vantage Racing-prepared Hall and Black Aston Martin will be enjoying its first serious competitive outing. “We are very happy finally to have the car ready to race,” said team manager Hugh Chamberlain. “The Silverstone race will be a good test for the car, which is completely new to us. Depending on how things go, we may look at doing more British GT races later on.”

Andrew Howard, who just missed out on a British GT podium finish at Silverstone last year, said: “The Aston has been fully upgraded to 2010 spec and will run again in the Beechdean Motorsport colours, prepared by Beechdean-Barwell. What’s really exciting is that Aston Martin have released Darren to drive with me; it’s fantastic.” Silverstone will be Howard’s first outing of the year, his role in the ongoing Beechdean-Mansell sports car project having denied him the time to race himself.

British GT championship manager Benjamin Franassovicci said: “We have a lot of interest for the first of the season’s two-hour races, particularly from the G4 class. I am confident there will be a minimum of 20 cars on the grid at Silverstone for this fantastic event.”

British GT is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and The Independent.