The GT Cup, which will use Pirelli as its official tyre supplier for the fifth conseucutive year, will kick off with three races at Donington Park this weekend (27-28 April).

Featuring some of the most spectacular cars in British racing, the GT Cup will visit the countrys best-loved race circuits where Pirelli will be on hand to supply slick tyres in DM and DH and wet tyres in compounds to all of the competing crews. This years calendar will consist of seven rounds comprising of 19 separate races.

Each two day round will feature one 40 minute race with a compulsory pit stop on the Saturday, followed by two 25 minute sprint races on the Sunday. The Saturday will include a 40 minute free practice session, and each day will also have a 20 minute qualifying session. One day rounds will have one 30 minute qualifying session followed by two 25 minute sprint races.

The championship will also benefit from a change in the driver eligibility rules after a successful appeal to the MSA and, for the first time, National B' race license holders will be allowed to enter. Also back on the grid this year and fighting to retain the GT Cup crown is defending champion Derek Johnston at the wheel of a Ferrari 458 GT3 car run by MTech.

Im very happy to be back, said Johnston. Its a great championship: I enjoy the people and the racing. It was brilliant for me last year and I had some of the best races Ive ever had in the GT Cup - I was fighting every week.

Pirelli Tyre UK Motorsport Operations Manager Matthew Corby added: After last months successful MSVR season launch at Brands Hatch, which featured several GT Cup cars, this years championship is set to be the best to date with one of the best looking grids in UK GT racing. Pirelli has been involved with the GT Cup for the past four seasons, and the GT cars provide fantastic race action with some of the closest bumper to bumper action you will find in British racing.