The Avon Tyres British GT championship reaches the mid-way point this weekend, 10 - 11 July, for the calendar’s only race abroad at Spa Francorchamps.
A firm favourite with many of the drivers, and after over a month’s break since the last race at Silverstone, the anticipation is sure to be high for the two-hour race on the Belgian Grand Prix track.
The championship’s fourth annual visit to the world-famous historic circuit, known for its erratic weather and technical challenges, will see 34 pairs of drivers line up on the starting grid for this year’s race.
The 4.3-mile track is one of the toughest on the Avon Tyres British GT calendar. With 20 corners, the Ardennes track is undoubtedly a challenge for even the most experienced of pilots.
The demanding circuit has attracted three new cars on the entry list. Pascal Witmeur and Bas Leinders drive a BMW Z4 GT3 for Marc VDS & Friends Racing for Cancer; meanwhile, two new Aston Martin Vantage GT3s from Leonard Motorsport AMR’s Silver Cup pairing of Stuart Leonard and Michael Meadows. For Aston Martin Brussels, reigning GT champion Tim Verbergt and Michael Schmetz get behind the wheel.
Avon Tyres Motorsport Technical Manager, Mike Lynch, said, “Spa is our only trip abroad with the British GT Championship. The nature of the track and the weather bring unique challenges for the tyres. The long lap with very high speeds and the huge compression at Eau Rouge creates loads in the tyres not seen at other circuits on our calendar.
“Set in the Ardennes, the weather is unpredictable at best. The tyres might have to cope with track temperatures ranging from 10 to 40ºC, from dry, hot surfaces to wet and greasy – often on the same lap. However, the new-for-2015 tyre has been optimised to perform more consistently in all of these conditions. We can expect faster lap times and the racing to be even closer than last year.”
For the less experienced drivers, the Avon Wet = Soft tyre provides maximum security and confidence, while the new-for-2015 Dry = Medium tyre is designed for the widest possible ambient temperature range and has been optimised to perform more consistently in all conditions.
The Avon Tyres British GT Championship will host two races in Belgium. Both free practice sessions, along with qualifying, will take place on Friday. On Saturday, lights go out for the single 120-minute race at 12.15pm.
Barwell Motorsport / Ecurie Ecosse teammates Marco Attard and Alexander Sims currently lead the GT3 Championship by 11.5 points, whilst Ross Gunn and Jamie Chadwick hold top spot in the GT4 class, with an impressive 31.5 point advantage.
