2014 British GT Championship Oulton Park - Rounds 1 and 2
2014 British GT ChampionshipOulton Park - Rounds 1 and 2
Hi All,
This coming weekend the 2014 British GT championship kicks in to action at Oulton Park, in which I will make my GT3 debut in the Oman Air Racing Aston Martin V12 Vantage. It has been a long winter and it feels like an age since I last raced a car, so the excitement of racing a new car in a new championship is really high!
It's a good job I'm with a front running team, Motorbase Performance, who are running under the Oman Air Racing banner for 2014. They were series champions in 2012 and won races in the 2013 series. The team wouldn't feel quite the same without a splash of Celtic Speed, so Jamie Cleland will join me as my mechanic. This continuity is a big advantage when embarking on new territory.
Since signing for Oman Air Racing in March we have completed three pre season tests at Snetterton Circuit, Oulton Park, Donington Park. I now feel very much part of the squad. My team mate, John Hartshorne, and I have built a good relationship in the short time we have worked together, which bodes well in a series where team work plays a big part.
The Aston Martin is a different beast all together from the Porsche, with the extra power and grip it has taken a few tests to mould my driving style around the car.
The British GT Championship is the UK's flagship endurance racing series where manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren and Aston Martin compete over one to three hour races with a two driver format where one driver is classed as professional and the other is an amatuer. This helps to keep a level playing field as Pro/Pro pairings are forbidden. My partner John Hartshorne has excellent experience for an amatuer driver and is a seasoned endurance racer with two Le Man 24 hour races under his belt! John has shown good progress in learning the car and the UK circuits after ten years of competing in Europe.
Strategy is key and team work becomes even more important with mandatory pit stops during races for refuelling, tyre changes and driver swaps. The Oman Air mechanics will have just as much pressure on their shoulders as us drivers!
There are seven British GT events throughout 2014 at UK circuits with an away race to the prestigious Spa Francorchamps in Belgium. The grid is incredibly strong and is oversubscribed with entries. The championship has been capped at 34 cars for round 1 at Oulton Park because of the circuits tight nature, however from round 2 onwards we could see an incredible 40 cars line up!
This change in career path really excites me and I'm looking forward to a completely new form of racing with different challenges. Many opportunities are opening up within the endurance racing scene already and there is real potential for me to be competing in a 24 hour event within the next year. First of all I must establish myself as a proven GT driver in 2014.
I've been overwhelmed with the level of support I have received from new and existing sponsors this winter and I'd like to welcome Had Fab Ltd, Arisaig Property Partners and Turriff Tyres in to the Rory Butcher Racing family for 2014.
Before I head off I must mention one individual in particular who has provided the backing I have needed to reach a platform like British GT and has always been there for guidance. He has been through a hard time recently with poor health but has fought extremely hard and is now on the road to recovery. It's great to see you doing well Tommy (Tommy Dreelan, Celtic Speed) and I'd very much like to thank you for your loyal support and friendship.
Please find all relevant links and info below.
Championship Information
Please have a look at the British GT website to keep up to date with news stories, photos, race dates and tv times;
www.britishgt.com
TV Times
All British GT events are televised one week after the event on Channel 4 and Motors TV with the Silverstone 3 hour race being broadcast live on Motors TV on June 1st.
http://www.britishgt.com/television.php
Live Timing and Results
If you can make it down to the event then please follow my results on TSL Timing link below. You can watch races lap by lap as they happen by clicking the "Live Timing" button at the bottom of the page:
http://www.tsl-timing.com/?loc=major&season=2014&series=BF3GT&event=races&source=ed_bf3gt&eventid=141605
Race Weekend Timetable
Saturday 19th April
Free Practice 1 0935 -1035
Free Practice 2 1205-1305
Qualifying 16.20 - 16.55
Monday 21st April
Warm Up 0910-0920
Race 1 1115-12-15
Race 2 1545-164
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