Rodin Cars Welcomes Jamie Chadwick to Exclusive Test Session

• Reigning W Series Champion, Williams F1 development driver and Aston Martin GT driver climbs aboard the Rodin FZED for an exclusive three-day-test programme at Rodin’s private test track in New Zealand

• Test programme aims to gather more track performance data of the one-of-a-kind FZED single-seater with the highly talented Chadwick behind the wheel

• Newly resurfaced track also features an updated layout featuring a fast 130-radius corner that will test both car and driver

• Chadwick will provide valuable technical feedback and work alongside Rodin’s in-house team of engineers as well as company founder David Dicker

Waiau, New Zealand, 12 March 2020 - Rodin Cars is gearing up to welcome reigning W Series champion, Williams F1 development driver and Aston Martin GT race car driver, Jamie Chadwick, to an exclusive three-day test session at its private test facility in Waiau, New Zealand.

The programme, which takes place between 17-19 March, will see Chadwick pilot the spectacular Rodin FZED in a series of test sessions designed to accumulate track performance data to further develop and refine the single-seater race car’s driving experience. The data will also play a significant part in the ongoing development of the ground-breaking FZERO, which aims to be one of the world’s fastest track cars. With Jamie Chadwick behind the wheel, she will also provide Rodin’s in-house team of skilled engineers with valuable technical insight, capitalising on her extensive and successful experience as one of the world’s leading motorsport talents.

Jamie Chadwick

Jamie Chadwick said: “I am really looking forward to the experience with Rodin and contributing to its unique and ongoing story during my time at the dedicated facility. I’m interested in really getting under the skin of the car and seeing what it can do, and in the process work with Rodin’s team of engineers to refine what looks like a stunning racing machine.”

The brand recently completed a significant redevelopment of its purpose-built test facility, with strategic additions allowing engineers to further enhance the effectiveness of its testing and better showcase the performance of FZED and the upcoming FZERO. Fully resurfaced throughout, the work has seen the addition of a fast and demanding 130-degree sweeping left-hand corner designed as a homage to Suzuka’s iconic 130R. The track also plays host to Rodin’s driver development programme with each customer invited to hone their skills in a number of high-performance cars ahead of their FZED delivery.

David Dicker, Founder of Rodin Cars

David Dicker, Founder of Rodin Cars, said: “We are looking forward to seeing Jamie behind the wheel of the FZED and showcasing her driving talent during her visit. We won’t stop gathering data on the FZED as it’s a constant development process to improve every single area of the car and I’m confident Jamie’s driving experience and technical ability will help deliver a new level of insight both for the FZED but also the forthcoming FZERO. We have also invested in a new track surface throughout as well as a change to the layout and I’m confident Jamie will get to grips with the circuit and the FZED really quickly.”

Delivering a powerful 675bhp and 490Nm of torque from its Cosworth GPV8 engine, the FZED offers customers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to own and drive an open-wheeled track racer posting lap times close to those of a Formula 1 car. Weighing in at just 609kg, FZED’s ultra-lightweight, carbon fiber composite construction allows it to accelerate from 0-100mph (160kph) in just five seconds and reach a top speed of 186 mph (300kph).

The Rodin FZED will start at £500,000 GBP ($650,000 USD), which provides drivers with one of the purest driving experiences outside of modern Formula 1. By joining the Rodin family, drivers will benefit from a full driving experience at Rodin’s fully equipped facility under the tuition of expert driving coach, Mark Williamson.

Many of FZED’s exquisite titanium components, including the steering wheel and composite seats, are designed in-house and 3D printed on-site ensuring that every part is of the highest quality without compromise. Boasting one of the most diverse collections of 3D printers anywhere in the world, Rodin Cars has established a strong reputation as an emerging player in the high-technology automotive engineering and manufacturing sector. The industry-leading technology is also enabling the brand to develop its own titanium and carbon wheels, with the aim to deliver a 25 percent weight saving over the standard magnesium design.

MAZDA MOTORSPORTS SELECTS MULTIMATIC TO OPERATE IMSA RACE PROGRAM

• Multimatic Motorsports will take over the operation of Mazda North America’s IMSA race program.

• UK stars Oliver Jarvis and Harry Tincknell drive for Mazda in the IMSA Sportscar Series.

• Watch our new ‘driver and car as one’ film here: https://youtu.be/D0U7-wweIHE

From the next round of the IMSA Sportscar Championship, Mazda’s two RT24-P prototypes will be operated by Multimatic Motorsports, the competition arm of global automotive engineering firm Multimatic Inc. With its broad experience in racing operations and race car development, Mazda has now tasked Multimatic with the operation of its flagship North American racing program.

The IMSA Sportscar Championship is a multi-class sportscar series with race distances varying from 24 hours to just one hour and forty minutes, and the Mazda RT24-P race cars compete in the fastest Daytona Prototype Class for overall victories. Commenting on the appointment, Nelson Cosgrove, Director Mazda Motorsports, said: “Mazda is looking forward to going racing with Multimatic when the IMSA resumes racing and we have a shared goal of winning the IMSA driver and manufacturer’s championships,” Adding, “the management and engineering staff of Multimatic are familiar with our team and will continue to elevate our program”.

With an unchanged driver line-up, UK sportscar racing stars Harry Tincknell and Oliver Jarvis remain at the heart of this US race program. With the world-famous Sebring 12 Hours postponed until later in the season, the IMSA series will resume when professional sporting events are able to restart in North America.

However, Mazda has started the year well with a strong result in the season-opening Daytona 24 Hours where Oliver Jarvis took pole position before finishing second in number 77 Mazda RT24-P alongside Olivier Pla and Tristan Nunez – Mazda’s best ever overall result in America’s most famous endurance race. Having faced technical issues in the closing hours, Harry Tincknell’s number 55 car crossed the line in 6th place.

Fresh from a strong showing at the first round of the series, Mazda North America’s British racing drivers Oliver Jarvis and Harry Tincknell returned to the UK to spend a day with the innovative Skyactiv-X powered Mazda3, to explore how, whether on-road or track, Mazda’s focus on the connection between car and driver is at the forefront of development.   

Living in the UK but competing on the other side of the Atlantic, their day job involves racing the high-tech, lightweight and powerful Mazda RT24-P prototype but day-to-day in the UK both drivers enjoy Mazda’s road car range. And they took time out from their schedule to explain why Mazda’s ‘Jinba Ittai – car and driver as one’ engineering ethos applies to both road and track.

With driver focused cockpits, personally molded seats and the need to feel what the car is doing at the limit at all times, motorsport represents the very pinnacle of being at one with the car. Whether it’s steering feel, confidence on the brakes or the direct communication of the car’s grip level through the suspension - success and speed in competition relies entirely on the driver being intuitively connected to the car.

A concept that’s similar to the one that Mazda’s road car engineers pursue with their philosophy of ‘Jinba Ittai’. This sense of complete oneness with the car, which sits at the heart of every Mazda, has become a well-acknowledged trait of Mazda’s range. From the MX-5 sports car to the CX-5 SUV, a human-centered development approach has ensured that every Mazda, delivers the seat position, comfort and intuitive feedback needed for the driver to feel connected to the road and at one with the car, regardless of the type of journey.

Oliver Jarvis

Commenting on the Skyactiv-X Mazda3, Oliver Jarvis said: “while you’re obviously not pushing as hard as you are in the race car, with accurate feedback, well-weighted controls, and a great driving position, the Mazda3 still communicates with the driver and makes you feel engaged behind the wheel, regardless of what type of drive you are on, so there’s a correlation between track and road.”

Adding, “with both road cars and racing cars the amount of engineering effort and skill that goes into making a car feel natural in its feedback to the driver is huge. Whether it’s for comfort, safety and enjoyment on the road or performance on the track it’s crucial to be at one with the car”.

Harry Tincknell

Harry Tincknell said: “whether it’s dealing with the high speeds of the Daytona banking, coping with the bumps of Sebring or navigating the tight corners of a street course like Long Beach you need to feel completely at one with the race car. Things are changing every second and you have to be able to react instinctively, and that’s no different on the road, where you need a good level of comfort and confidence to enjoy the experience as much as possible. There may be hundreds of different things that are just one percent better and you might not notice them when you jump into the car, but the combined result is that everything just feels natural and connected.”

Two of Britain’s biggest sports car racing stars, Oliver Jarvis and Harry Tincknell will be back in action when the IMSA Series recommences later this year. Whether it’s enjoying their Mazda3s in the UK or competing in the Mazda RT24-P in North America, both Oliver and Harry get to enjoy Mazda’s focus on the driver and the importance of being at one with the car. A synergy that is highlighted in our latest film: https://youtu.be/D0U7-wweIHE

Ferrari Challenge UK Series 2020 Season Launch

UPDATE 03/20/2020

London, 20 March 2020. The third round of the Ferrari Challenge North America, scheduled at Indianapolis from 17 to 19 April, has been postponed. The move came in response to the developing Covid-19 situation and aims to safeguard everyone involved in the event.

Following the suspension of motorsport activities in the UK, Ferrari and its partner MSVR also confirmed the postponement of the opening round of the Ferrari Challenge UK that was scheduled at Snetterton from 17-19 April. The new date will be announced shortly.

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Brands Hatch, Thursday 27 February 2020.  After a hugely successful inaugural season in 2019, the Ferrari Challenge UK returns in 2020 with another 4 race weekends of competitive racing with Ferrari clients in the Ferrari 488 Challenge. The series will see clients compete on both the Donington Circuit and the Brands Hatch GP Circuit for the first time. As in 2019, the Season Finale takes place at Silverstone in September.

The Ferrari Challenge UK Series is the only National Championship operated by Ferrari, and completes the impressive family of Ferrari Challenge Championships, which is made up of the European, North American, and Asia Pacific series, as well as the UK series.

Francesco Balli – Regional Manager, Ferrari North Europe, said: “We are thrilled that the first season of the Ferrari Challenge UK was an incredible success, and this has given us great momemtum to build on this series for 2020. We are delighted to welcome many of the drivers from 2019 back to the grid this year, as well as some new drivers who will be taking to the track in their Ferrari 488 Challenge for the very first time. We’ve also seen some clients use the Ferrari Challenge UK series to progress and compete in the Ferrari Challenge Europe season this year, which is exactly what we had hoped.”

The calendar for the Ferrari Challenge UK Series 2020 is below:

Test:                                        17 March, Donington

Races 1 & 2:                          18-19 April, Snetterton Postponed.

Races 3 & 4                           16-17 May, Donington

Races 5 &6                             4-5 July, Brands Hatch (4 July – Indy Circuit, 5 July – GP Circuit)

Races 7 & 8                           19-20 September, Silverstone

Hertz Awards Custom 2020 Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro

Hertz and Hendricks Motorsports Create a Special Experience for Five Finalists and One Big Winner of the Hertz Ultimate Ride Sweepstakes

ESTERO, Fla., March 5, 2020  Last week Hertz announced Phillip Abma as the winner of the Ultimate Ride Sweepstakes in celebration of its limited-edition custom 2020 Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 and SS models. The custom Camaros debuted last fall and are available for rent this Spring.

Phillip Abma as the winner of the Ultimate Ride Sweepstakes and with Race Driver William Byron

"Last week's event helps us celebrate our rich car culture history providing the right vehicle to meet customer needs, whenever and wherever they need it," said Hertz Senior Vice President Jayesh Patel. "We're delighted to share the powerful and exhilarating experience of these vehicles with our customers and congratulate Phillip Abma on winning this ultimate ride."

The Hertz Ultimate Ride Sweepstakes brought five finalists to Charlotte, NC for a special experience and the chance to drive home with the Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro SS. The finalists, Gina Golshani of Oklahoma, Dion Hansen of California, Steven Ipson of Ohio, Tamra Mays of Texas and Phillip Abma of Florida were whisked away to Charlotte, NC for a two-night hotel stay with first-class airfare for themselves and a guest. To further enhance the experience, they received a three-day Hertz Premium/Adrenaline collection car rental, $1,000 cash and a heart-pumping track day at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the Hendrick Motorsports Team. William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Hertz Chevrolet ZL1 LE1 turned laps with each finalist in a Hertz branded two-seater race car before a tour of the Hendrick Motorsports facilities. The five winners were then given specially coded key chains. The person with the key that started the 2020 Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro SS won the grand prize of the Ultimate Ride and $15,000 cash.   

Abma was excited to take his two children, Leilani (12) and Ethan (8), to a city they had never been to but never expected to win the grand prize, which is valued at more than $72,000.

"Winning the car is something I cannot put into words," said Abma. "I was not expecting the car to start when I hit the button and I was beyond surprised when it did."

The first thing he plans to do is show the car to his family, who are located in Miami, FL. He has always wanted a Camaro, and now he is the proud owner of a custom Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro SS.

"The experience was incredibly awesome," said Abma. "To be in a race car with a professional driver at insane speeds was a once in a lifetime experience. Riding with William Byron was awesome. I used to be 'that guy' who used to think it was just driving and easy. Boy was I ever wrong. It is beyond comprehension how they can deal with the forces exerted for over 200 laps." 

Fashioned in the signature Hertz yellow and black color scheme and full performance upgrades outfitted by NASCAR's most successful team, Hendrick Motorsports Equipped with 480 horsepower and a 6.2L V8 engine, the 2020 Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro SS is optimized with 20-inch satin black wheels; a Performance Upgrade Package inclusive of a Chevrolet Cold Air Intake and Chevrolet Cat-back Dual Exhaust Upgrade System; custom exterior graphics package; strut tower bar with Hendrick Motorsports branding; custom Hertz lighted door sill plates; embroidered headrests with the No. 24 team logo and William Byron's signature; Hertz fender badges; and a Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports plaque denoting the individual numbering of the 200 custom Camaros.

The Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaros are available at select Hertz airport locations, including Charlotte, N.C., Dallas, Texas, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Ft. Myers, Fla., Houston, Texas, Las Vegas, Nev., Los Angeles, Calif., Miami, Fla., Nashville, Tenn., Orlando, Fla., Phoenix, Ariz., San Diego, Calif., San Francisco, Calif., Tampa, Fla. And West Palm Beach, Fla.

Renault F1 Team officially launches its 2020 campaign

• Renault F1 Team today outlined its plans for the upcoming 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.

• Drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon were presented publicly in team colors for the first time.

• The event took place at Groupe Renault’s flagship store, L’Atelier Renault, on the Champs-Elysees, Paris, underlining the ongoing support and commitment of the Groupe to Renault Sport Racing.

• New Chassis Technical Director Pat Fry was also present, alongside the top management of the team, Cyril Abiteboul, Alain Prost, Marcin Budkowski and Rémi Taffin.

• Formula 2 Rookie of the Year Guanyu Zhou steps up his role to Test Driver.

• Renault F1 Team highlighted its valued support from premium partners: BP Castrol, MAPFRE, DuPont, INFINITI, Microsoft, EURODATACAR, Bell&Ross, le coq sportif, and RCI Banque as well as its portfolio of beneficial technical partners and suppliers. 

Renault F1 Team officially kicked off its 2020 campaign today with its season opener event on the Champs-Elysees, Paris, at Groupe Renault’s flagship store, L’Atelier Renault.

Dynamic driver duo Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon were unveiled for the first time in team colors to attending media and partners, along with newly-arrived Chassis Technical Director Pat Fry.

Glimpses of the 2020 challenger, the Renault R.S.20 in its pre-season testing livery, were teased to the watching audience, which will be fully revealed, along with its power unit the E-Tech 20, at winter testing in Barcelona next week.

Following on from January’s series of announcements, the 2020 Renault Sport Academy Drivers were also in attendance at the event as they gear up for an exciting year across FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3 and the Formula Renault Eurocup.

Renault Sport Racing Jérôme Stoll

President of Renault Sport Racing Jérôme Stoll commented on 2020 being a crucial year in Renault’s journey in the sport: “This year, Renault will continue its very proud and long-standing history in Formula 1 into a new decade, our sixth consecutive in the sport. 2020 is a significant year in a number of ways. We aim to recapture the positive momentum from our first three years since returning to Formula 1 while preparing for next season, which will represent a new cycle for all teams. Having completed our initial construction phase, we are more determined than ever to be ready to attack and take advantage of the 2021 technical changes. I have every faith in the teams across Enstone and Viry to challenge once more for fourth in the Constructors’ Championship this year, plus ensure the coming era is anticipated successfully for both the team and Renault brand.” 

The team is reaching the climax of its consolidation phase of the Formula 1 programme. It has invested healthily in personnel and state of the art technology across its chassis base in Enstone, United Kingdom, and engine headquarters in Viry-Châtillon, France, to aid its plan of, once again, claiming Formula 1 world championship titles.

Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul Renault Sport Racing

Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul highlighted the team’s ambitions for the season. “Taking back fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship remains the objective over a season that will be more hotly-contested than ever.

“For the coming season, we must respect the three priorities identified during the off-season: reliability from the get-go; ensure a high level of development very early in the season and have a good conversion rate on track. However, we also need to regain confidence and reinforce team spirit to get the best from everyone, and to maximise our chances each race weekend during this unprecedented long and challenging season.

“2020 is also a pivotal year that marks the end of one cycle and the preparatory phase of another. This year must see us setting the best possible course for the major regulation changes of 2021. The organisational changes made in the second half of 2019 are with this firmly in mind.”

Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo enters his second season in black and yellow and revealed his motivation to succeed on track this year. “I’m looking forward to blending into the team better on the back of having a full season behind us - so things are going to be easier in that sense. I learnt a lot about myself and obviously a lot about the team. One of the most important learnings for me was that it’s not just about having the smartest guy in the Formula 1 paddock - you need every individual across the team getting the most out of themselves. With the people I work closest with it’s about trying to find a way they work best, trying to help them be their best selves, and then also figuring out where I can perform the best on the day. I’ve enjoyed this experience so far and building something with Renault.”

Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon is raring to jump back in the race seat as he marks his return to the team, which gifted him his early taste in Formula 1 as a teenager. “It’s very exciting and I can’t wait to test the new car in Barcelona. We’ve had a lot of time to prepare, and I’m feeling ready for the challenge. I’m really looking forward to racing again – back where I want to be – after waiting for a year. There are a lot of new items on this year’s car and the guys have been working hard to find some additional performance. It’s all about details in Formula 1 and I’ve seen quite a lot of details on the Renault R.S.20. It’s exciting to see the design but the next thing you want is to be behind the wheel and feeling what it’s like.”

Guanyu Zhou

Guanyu Zhou takes on a new role this year as he is promoted to Test Driver. The Formula 2 Rookie of 2019 will have increased responsibility in contributing to the development of the 2020 car. “I’m looking forward to becoming the team’s Test Driver,” commented Zhou. “It’s another step up from being Development Driver in 2019. This year I have an even better opportunity, meaning working harder than before, getting as much information as possible for driving a Formula 1 car and, at the same time, improving the areas the team needs to work on to help them get better in the future.”

With a sense of positive energy demonstrated by the drivers and the strengthening ties between Enstone and Viry, 2020 looks to be an exciting season on and off track.

How the Brabham BT62 Set a Bathurst Lap Record

The first weekend in February 2020 saw the running of the Bathurst 12-hour. The same weekend in 2019 saw the Brabham BT62 make headlines, setting the fastest time ever for a closed-wheel vehicle around Australia’s most famous circuit.

Just how fast was that lap? And how did we do it?

V8 Supercars are Australia’s most popular racing class. It’s the series that carries the torch and continues the mystique of Bathurst as Australia’s most challenging, and most famous, racing circuit. Its champions are household names in Australia – Jane, Firth, Brock, Moffat, Johnson, Bowe, Richards, Brabham, Perkins, Skaife, Lowndes and Whincup.

The fastest-ever lap around Bathurst in a V8 Supercar was last year’s Bathurst 1000 pole position qualifier, Scott McLaughlin, at 2:03.378.

The fastest-ever GT3 lap at Bathurst was driven in 2016, in a McLaren 650S GT3 – a time 2:01.567. A de-restricted GT3 car (an Audi R8) has also gone around the track in a time of 1:59.321.

On 2 February 2019, the Brabham BT62 surpassed them all, setting a lap time of 1:58.679 – shaving 2.9 seconds from the GT3 lap record and an astounding 4.7 seconds from Australia’s fastest ever V8 Supercar lap. What makes the record all the more remarkable is that it was broken after only 12 exhibition laps without any real set up time.

How did the BT62 do it?

The simple answer is an outstanding driver and even more outstanding vehicle dynamics.

Luke Youlden is no stranger to Bathurst. He’s lapped the Mount Panorama circuit thousands of times, completing the gruelling Bathurst 1000 race multiple times over his professional career, tasting victory in 2017.

He’d never been in a car this dynamic, however, with blazing speed up Mountain Straight, amazing handling through the twisting top section of the circuit and enough power to seemingly shorten Conrod Straight and The Chase before crossing the start/finish line.

To put this lap in perspective:

The BT62 covered more than an Olympic swimming pool per second, averaging 188.5 km/h around the 6.213 km circuit.

At the speeds it was travelling – and given the BT62’s low weight and amazing downforce capabilities (up to 1600kg at top speed) – the car could have driven around 14% of the lap upside down.

The car pulled maximum loads of 2.89 g in the corners, 1.24 g under acceleration and a massive 3.51 g under brakes. That maximum braking instance involved 80kg of leg pressure applied to the pedal and resulted in the BT62’s carbon/carbon brakes heating to 675C degrees, a comfortable operating window for brakes used in F1 cars.

The power to reduce the 3kms worth of straights comes from the Brabham 5.4 litre, naturally aspirated V8 engine producing 700hp at 7400 rpm. Combine this with a 6-speed Holinger racing gearbox weighing just 63 kilos with a super-fast gear change, and you have a hypercar capable of rapid acceleration; a car that gets faster, sooner, maximising your time at top speed on the straights.

Power is nothing without control, however, and the BT62’s superior chassis dynamics and outstanding aerodynamics proved invaluable over the twisting top section of the mountain circuit.

The chassis itself is a masterpiece of design and construction. Manufactured from lightweight, high-tensile steel it provides unrivalled torsional rigidity, allowing Brabham’s engineers to concentrate on tuning the suspension to deal with the track rather than compensating for compromised chassis performance. The chassis features adjustable anti-roll bars, full camber adjustment and industry-leading, 4-way adjustable, racing dampers.

Working with the chassis to keep the car glued to the road is an aerodynamics package producing up to 1600kg of downforce at top speed. The BT62’s sculpted body is designed to manage airflow over the whole body as a continuous surface. This optimises aero performance by keeping the high-pressure air working on the upper surfaces and low-pressure air working on the underfloor. Any low-pressure wake is kept away from the critical aero surfaces and air intakes, ensuring maximum downforce and adequate cooling flow to the powertrain.

The Brabham BT62 is a tour de force of technical know-how, producing performances that rank second only to the top echelons of open wheel racing.

Born from champions, the Brabham BT62 delivers world-beating performance for the champions of tomorrow.

As for Mount Panorama, the BT62 holds the record but still has unfinished business – an even quicker time beckons.

McLaren Extends Relationship with Intelligent Money British GT Championship for a 5th Season

• A record 12 entries running with McLaren Customer Racing, doubling the number on the grid from 2019

• 720S GT3 and 570S GT4 to contest Silver and ProAm classes across both GT3 and GT4 championships

• McLaren 720S returns as official Safety Car

McLaren Automotive will once again be represented on the highly-competitive Intelligent Money British GT grid, as it is confirmed that a total of 12 McLaren entries will contest the GT3 and GT4 championships during the 2020 season. This will be the strongest-ever showing for the British brand with eight examples of the 570S GT4 battling for GT4 honors, while an expanded grid of GT3 cars will see teams battling for both ProAm honors and, for the first time, the Silver class championship. The grid will also be led by McLaren for the fifth successive season as the 720S Safety Car returns to action.

The 720S Safety Car will manage and co-ordinate all on-track activities at each of the nine races, leading a record 34-car grid, with one-third made up of McLaren Customer Racing teams. This announcement further strengthens the relationship between McLaren Automotive and the SRO-run series which now enters a fifth year.

720S GT3 to challenge for ProAm and Silver titles

In the GT3 championship, Balfe Motorsport returns with the 720S GT3 for a second season and an unchanged ProAm line-up from 2019 of Shaun Balfe and McLaren Factory Driver Rob Bell. The pair are looking to pick up where they left off last season, having scored a race victory at the season finale at Donington Park to secure third in the championship.

Two new Customer Racing teams will also take to the British GT grid fielding the 720S GT3 for the first time in 2020. Championship regulars, and reigning GT3 Silver class champions, Optimum Motorsport confirmed a switch to McLaren over the winter and the Wakefield-based team will run with Australian driver pairing Nick Foster and Martin Berry, who are both new to the series. Completing the McLaren Customer Racing GT3 runners and riders is the newly-established 2 Seas Motorsport with a two-car entry both battling for Silver class honors. Angus Fender will share with McLaren GT4-race winner Dean MacDonald for one entry, while Championship debutant Isa Al-Khalifa has been confirmed in the second car. His driving partner is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

Biggest ever McLaren presence on the GT4 grid

The GT4 class within the Intelligent Money British GT championship continues to grow in stature, and the grid gains strength each year with 2020 being no different. This season sees no less than eight examples of the 570S GT4 confirmed for the full season calendar battling for outright GT4 championship honors, with entries in the Silver and ProAm classes.

Leading the GT4 charge will be Tolman Motorsport as the team returns for the season with a two-car entry wearing striking new liveries. The 2019 GT4 championship runners-up will once again line up with the newly selected McLaren Automotive Driver Development Programme (DDP) drivers. Now entering its third season, the DDP continues to nurture young motorsport talent, and this year has expanded the reach of the program beyond the UK with international drivers representing Australia, North America, and Switzerland. It has now been confirmed that Michael Benyahia and Alain Valente will be paired up in the number #4 570S GT4, while Harry Hayek will race alongside Katie Milner in the number #5.

After confirming a move to join McLaren Customer Racing earlier this year which will see Optimum Motorsport run the 720S GT3 in both the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and Intelligent Money British GT Championship, the team will also contest the domestic championship’s GT4 class with Pure McLaren GT Series graduates Brendan Iribe and Nick Moss partnering with professionals Ollie Millroy and James Pickford in two ProAm entries. The four drivers have previously raced together, clinching victory at the Gulf 12 Hours at the close of the 2019 season.

In parallel to a two-car entry in the GT4 European Series, HHC Motorsport returns to the British GT Championship running with a pair of 570S GT4s for a second season. After winning the opening round of 2019, the team will be looking to make another immediate impact on the championship with a double Silver class entry. Gus Bowers and Chris Wesemael both make a step up to GT4 competition and debut in the series. The driver line-up for the second car will be confirmed in due course. 

Completing the line-up of McLaren Customer Racing GT4 entries is Balfe Motorsport, bringing the total number of entries for the McLaren brand on the grid to a record 12. McLaren Professional Driver Michael O’Brien partners with Graham Johnson for a second season, while the first racing commitment since his appointed as Factory Driver will see Euan Hankey racing alongside double-Pure McLaren GT Series champion Mia Flewitt who makes a return to the British GT championship for her first full season.

“British GT’s official Safety Car partnership with McLaren Automotive enters its fifth season this year, extending one of the championship’s longest-running associations. We’re delighted to have the 720S - likely to be the world’s most capable Safety Car - leading our supercar pack to the start of every round once again, while the manufacturer’s GT3 and GT4 models make up one-third of this year’s full-season entry. We’re very proud that such an iconic British brand continues to have a high-profile presence in one of the UK’s biggest motorsport series.”Lauren Granville, Intelligent Money British GT Championship Manager 

Intelligent Money British GT Championship 2020 – confirmed entries for McLaren Customer Racing teams:

720S GT3 : GT3 championship – ProAm

Balfe Motorsport:          
#22 – Shaun Balfe (GBR), Rob Bell (GBR)

Optimum Motorsport:  
#68 – Martin Berry (AUS), Nick Foster (AUS)

720S GT3 : GT3 championship – Silver

2 Seas:               
#09 – Isa Al-Khalifa (BAH), TBC
#10 – Angus Fender (GBR), Dean MacDonald (GBR)

570S GT4 : GT4 championship – ProAm

Balfe Motorsport:          
#20 – Graham Johnson (GBR), Michael O’Brien (GBR)
#21 – Mia Flewitt (SWE), Euan Hankey (GBR)

Optimum Motorsport:  
#27 – Nick Moss (GBR), James Pickford (GBR)
#88 – Brendan Iribe (USA), Ollie Millroy (GBR)

570S GT4 : GT4 championship – Silver

Tolman Motorsport:      
#4 – Michael Benyahia (USA), Alain Valente (SUI)
#5 – Harry Hayek (AUS), Katie Milner (GBR)

HHC Motorsport:           
#57 – Gus Bowers (GBR), Chris Wesemael (GBR)
#58 – TBC, TBC 

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Alfa Romeo Returns a Legend

Giulia GTA: The Return of an Alfa Romeo Legend

• 110 years after its foundation, Alfa Romeo returns to its roots, bringing back one of the legends of its history and of motoring in general: Giulia GTA

• The new Giulia GTA is technically and conceptually inspired by the Giulia GTA of 1965: the “Gran Turismo Alleggerita” developed by Autodelta and based on the Giulia Sprint GT that racked up sporting successes worldwide

• Based on Giulia Quadrifoglio, Giulia GTA is fitted with a more powerful version of the Alfa Romeo 2.9 V-6 Bi-Turbo engine, now with 540 hp

• A GTAm (modified) variant is an extreme 100 percent “street legal” version of the GTA, characterized by two racing seats, roll bar, and 6-point safety belts

• With its extensive use of ultra-light materials, GTA and GTAm benefit from a weight reduction of 220 lb compared to the Giulia Quadrifoglio, achieving a best-in-class weight/power ratio of 6.2 lb/hp

• Specific technical solutions have also been developed for aerodynamics, setup, and handling

• Alfa Romeo will collect the declarations of interest on Giulia GTA and GTAm starting today, available in only 500 certified, numbered units in total. Lucky buyers will receive an exclusive customer experience, with the one-to-one sales process and dedicated experience package

March 2, 2020,  Auburn Hills, Mich. - On June 24, Alfa Romeo will reach an important milestone in its remarkable history: 110 years in business. During that century-plus span, Alfa Romeo engineers and designers have relentlessly pursued innovation, while always remaining true to the brand’s DNA. Over the years, this DNA – the perfect combination of sportiness and elegance – has created not only some of the most iconic vehicles ever built but also vehicles that are right at home both on the racetrack and in any beauty contest. To mark its 110th birthday, Alfa Romeo presents a vehicle that fully signifies a return to the brand’s origins, while paying tribute to one of the most emblematic vehicles of Alfa Romeo: Giulia GTA.

A set of initials with a legendary feel: GTA
The acronym GTA stands for “Gran Turismo Alleggerita” (alleggerita being the Italian term for “lightened”), and it originated in 1965 with the Giulia Sprint GTA, a specific version derived from the Sprint GT, designed as a sports car and presented at the Amsterdam Motor Show staged that same year. The body of the Giulia Sprint GT was replaced with an identical version in aluminum, for a total weight of 1,642 lb compared to the 2,094 lb of the road version. A second variation concerned the 1.6 twin-cam engine which, in the road configuration, with dual ignition, reached an impressive output of 115 hp. The technicians of Autodelta, the official Alfa Romeo racing team, chose it as the reference vehicle for the Touring category and developed it to achieve a maximum output of 170 hp. The model’s success in competitions was then immediate: three consecutive “Challenge Europeo Marche”, tens of national championships and hundreds of individual races in every part of the world. And the way it ramped up the image of the entire range was also impressive: Giulia Sprint GTA expressed the claim “A victory a day in your everyday car” to perfection. From then on, the GTA made a name for itself as the undisputed icon of Alfa Romeo's sportiness and the acronym GTA became so successful that the public soon associated it with all the sporty Alfa Romeo vehicles in general.
 
The legend is renewed with excellent technical solutions
On the year of its 110th anniversary, Alfa Romeo intends to break a few rules: it doesn’t intend to talk about history, especially its own, nor does it want any gifts for its birthday. Instead, it prefers to give a gift to Alfa enthusiasts by presenting the Giulia GTA. Today, this is a real return to the roots of Alfa Romeo, planted deep in the world of performance and grand touring.
 
Specific technical features and functional style
For the new Giulia GTA, Alfa Romeo engineers have striven to improve aerodynamics and handling but above all to reduce weight: the same guidelines followed for the 1965 Giulia GTA. The active aerodynamics were specifically studied to increase the downforce. These solutions contain technical know-how that comes directly from Formula 1, thanks to the synergy with Sauber Engineering and the use of the Sauber Aerokit. The same task is assigned to the side skirts, the specific rear spoiler, and the active front splitter. The titanium Akrapovi? central exhaust system integrated into the carbon fiber rear diffuser is also new, as are the 20-inch center-lock wheels, appearing for the first time on a sedan. The handling at high speeds has been improved by widening the front and rear wheel tracks by 50mm and developing a new set of springs, shock absorbers and bushings for the suspension systems. On GTAm, the aerodynamic front piece has been optimized to an extreme level, by adding a larger front splitter and a real carbon rear wing, which ensures a perfectly balanced load at high speeds. In terms of performance, the powerful 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo, made entirely of aluminum and capable of unleashing no less than 510 hp in the standard configuration, reaches a power output of 540 hp on Giulia GTA, thanks to meticulous calibration work performed by Alfa Romeo engineers. The same team has also succeeded in optimizing the implementation of the new Akrapovi? specific exhaust system, with its unmistakable sound.

Moving inside the car, several new details stand out: the trim in 100% Alcantara® on the dashboard, door panels, glove compartment, side pillars and the central trim on the seats. Alcantara® is used even more extensively on the GTAm version, where the rear bench has been removed, leaving room for a fully upholstered “basin”, hosting specific moldings designed to hold helmets and fire extinguisher. The new matte carbon inserts endow the interior with a distinctive technical and aesthetic elegance. In the new GTAm, the interior is unique in that it features a roll bar, no door panels or rear seats and the door is opened with a belt in place of the handle, another touch that comes from the racing world.
 
An excellent weight/power ratio
But power on its own is not enough to ensure extraordinary performance. The work done to reduce vehicle weight has been meticulous and it has reaped particularly impressive results, with a total weight reduction of 220 lb, thanks to the adoption of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber for the driveshaft, hood, roof, front bumper, front wheel arches, rear wheel arch inserts and, on the GTAm, the shell of the specific sporting seats with 6-point Sabelt safety belts. Further, lightweight aluminum is used in the engine, doors and suspension systems, and various other composite materials are used throughout. For instance, Lexan – a unique polycarbonate resin that comes straight from the world of motorsports – has been used in the side and rear window frames, further contributing to the weight reduction. The result is a weight set around 3,350 lb which, combined with the increase in power to 540 hp, brings the weight/power ratio to an excellent level, 6.2 lb/hp, making Giulia GTA and GTAm capable of delivering extraordinary performance. Its acceleration from 0 to 62 mph is lightning fast – thanks to the Launch Control system, the chronometer stops at just 3.6 seconds. The Giulia GTAm is the two-seater configuration approved for on-road use, with front splitter and larger visible rear wing in carbon, the ultimate expression of sportiness. In the GTA version, with the same power, Giulia offers four seats, no rear roll-bar; spoiler and splitter optimized for daily use on the road; the same door panels, seats and windows as those of the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The result is a veritable supercar for everyday use.
 
A privilege for 500 lucky customers
Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and its extreme version, Giulia GTAm, will be built in a limited edition of only 500 units in total, all numbered and certified and ready to take up their place alongside their 1965 forerunner as one of the most sought-after collector’s items. They are not only magnificent to look at, but they are also ready to unleash impressive power on the road, usable thanks to a series of sophisticated technical solutions. The same exclusivity found in Giulia GTA and Giulia GTAm will also characterize a particularly exclusive dedicated customer experience, designed to treat the 500 lucky owners to a unique interaction that is 100 percent, Alfa Romeo. After the advance bookings, which are now officially open and will close as soon as the 500th unit has been reserved, the sales process will be one-to-one, with a brand ambassador product specialist following each customer from order to delivery. But the buying experience doesn’t stop at the dedicated sales process. Indeed, the new owners will also receive a personalized experience package kit, which includes a Bell helmet in special GTA livery, a full racing set by Alpinestars (race suit, gloves, and shoes) and a personalized Goodwool car cover for protecting his or her GTA or GTAm. In addition to other equipment for true enthusiasts, the Alfa Romeo customer experience also includes a specific driving course devised by the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy.
 
Alfa Romeo
Since its foundation in Milan, Italy, in 1910, Alfa Romeo has designed and crafted some of the most stylish and exclusive cars in automotive history. That tradition lives on today as Alfa Romeo continues to take a unique and innovative approach to design automobiles. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio sets a new benchmark in performance, style, and technology in an SUV. The award-winning Alfa Romeo Giulia delivers race-inspired performance, advanced technologies and an exhilarating driving experience to the premium midsize sedan segment. The Giulia Quadrifoglio and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio feature Alfa Romeo’s most powerful production engine ever with best-in-class 0-60 mph times of 3.8 and 3.6 seconds, respectively. Rounding out Alfa Romeo’s world-class lineup is the handcrafted Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. Alfa Romeo is part of the portfolio of brands offered by global automaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. For more information regarding FCA (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA), please visit www.fcagroup.com.

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