John Ferguson and Raffaele Marciello will form an unchanged line-up at RAM Racing this season following the Silverstone-based squad’s switch to BMW after a decade running Mercedes-AMG machinery.
This will be the team's first change of manufacturer since joining the British GT grid in 2015, though the transition will be eased by the presence of proven winners Ferguson and Marciello in its M4 GT3. The duo secured victory at Snetterton last term after prevailing in one of the closest finishes in series history.
Ferguson is set for his fourth successive British GT campaign and a third in the GT3 ranks. In addition to last year's win, he also triumphed for RAM at Snetterton in 2022 alongside Ulysse de Pauw.
“This is a big year for RAM Racing, and I feel we’re in a great position to hit the ground running,” said Ferguson. “Last year was a big rebuild, working toward being back with two cars for 2024, and the decision to switch to the BMW is logical. The M4 showed how strong it was by winning the championship last season, and it will be a force to be reckoned with again this year.
“To keep Lello alongside me is a huge bonus. He’s the best GT3 driver in the world and we were working so well together by the end of last year that going the extra mile to ensure the partnership continued made a lot of sense.”
Seen by many as the benchmark in global GT3 racing, Marciello will dovetail his British GT programme with an assault on the FIA World Endurance Championship's top-tier LMDh class this term. Before that, the Swiss-Italian is set to make his competitive debut in the M4 GT3 at next month's Repco Bathurst 12 Hour.
“I’m really happy to be back in British GT with John and RAM Racing,” said Marciello. “It’s a big year ahead, being my first as a BMW M works driver, and there’s a lot to learn.
“It will be a big challenge for myself and the team to switch car from the Mercedes-AMG to the BMW M4 GT3, and to find the right setups for the tracks. We had a good season overall last year, and we already know the areas where we can improve, so I’m expecting big things for us in British GT this season.”
RAM has also confirmed the signing of Keith Cheetham, whose British GT pedigree includes multiple titles at the helm of the Trackspeed squad, as part of a wide-scale technical overhaul. The team will make its official debut with BMW machinery during British GT’s media day, which takes place at Donington Park on March 12.
The season itself begins at Oulton Park on Easter Bank Holiday Weekend (March 30 + 1 April).
