+ Carrera Cup GB star joins Balfe while Tillbrook/Clutton share second McLaren
Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion Adam Smalley makes his British GT debut this year after linking up with Garage 59 and Shaun Balfe.
The 23-year-old is also a former Ginetta Junior and GT4 Supercup title winner but has spent the last two years plying his trade in 911s. Now he joins proven British GT race winner Balfe in the first of Garage 59’s two McLaren 720S GT3 Evos.
“I’m delighted to have signed for Garage 59 for the 2024 British GT Championship,” said Smalley. “After winning the Porsche Carrera Cup GB title last season, I feel this is the perfect move for my motorsport career. It’ll be a big step up but I know Garage 59 will give me the best shot at challenging at the sharp end of the field. I’d like to say thank you to Duckhams, Yuasa and all of my partners who have given me this opportunity and made it possible. I can’t wait to get the season underway.”
Balfe, meanwhile, is moving across from Barwell with whom he raced a Lamborghini alongside Sandy Mitchell throughout 2023. The pair won twice and ultimately ended the season fourth overall before Balfe joined Garage 59 for an initial one-off outing at the Gulf 12 Hours in December.
That appearance was at the wheel of a McLaren, a car Balfe initially debuted in British GT – and won with – back in 2019.
Garage 59’s other new signings, Tillbrook and Clutton, can also call on their existing experience of the McLaren – a car with which they have claimed three victories since 2021. All of those came with Enduro Motorsport, which closed its doors at the end of last year.
“We feel that the move to Garage 59 is the final ingredient for a championship attack,” added Clutton. “We can race without the stress of running a team and focus 100% on our preparation and driving.”
Both crews will attend British GT’s media day at Donington on March 12 before Oulton stages the season opener over Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.
