+ Debutant Tusting partners race winner O’Brien
The British Army will wage a different kind of warfare this weekend when it supports Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s new-look British GT Championship entry at Brands Hatch.
Its mission? To Be The Best on Sunday…
Benjamin Tusting joins Michael O’Brien aboard the now-camo-liveried GR Supra GT4, which is promoting both the British Army and its long-established Motorsport Association.
This partnership is the latest element in a wider collaboration that first saw the British Army have a presence in British GT’s paddock at Silverstone. That will be the case again at Brands where the world famous Red Devils Parachute Display Team are scheduled to jump from a WW2 Dakota and land on the grid just prior to the start of Sunday’s race.
Tusting will be making his series debut but has raced the Speedworks-run Toyota once before earlier this year at the Creventic 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi. His other motorsport experience is primarily confined to historic Formula Fords and sportscars.
“I’m really honoured to be racing in this year’s British GT Championship finale at Brands Hatch,” he said. “Having watched it for many years, I can’t quite believe I will be racing in it; this really is a tick off the bucket list!
“Working alongside the team, Speedworks and the British Army is a real highlight for me. Everyone has been so welcoming and the car is looking great ahead of Sunday’s race. Hopefully this won’t be a one-off, as it would be an honour to drive again alongside my team-mate, Michael O'Brien, and work with the British Army in the future. Bring on race day!”
O’Brien, meanwhile, shared the Toyota with Tusting in Abu Dhabi where they finished third in class but also has several seasons of British GT experience to call upon. He was an overall race winner and championship contender in 2020 and last contested the GT4 category a year earlier.
“I’m honoured to be joining the British Army and representing them as they look to showcase the dynamic career opportunities and engage with the motorsport community during the British GT finale at Brands Hatch,” he said. “I'm looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the Toyota GR Supra GT4 and pushing to finish the season with a good result.
“We've got a great team and having enjoyed success at the beginning of the year, the goal is very much the same this time around. Whilst British GT goes from strength to strength, having the involvement of the British Army and what they're doing trackside at the event only adds to the excitement.”
His and Tusting’s entry has received a full military makeover thanks to the British Army Motorsport Association. Formed in 1960, BAMA provides serving members with an opportunity to participate in motorsport via the coordination of motorised wheeled driver training and in the form of competitive motorsport events.
Activation will also extend to the paddock, just as it did at Silverstone.
“High profile motorsport is the perfect platform to demonstrate shared values and to highlight the opportunities available through an Army career,” said Head of British Army Engagement Col. Rich Hall MBE. “By showcasing our involvement in this thrilling sport, we hope to inspire the next generation of engineers, mechanics, and leaders to join us. The Army offers more than just a lifestyle; it's a chance to develop high-demand skills that are transferable across many industries.”
Qualifying and British GT’s two-hour finale are both live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel this Saturday and Sunday.
