Jon Minshaw is the latest British GT driver to be confirmed for this year’s Total 24 Hours of Spa following a reshuffle by his regular domestic squad, Barwell Motorsport.
Minshaw, who currently lies second in the standings, will join his regular British GT co-driver Phil Keen aboard the Pro-Am-entered #666 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for the prestigious twice-around-the-clock event on July 28-31. The crew is completed by Joe Osborne, who is more used to racing against the pair in British GT, and Oliver Gavin.
The move comes after the car’s original duo Mark Poole and Richard Abra opted against competing at Spa.
Minshaw and Keen have form in Belgium after finishing fourth in the 24 Hours’ Pro-Am category and eighth overall 12 months ago when racing alongside former British GT champion Jonny Cocker and Leo Machitski.
“It's great to have Jon and Keeny on board for the Spa 24 hours again,” said team Mark Lemmer. “They are both driving the car brilliantly in either wet or dry conditions. We have got super strong line-ups in both of our cars.”
Barwell’s #666 crew is by no means the only British GT squad competing at Spa.
Rob Bell has found results difficult to come by this season but will be hoping to extend his Blancpain GT Series and Endurance Cup points lead in the Ardennes as part of McLaren’s factory Garage 59 outfit. The same team also fields 2015 British GT driver Andrew Watson.
Motorbase’s Oman Racing Team Aston Martin features a host of successful British GT alumni, including reigning champion Jonny Adam, and 2014 runners-up Ahmad Al Harthy (GT3) and Devon Modell (GT4). They’re joined in Pro-Am by Team Parker Racing’s Ian Loggie and Callum Macleod.
Barwell British GT drivers past - Fabio Babini - and present - Alexander Sims - are also on the grid aboard an Attempto Racing Lamborghini and Rowe Racing BMW, as well as 2014 champion Marco Attard in the second Barwell Huracan.
Meanwhile, GRT Grasser Racing Team’s Rolf Ineichen and Michele Beretta, as well as Black Falcon drivers Miguel Toril, Oliver Morley, Abdulaziz Al Faisal and Dani Juncadella all warmed up for the 24 Hours by contesting last weekend’s British GT round at Spa.