Richardson Racing has confirmed it is evaluating a British GT Championship entry next season as part of an expanded racing programme.
The Corby-based team currently runs single-seater and junior sportscar campaigns in the British F4 Championship and British GT-supporting Ginetta GT5 Challenge, and has already announced the addition of a new Ginetta Junior Championship entry for next year.
But having enjoyed success in Ginetta’s successful one-make championships in recent years – which included securing the teams’ and G50 class titles in the Ginetta GT Supercup in 2012 – the squad is now working towards an entry into British GT for the first time, having fielded a number of approaches from potential drivers in recent months.
Richardson Racing are currently in discussions to acquire a new Aston Martin Vantage GT4, one of the most successful models in the domestic series’ history.
A testing programme with drivers who have already expressed a desire to join the team will begin this week at Silverstone, with further on-track outings planned in the coming weeks.
Testing opportunities are available for other drivers who are interested in joining the team for its debut campaign.
Team boss Gwyn Richardson believes a British GT4 programme would provide an essential step on the outfit’s junior motorsport ladder.
“It has been our plan for some time to enter the British GT Championship, and we are delighted to now be in a position where we can move forwards with those plans,” he said. “It’s an exciting proposition for the team, and forms a part of our wider plan to create a ladder for young drivers who are looking to enter motorsport and want to develop their career.
“A lot of work has been going in behind the scenes to make this possible, which has included evaluating the various options that were available to us in terms of the car we want to run. In the Aston Martin, we see a proven package within the GT4 class that has already shown itself to be both quick and reliable, which is key to any successful GT programme.
“Although we are already in talks with a number of drivers for 2017, we remain open to discussions with anyone who has an interest in joining the grid next year,” he continued.
“With the programmes we are putting in place for 2017 and beyond, we will be able to offer youngsters the chance to make the move into car racing at a junior level and then give them the option to either follow the single-seater or GT routes; offering flexibility that they wouldn’t get elsewhere.”
For further information contact gwyn@richardsonracing.co.uk or +(44) 07810 714398.
The 2017 British GT Championship gets underway at Oulton Park on April 15/17.