BMW will make its British GT Championship return this season after Century Motorsport confirmed it would be entering two of the German manufacturer’s new-for-2018 M4 GT4s.
Ben Tuck and Ben Green have been confirmed in the first of Century’s entries, while the team’s second driver line-up is expected to be announced imminently.
The Fenny Compton-based squad is best known for running Ginettas in both the GT3 and GT4 classes. This year therefore marks a major departure for the team, which has entered G50 and G55s since its British GT debut back in 2009.
Its first crew features a combined age of just 39, although both drivers have already contested the championship’s GT3 class. Tuck raced Century’s Ginetta at the end of last year and is now embarking on a full-season campaign, while Green – 2017’s Ginetta GT4 Supercup runner-up with Century – also raced JRM Group’s Nissan GT-R Nismo at Donington in September.
Indeed, the deal ensures that Green and last season’s Ginetta GT4 Supercup champion Callum Pointon will renew their rivalry in 2018 after HHC Motorsport confirmed in December the latter would be racing its championship-winning G55 this year.
“I'm very excited to be signing up with Century Motorsport for my second year of racing with the team,” said Green. “We had a lot of success in 2017 and I'm looking forward to carrying this on into 2018.
“I cannot wait to start racing the new BMW M4 GT4 in British GT as I feel the car has a lot of pace and will be quick in the growing GT4 class. It is sure to be a competitive year but I feel with mine and Ben’s ability and a great car underneath us we will be fighting for the top positions.”
Tuck revealed that he and Green already enjoyed a strong relationship, an element that should serve them well in what’s shaping up to be an incredibly competitive British GT4 grid.
“I can’t wait to get the season started! I’ve raced with Century before at Donington in 2017 so I know the team well, and I’ve known Ben for a few years through college and through working with him, so the relationships are already there,” said the 20-year-old. “This is the biggest year for me so far in terms of championship and exposure.
“In terms of driving the BMW, I’m extremely excited to see what the car can do. I’ve heard great things so far from people that have managed to test it already so I’m expecting good things from it.
“Ben is a really great driver, especially coming into this year off the back of an amazing run in the GT4 Supercup last year, so I think we’re going to make a great pairing.”
Century team principal Nathan Freke believes the BMW should prove a competitive option in a national GT4 class further boosted by the arrival of Mercedes-AMG and Jaguar this year.
“2018 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for us,” he said. “To bring BMW back to the British GT Championship with two M4 GT4s is a fantastic opportunity for us, and one that we are relishing. We have one extremely strong driver pairing confirmed, and the second pairing looks to be just as exciting.
“The BMW is a well-tested and developed car and we expect to be extremely competitive with it. We have the full support of BMW Motorsport and hope that this is the start of a successful relationship.
“To continue with Ben Green is fantastic. He was super-fast last year, winning seven races with us and he knows the team well. We worked with Ben Tuck at the last round of British GT last year. He really impressed the team with his approach and his speed. They [Green and Tuck] both know each other already and they are both extremely focussed individuals so pairing them together made perfect sense.
“The whole team is excited for this new chapter and we can’t wait to get the season under way.”
Century expect to take delivery of their BMWs in mid-February before embarking on an extensive test programme ahead of the season-opening round at Oulton Park on March 31-April 2.
The Bavarian marque has six British GT victories to its name, all of which were achieved by the Barwell Motorsport/Ecurie Ecosse Z4 GT3 between 2012 and 2015. AmDTuning.com and Rollcentre Racing were the last to run a BMW in the championship, in 2016.
2018 BRITISH GT SCHEDULE
1 Oulton Park, March 31-April 2 >> TICKETS
2 Rockingham, April 28-29 >> TICKETS
3 Snetterton, May 26-27 >> TICKETS
4 Silverstone 500, June 9-10 >> TICKETS
5 Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), July 21-22 >> TICKETS (FREE ENTRY)
6 Brands Hatch, August 4-5 >> TICKETS
7 Donington Park, September 22-23 >> TICKETS