Steller Motorsport has announced its two Silver Cup driver pairings for this season’s British GT Championship. Sennan Fielding and Tom Canning will team up aboard the #68 Toyota, while Dean Macdonald and Alex Quinn share the second, #86 GT86 GT4.
The team’s place in this year’s record-breaking GT4 entry was originally confirmed two weeks ago during British GT’s 2018 Media Day when all four of its drivers remained TBC.
However, the squad has now revealed a full-season line-up featuring three teenagers and the youngest driver in British GT history.
Canning, a recent championship-winning karting graduate who contested Ginetta Juniors last season, will be just 16 years and 35 days old on Easter Monday when he competes in the first of British GT’s two hour-long races. That’s six days younger than current record holder Sandy Mitchell, whose youngest-ever fastest lap, pole position and race victory benchmarks are now also under threat this season.
He’s joined in the #68 entry by former single-seater ace Fielding who finished second in 2016’s FIA British F4 Championship and fourth in the BRDC’s equivalent two years earlier. The 22-year-old’s CV also includes second overall in 2012’s Ginetta Junior standings as well being named amongst 2016’s McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalists.
“I’m super excited to get the season going in the Toyota GT86 with Steller Motorsport,” said Fielding. “I feel like I've got a great team around me and hope we can get the results we deserve. It’s great to be racing back on British soil too.
“After getting involved with coaching drivers in sportscar racing in recent months I’m sure I can add something to the whole effort here too, it’s always good to work with emerging talents.”
Canning, meanwhile, is looking forward to the challenge.
“The entry for the championship looks fantastic and I’m sure that we can get up to pace very quickly,” he said. “Whilst the Toyota is a big step up from last season’s Ginetta there are plenty of common factors that should make it a relatively easy transition.
“I’m delighted to be a part of this programme, and to be sharing the car with Sennan. Everyone involved here is hungry to progress and working with an experienced team, and an experienced team-mate will only help to carry me forward – I can’t wait!”
Steller’s second Toyota crew also favours youth, although does feature a year’s worth of British GT experience in the form of Macdonald who raced Black Bull Garage 59’s McLaren 570S GT4 last season.
The Scot, who was also considered as a potential Porsche Carrera Cup GB Junior Scholarship winner, is joined by fellow 17-year-old Quinn who switches to GT racing this year after claiming multiple British karting titles and fourth place in last season’s FIA British F4 Championship.
“It’s great to be back in the British GT Championship for a second full season, and to be sharing the Toyota with an old karting sparring partner!” said Macdonald. “I saw last season how tough a challenge the championship, and GT4, really is and, by the look of things, this year is only going to be better – and tougher.
“A year of GT4 experience though will be invaluable to myself, to the team, and, I hope, to Alex too. We’re both raring to go.”
“I’ve been in talks with Steller Motorsport for quite some time and very much enjoyed the test we had with the Toyota," added Quinn. "After my experience so far in single seaters it’s very different but GT racing offers a real opportunity for a totally new career track and this programme is an exciting first step on that path.
“I’m particularly pleased to be sharing the #86 Toyota with an old karting rival, Dean Macdonald.”
Together, Macdonald and Quinn also have a chance to re-write British GT history at Oulton Park where they could become the youngest driver crew ever to win a race. Their combined 34 years and 211 days would be 19 days fewer than reigning GT4 champions Will Tregurtha and Stuart Middleton who set the current record at Rockingham last season.
This will be the GT86 GT4’s fourth year in British GT but first as a full-season entry. Initially developed by GPRM, the project passed to Steller Engineering after the 2017 season and rapid progress has been made in ensuring that the now in-house engine programme is providing the power and reliability required to go head-to-head against a record GT4 field featuring 23 entries and eight manufacturers.
Indeed, Steller are aiming to demonstrate the now re-engineered Toyota’s abilities in top-level competition with the hope of attracting interest from other teams.
Oulton Park hosts British GT’s opening round of the season on Easter Bank Holiday Weekend (March 31 & April 2). Reserve your tickets in advance to benefit from reduced prices.
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