GT4 race winner Adam Balon will graduate to British GT’s senior GT3 category for the first time next season with Barwell Motorsport and newly-appointed Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory driver Phil Keen.
The pair will race one of Barwell’s two all-new Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evos alongside returning team-mates Sam de Haan and Jonny Cocker whose entry was confirmed in October.
Balon has proven to be one of the series’ fastest GT4 Am drivers over the last two years despite reliability issues preventing a sustained championship challenge. He’s hoping that a change of class will deliver an upturn in fortune.
And in Barwell, Lamborghini and Keen he certainly has every chance of achieving just that. The partnership that also previously included Jon Minshaw won a total of eight races together and finished second overall in each of the last three seasons.
Indeed, it was those British GT performances that have helped Keen secure Lamborghini factory driver status ahead of 2019.
While Balon and Keen are chasing their first British GT titles, the latter is also just one win away from equalling Jonny Adam’s record for outright and GT3 victories (14), as well as a win shy of setting a new benchmark for victories scored in all British GT classes (currently 15).
“I’m so excited to be stepping up to GT3 with such high-quality players as Barwell, Lamborghini and Phil Keen,” said Balon. “No pressure then…”
Equally, Barwell team principal Mark Lemmer sees no reason why Balon cannot challenge GT3’s established amateur contingent straightaway.
“We have been following Adam’s performances and success in GT4 for a while now, and I have no doubt that he has what it takes to step up to become a championship challenger in the spectacular new Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo,” he said. “The first time Adam tested with us he was immediately fast and fitted straight in with the Barwell philosophy; I’m sure he and Keeny are going to make a formidable partnership going forward!”
Barwell’s two Huracan GT3 Evos form just a small part of 2019’s working entry list that already features at least 30 confirmed full-season cars. A significant GT3 presence currently totalling more than 10 entries is also guaranteed despite the entry process only opening six weeks ago.
Further GT3 and GT4 entries will be announced later this week.
Oulton Park hosts the opening round of 2019’s British GT Championship on Easter Bank Holiday Weekend (April 20 & 22). Reserve your tickets here.