A host of Intelligent Money British GT Championship drivers will contest the first-ever BRDC Esports Championship with iZone, which begins at Silverstone this Thursday evening (May 14).
Established by BRDC SuperStars Director Andy Meyrick, the championship – which also features a host of global stars – has already exceeded its initial target of raising £5,000 for the NHS.
The competition brings together some of the BRDC’s best-known members, as well as younger drivers on its SuperStars and Rising Stars roster. All will compete in a fixed setup Dallara F3 car on the iRacing platform across a five-round championship featuring trips to Monza, Spa, Suzuka and Interlagos.
10 recent and current British GT drivers are among the 37 full-season entries, while another makes a guest appearance this Thursday. GT3 champions and factory drivers Jonny Adam and Seb Morris are joined by their GT4 counterparts Jody Fannin and Martin Plowman, while the last two Silverstone 500 winners – Ian Loggie and Mark Farmer – are also confirmed.
2020 British GT entrants Sandy Mitchell and Jordan Albert will reprise their 2016 GT4 title rivalry, and Adam Christodoulou and Ben Barnicoat add further factory representation. Elsewhere, 2019 GT4 runner-up Seb Priaulx completes a strong contingent of British GT drivers when he makes a one-off appearance.
Their fellow pros are plucked from every corner of motorsport. Star names include multiple IndyCar and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, former F1 drivers Anthony Davidson and Will Stevens, BTCC race winners Dan Cammish, Jason Plato and Tom Ingram, two-time DTM champion Gary Paffett, and BMW Motorsport legend Steve Soper.
There are also eight Autosport BRDC Award winners: Franchitti, Paffett, Davidson, Olivers Jarvis, Turvey and Rowland, Tom Gamble, and Johnathan Hoggard.
The races will be streamed live with commentary from proud BRDC Member David Addison, while BRDC Vice-President Derek Warwick will be acting as Chief Steward to ensure drivers conduct themselves in a sporting fashion.
“What started as a light-hearted idea during some of our Instagram live sessions with BRDC SuperStars has quickly turned into a professional championship and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has expressed an interest and donated to the cause,” said Meyrick. “To have already raised over £5,000 for the NHS already is just incredible.
“It will be fantastic to see BRDC Members from different disciplines and generations competing in identical cars around some of the world’s best circuits. It’ll certainly be interesting to see who will come out on top after the first race.
“There have been a number of people who have been instrumental in helping set this up and I want to thank them for what they have done so far. I also want to thank all the drivers who signed up or are patiently sitting on the waiting list! Above all else, I hope those taking part have fun and everyone watching enjoys it. I now regret not taking part myself!”
Watch Thursday’s race live from 19:00 BST. The BRDC will confirm further streaming details in due course.
FULL-SEASON BRITISH GT ENTRANTS:
Jonny Adam - 4x GT3 champion and Aston Martin factory driver
Seb Morris - 2017 GT3 champion and Bentley factory driver
Jody Fannin - 2012 GT4 champion
Martin Plowman - 2019 GT4 Pro/Am champion & 2020 GT3 driver
Sandy Mitchell - British GT record holder and 2020 GT3 driver
Ian Loggie - 2019 Silverstone 500 winner and 2020 GT3 driver
Mark Farmer - 2018 Silverstone 500 winner
Jordan Albert - GT4 race winner and 2020 GT4 driver
Ben Barnicoat - GT4 race winner and McLaren factory driver
Adam Christodoulou - GT3 and Mercedes AMG factory driver
OTHER FULL-SEASON ENTRANTS
Enaam Ahmed - FIA Formula 3 Championship
Tom Blomqvist - Intercontinental GT Challenge / GT World Challenge Europe
Alex Brundle - European Le Mans Series
Dan Cammish - British Touring Car Championship
Anthony Davidson - FIA World Endurance Championship / Mercedes AMG F1
Charlie Eastwood - Aston Martin / FIA World Endurance Championship
Dario Franchitti - IndyCar Series / Indy 500
Tom Gamble - European Le Mans Series
Archie Hamilton - Porsche Cayman Sprint Challenge GB
Ben Hanley - IMSA / Indycar
Phil Hanson - FIA World Endurance Championship / European Le Mans Series
Dan Harper - BMW / Nürburgring Endurance Series
Johnathan - Hoggard Porsche Carrera Cup Asia
Callum Ilott - FIA Formula 2 Championship
Tom Ingram - British Touring Car Championship
Oliver Jarvis - IMSA / Intercontinental GT Challenge
Kiern Jewiss - BRDC British F3 Championship
Billy Monger - BRDC British F3 Championship / Euroformula Open
Gary Paffett - Mercedes AMG
Jason Plato - British Touring Car Championship
Paul Rees - McLaren Automotive Drive Team
Oliver Rowland - FIA Formula E Championship
Steve Soper - British Touring Car Championship
Will Stevens - European Le Mans Series
Ash Sutton - British Touring Car Championship
Oliver Turvey - FIA Formula E Championship
Nick Yelloly - BMW / ADAC GT Masters
ROUND 1 GUEST ENTRANTS
Seb Priaulx - 2019 British GT4 runner-up
Raoul Hyman - FIA Formula 3 Championship
Bobby Thompson - British Touring Car Championship