> 2019 title challengers’ McLaren GT3 returns following season-long hiatus
> Event subject to imminent Motorsport UK guidance
Shaun Balfe and Rob Bell will make their Intelligent Money British GT Championship return at the Silverstone 500 this weekend (November 7/8) as part of Balfe Motorsport’s expanded four-car effort.
British GT’s three-hour season finale remains subject to Motorsport UK guidance covering elite sporting events during England’s four-week national lockdown, which is due to commence this Thursday (November 5).
Last year’s title contenders were originally part of the championship’s 2020 full-season entry before the knock-on effect of COVID-19 forced the distinctive McLaren 720S GT3 to be withdrawn while Balfe instead focused on building its customer racing programme.
Now the car and drivers are back for a one-off appearance alongside Balfe’s three GT4 entries featuring Mia Flewitt/Euan Hankey, Jan Klingelnberg/Warren Hughes and Lars Dahmann/Charlie Hollings.
“After a very fast, furious, and compressed 2020 where we’ve been enjoying the success and growth of the customer racing side of the team, it felt like it was a good time for me to get something out of the season, and where better than a big, blue-riband event like the Silverstone 500?” said Balfe. “I am looking forward to being back in the car with Rob and enjoying some time with some of our customers in my race suit, rather than with my management cap on. It will be nice to be getting up close with the regular GT competitors, and some famous Formula 1 driver apparently!
“I’ll be going there with a grateful and thankful approach that I am able to go racing with my friend Rob. We have relatively low expectations; we’re just going to get some race mileage and give ourselves something to think about over the winter period, which is getting shorter and shorter as the season has gotten further into the year, but I am looking forward to it.”
Subject to Motorsport UK guidance further GT3, GT4 and GTC entries will be announced throughout Monday and Tuesday before the #Silverstone500 grid – comfortably British GT’s largest of the season – is revealed in full on Wednesday morning.
Covid measures will prevent spectators from attending British GT’s #SilverstoneShowdown. However, fans around the world can watch the three-hour season finale live on British GT’s Facebook page and website, as well as SRO’s GT World Youtube channel, from 12:45 GMT on November 8.