Aaron Mason will make his British GT Championship debut at Oulton Park next weekend after signing for RCIB Insurance Racing.
The Yorkshireman joins fellow former VW Racing Cup rival Rob Barrable aboard the Team HARD-run #75 G55 GT4 following Wilson Thompson’s departure with only two rounds completed.
Oulton is the setting for Mason’s first ever appearance in a rear wheel-drive car thanks to a career spent solely racing tin-tops. His CV includes two VW Racing Cup titles, the second of which he claimed last season, as well as Creventic 24 Hour Series outings.
Mason tests the Ginetta for the first time at Brands Hatch next Tuesday before moving on to Oulton Park for his first taste of GT4 competition.
Mason revealed his close association with Tony Gilham, whose team he beat to last season’s VW Racing Cup drivers’ crown, had been central to the deal.
“I know Tony well from the VW Racing Cup and he often let’s me know about any opportunities that might be available, but this was a question of right place, right time,” he said. “Fortunately there are no clashing commitments so I can really focus on my British GT programme.
“Racing on the same bill as British GT with the VWs means I’ve always kept an eye on the GT4 times. There’s not a huge difference, but having no experience of rear wheel-drive or the Ginetta, as well as going up against a very good field, obviously means we’ll have our work cut out. But I know Oulton like the back of my hand and the team has already performed well this season, so we’ll take it one step at a time.
“I also know what a good driver Rob is having raced against him in VWs, so I think we’ll be looking for a couple of solid results at Oulton.”
Reserve your tickets for the bank holiday weekend at Oulton Park here.