> 2014 title winner one of three former champions chasing second crown
Ross Wylie becomes the third former Intelligent Money British GT4 champion to return to the class this season after teaming up with series debutants Valluga Racing.
The 30-year-old Scot won the crown with Beechdean AMR in 2014 and has since contested both the GTC and GT3 classes. Now, and just like Will Burns (Century Motorsport) and Jack Mitchell (Toyota Gazoo Racing UK), he’s bidding to become British GT’s first-ever two-time overall GT4 champion.
At Wylie’s disposal is Porsche’s new 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, which makes its global debut this year. His co-driver will be confirmed ahead of Oulton Park’s season opener on April 16 & 18.
“I contested several Carrera Cup GB races with Valluga last year and it was immediately clear that, despite being relatively new, this was an incredibly slick and professional operation,” he said. “Equally, the new Cayman is proving very popular with customers and acquiring one from the factory isn’t easy. I believe Valluga are one of only two British squads to have secured it this year, which speaks volumes about the team’s standing. As a driver, that gives me a lot of confidence.
“With so many new elements it’s difficult to know how we’ll initially stack up against British GT’s established teams and GT4 cars. The class has evolved considerably since I won the title in 2014 – it’s far more competitive now – so winning a second championship will be very difficult. But Valluga isn’t there to make up the numbers: our goal is very much to be hunting for podiums and wins from the get-go. And if we can do that then who knows? Perhaps I’ll also have a chance to make British GT history.”
Valluga enjoys strong links with Porsche through its ongoing Carrera Cup GB and GT Cup programmes, as well as new-for-2022 British Endurance Championship and Sprint Challenge GB entries. Now the team, which is headed up by former British GT race winner Benji Hetherington, is eager to get to grips with Stuttgart’s new GT4 contender after racing its predecessor throughout 2021.
“This is a landmark programme for Valluga,” said Hetherington. “Firstly, in that Porsche has entrusted us with a GT4 RS allocation which has allowed us to compete in British GT, and secondly for the team to be competing at the pinnacle of GT racing in the UK.
“Personally, I am really looking forward to being in the British GT paddock – I have some wonderful memories as a driver but now to bring Valluga into this prestigious and professional championship is great. We have had a very busy but successful start to the year and it's only getting busier – but for us to add a British GT programme to our season is the icing on the cake.
“With all this promise we needed the best drivers we could get our hands on and Ross represents exactly that – a proven winner in GT4 and someone who can anchor our programme really well.”
Team Parker Racing has also secured a new Cayman for 2022, while Porsche will be joined on this year’s GT4 entry by Aston Martin, BMW, Ekris, Ginetta, McLaren and Toyota. The full-season entry will be confirmed this Thursday before Oulton Park stages the opening round of Season 30 on Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.