The third season starts in Silverstone

For the third time, the FIA GT3 European Championship will start its season in Silverstone, the fast and popular Grand Prix circuit proving the ideal location to get a first idea of what the season ahead has in store.

Just two years ago, the FIA GT3 European Championship set off on a new adventure when the cars and drivers first lined up on the grid.  Just 24 months later, the category is well-established, having become a staple part of the national racing scene, and engendered brand-new Championships in Germany, France and Brazil.  A true world-wide success, which can trace its roots right back to that first race in Silverstone.

For the 2008 season, eleven different models should line up on the grid, representing ten different manufacturers.  Ascari KZ1R, Aston Martin DBRS9, Corvette Z06R GT3, Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, Ferrari 430 GT3, Ford GT, Ford Mustang GT3,  Jaguar XKR, Lamborghini Gallardo GT3, Morgan Aero 8 GT3 and the new Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S will all compete for the honour of the title of FIA GT3 European Team and Drivers Champions. Within the Aston Martin, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford and Porsche manufacturers, Cup honours will also be at stake.  After plenty of work over the winter, all the cars have improved, and further to the latest performance balancing results, it is hoped that all cars will be competitive and able to fight on an equal basis.

The Ascari KZ1R will be entered once again by Team Berlanga, and by Belgian team Gravity Racing International, which won the G2 category in the 2007 edition of the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

The Aston Martin teams have opted to remain with two teams of three.  New Italian team Brixia Racing, managed by FIA GT2 frontrunners Marcello Zani and Matteo Malucelli, has entered three Aston Martin DBRS9 cars.  French team Hexis Racing  will run the other three, returning after a successful 2007 season, and running a strong line-up including multiple pole-sitter Frédéric Makowiecki.

Martini Callaway Racing won the 2007 Teams Championship.  The German team will be back to defend their title with two Corvette Z06R cars, with star pairing James Ruffier and Arnaud Peyroles.  They will face strong competition in the Corvette Cup from new Czech team MM-Racing, led by impressive youngster Martin Matzke.  The remaining two cars will be in the hands of the French team run by experienced French driver Marc Sourd.

New Italian team La Torre will enter three Dodge Viper Competition Coupe cars, one of which will be driven by reigning Champion Gilles Vannelet.

Kessel Racing, whose drivers Henri Moser and Gilles Vannelet won the 2007 FIA GT3 European Drivers Championship, will be back to defend their hard-won title with three Ferrari 430 GT3 cars.  JMB Racing, who won the first-ever race in the FIA GT3 European Championship, in May 2006, and which has remained a front-runner throughout, will also continue to run three Ferrari cars.

Austrian team S-Berg Racing Team will return, entering two Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 cars in the 2008 Championship.  Their rivals among the Lamborghini runners will be British team Tech9 Motorsport, Champions in the inaugural FIA GT3 European Championship season. 

Swiss team Matech Racing will enter six cars: three Ford GT under the name Matech GT Racing, and three Ford Mustang FR500 GT cars under the name Matech Mustang Racing, which will all compete for the Ford Cup.  2007 runners-up Luca Pirri and Jürgen von Gartzen are among their star drivers.

Six new Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S cars will be taking part in the 2008 season.  Mühlner Racing, a real reference in Porsche competition and a multiple class-winner in the 24 Hours of Spa, will enter two.  British team Trackspeed Racing will be back for a second season, also with two cars.  The team will also compete in the GT2 Category of the FIA GT Championship, as will their Belgian rivals, Prospeed Competition, with one car for team bosses Rudi Penders and Franz Jamot.

After the plane crash tragedy which hit the team, Apex Motorsport is nevertheless determined to carry on with the Jaguar XKR, aiming to do well in order to honour late Team Principal Richard Lloyd and test driver David Leslie.

AutoGT Racing, from France, returns with the Morgan Aero 8 GT3, also entering three cars, and an impressive line-up of drivers including former Formula One star Jacques Lafitte and his daughter Margot.

So who will emerge victorious in Silverstone ?  Last year, the winners of the first race went on to win the title… will history repeat itself ?  One thing is certain : the magnificent cars from the FIA GT3 European Championship will put on a fine show around the Silverstone Circuit.

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