British GT announce 2010 race details

(Jakob Ebrey Photography)

The Independent-backed Avon Tyres British GT Championship today revealed an exciting eight-date, 14-race calendar for the 2010 season, the highlights of which are a season-closing 'into the night' race at Donington Park and a two-hour race on the Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone. There will also be a return to the former French Grand Prix circuit of Magny-Cours, last visited by British GT in 2006.

The championship will kick off, as it has in recent seasons, with an Easter Saturday/Monday outing at the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire. The championship opener will, like most of British GT's UK dates, be alongside the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series. A full F3 calendar, including that championship's overseas dates, is expected to be finalised soon.

All British GT events will in 2010 feature a revised format devised in consultation with the teams. There will be no testing on the Friday - saving teams and drivers a full day at the track - with two one-hour free practice sessions, as well as two 15-minute qualifying sessions, scheduled for the Saturday. All races (either a brace of one-hour events or a two-hour endurance race) will take place on the Sunday.

The 2010 British GT calendar has been carefully planned so that no race days clash with other major UK championships, including BTCC events. "We are very pleased with the provisional dates and the venues," said Bernadette Fitzsimons, General Manager SRO Motorsports Group. "The competitors were adamant that they wanted to retain eight events in total, and that has enabled us to include Knockhill on the provisional calendar, which we are very pleased about because it will give us once again the chance to work with Knockhill's enthusiastic and helpful staff.

"We are also delighted to be returning to the Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone, which is a particular favourite of the drivers, and are excited to be able to plan an "into the night" race at Donington Park. This is proposed as a two-hour endurance event with refuelling pit stops, and should make for a really dramatic finale to the championship."

Provisional calendar 2010 Avon Tyres British GT Championship:

03-05 Apr, Oulton Park (with British F3)

08/09 May, Knockhill

22/23 May, Magny-Cours, France

03/04 Jul, Snetterton (with British F3)

17/18 Jul, Rockingham (with British F3)

14/15 Aug, Silverstone GP (2hr race, with British F3)

25/26 Sep, Brands Hatch GP (with British F3)

16/17 Oct, Donington Park (2hr race, partner races tba)

Other plans already announced for the 2010 Avon Tyres British GT season include the reintroduction of the Cup Class, providing a cost-effective means of competing at the highest level of GT racing in the UK, as well as changes to GT3 to allow all FIA GT3 homologated cars to compete, including those with superseded homologation, and the introduction of an innovative Challenge Cup for amateur drivers. There will be excellent TV coverage on terrestrial TV via Channel 4, with additional coverage on Motors TV across Europe, and online via Channel 4's video-on-demand service 4OD.

The championship is sponsored by Avon Tyres and is further supported by motorsport insurance specialist AON, by Sunoco Racing Fuels and by Anglo American Oil Company.