MTECH head south ahead of GT season

(Jakob Ebrey Photography)

A month-long testing programme in southern Europe is being undertaken by the MTECH team ahead of the forthcoming Avon Tyres British GT Championship season. The Algarve circuit in Portugal and the Spanish tracks of Jerez and Monteblanco are on the schedule for MTECH and its Ferrari 430 Scuderia.

Team boss Mike Edmonds believes the warm-weather break from Britain will be just the boost needed by the squad and its talented drivers Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin. "Duncan and Matt will drive the car at all three circuits over seven days in the coming weeks, and I am sure it will be invaluable preparation," said Mike.

"The whole team is revved up and raring to go for the coming year. On paper we are looking very strong: we have the right drivers and the right equipment. Last year we worked hard and it paid dividends towards the middle of the season. We should be strong from the start in 2010."

The team's 'Scud' has just emerged from a valuable wind tunnel session. "We learned a lot from it and we plan to build on that during the February tests," added Edmonds. MTECH's three Formula Renault chassis will be testing in Spain and Portugal also, as will several other of the team's Ferrari racers.

MTECH was the first team to score a British GT race win with the 430 Scuderia; the team's triumph, in the Silverstone two-hour enduro in August, was also the maiden British GT victory for 38-year-old Cameron, who started competing only in 2008. Cork-born 27-year-old pro Griffin was the championship's GT Cup title winner in 2003.

The opening rounds of the 13-race championship take place at Oulton Park on Easter Monday (5 Apr). British GT is sponsored by UK tyre manufacturer Avon Tyres and is further supported by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and The Independent.