BGTC: Daniel Lloyd Racing Brands Hatch preview

BRITISH GT DEBUT FOR LLOYD AT BRANDS HATCH THIS WEEKEND

Daniel Lloyd will make his endurance racing debut this weekend, 25th/26th September, at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit after signing an 11th hour deal with respected team Barwell Motorsport to drive a Ginetta G50 in the G4 Class of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.

The Huddersfield teenager, who has unfortunately been on the sidelines due to budget restrictions since making an outstanding Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship debut in June, is hungry to get back on track and is delighted to have the opportunity to make his GT debut with Barwell.

"I can't wait to get down to Brands at the weekend, meet the team and have my first taste of the G50 as I know what a great car it is", said the 18-year-old, "We've been saying for a long time GT racing is where my future could lie so I really do hope we can do a good job and make a bit of an impact."

Daniel will team-up for the weekend's pair of one-hour endurance races with Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup racer Julien Draper, the 25-year-old also making his British GT debut at Brands Hatch. Obviously the duo will have far less experience than their G4 rivals but Daniel is confident they'll get up-to-speed sufficiently during Saturday morning's practice sessions.

"It's going to be challenging to learn the car, get into the mindset needed for GT racing and to also work on the driver change pit-stop as I've never experienced that before but I'm sure Julien and I will do a good job", added Daniel, "I want to thank Chris Needell at Barwell, Julien and my manager Tim Sugden for the opportunity -- I'm really looking forward to it."

The G4 Class is new this year in British GT, an amalgamation of homologated GT4 cars and Supersport style entries, although the majority of machines taking part are still from the former category. This weekend's action, the penultimate event on the 2010 calendar, will mark the first event this year in which Barwell has entered a Ginetta G50 in the G4 Class alongside its Aston Martin in GT3.

Looking ahead to Daniel's debut, Barwell team manager Chris Needell said: "Obviously, Daniel will be throwing himself in at the deep end a bit by not having had chance to test the car but he's a very talented young lad and we're looking forward to working with him. He started his career racing Ginettas in the Junior Championship so it's a bit of a return for him, we're sure he's going to enjoy it.

"G4 is a very competitive class, there have been three or four Ginettas battling hard all season and they obviously have an advantage in terms of experience. It'll be tough for Daniel and Julien to think about trying to win the class but we are heading to Brands targeting a podium."

Following two 55-minute practice sessions on Saturday, 25th September, qualifying will take place at 15.25 and 15.50. The first race of the weekend will get underway at 12.40 on Sunday, 26th September, with race two beginning at around 16.50.

-source: daniellloydracing.com