|
British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) ‘Rising Star’ Jeremy Metcalfe has been
officially confirmed today as one of the latest 2008 Avon Tyres British GT
Championship signings for the high-profile CR Scuderia team.
The 19-year-old, who most recently made headlines as a finalist on reality
television show Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, will partner former British
Touring Car Championship racer and GT campaigner Luke Hines in a stunning
Ferrari 430, the pairing competing for full British GT Championship honours in
the headline GT3 class.
Announced at the Avon Tyres British GT Championship Media Day at
Silverstone in Northamptonshire, the partnership with Hines sees the duo come
full circle; Jeremy having raced in karting for the Zip Young Guns squad run by
Luke’s father Martin.
Jeremy’s switch from single-seaters this season into the realms of GT
racing marks an exciting move for the Fleet-based sensation and he is confident
he will be able to hit the ground running when the championship gets underway
just over a fortnight from now.
Although one and two-hour events endurance events, with compulsory
driver-change pit-stops, will require some adjustment for the 2006 McLaren
Autosport BRDC Award finalist, he is confident he will quickly adapt to the
different demands of GT racing.
“I am absolutely delighted to be racing in British GT this season with CR
Scuderia and I can’t wait for the season to start”, said Jeremy, “The Ferrari
430 is an awesome car, when I tested with the team for a handful of laps a
couple of weeks before Christmas I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.
“Obviously, I have strong links to CRS having raced with the team in
Formula Renault UK so to continue that partnership is great news. Teaming with
Luke should be fantastic, I’ve known his family since my days in karting when I
raced for his dad’s team so I think we’ll gel very well and be a competitive
force. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Finishing fifth overall in the Formula Renault UK Championship during the
past two seasons, Jeremy has three race victories, six other podiums, two pole
positions and a brace of Driver of the Day awards to his credit. In addition to
this, Jeremy made his sportscar debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup ‘VIP’ car in
2007 at Knockhill in Scotland.
Having notched up an impressive array of trophies and accolades over the
years in karting and single-seater cars, Jeremy’s incredible rise from 14th on
the grid to second place at Oulton Park in Cheshire in 2006 has been
acknowledged by CRS Team Director Andrew Kirkaldy as the best Formula Renault
drive he has witnessed.
He commented: “Jeremy’s drive at Oulton Park in 2006 is still the best
Formula Renault performance I have ever seen. When things go his way he is
unbeatable. The team will do everything they can to help him get to grips with
the Ferrari quickly and as soon as that happens he will be very fast. I think he
and Luke will do a great job.”
The opening one-hour endurance race of the 2008 Avon Tyres British GT
Championship season will take place at Oulton Park International Circuit on
Saturday, 22nd March. The second encounter will follow on Easter Monday, 24th
March, at the Cheshire venue.
|
News 
