Mark Steel is set to make his debut in the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge series at Thruxton this weekend.
The Trucklink supported race driver will take to Britain’s fastest circuit this weekend in what will be his first race meeting with the Toro Verde GT racing team.
The Ginetta GT5 Challenge is one of the UK’s premier racing series, and features on the same card as the elite British GT and British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) events.
Having previously enjoyed two successful seasons in the Volkswagen Racing Cup, Mark will be hoping to deliver strong results from the outset.
Sponsored by brands such as Premier Palletised Limited (PPL) and Tile Mountain, the British-built Ginetta G40 GT5 is a nimble machine with a top speed of over 130 MPH, that will be on the edge every single lap around the Thruxton circuit.
Having tested the car a few times in recent weeks at tracks around the UK, Mark has been getting to grips with the new machinery.
Looking ahead to his first weekend with a new team and in a new championship, he comments: “I am really excited to get started and see how I match up to some of the talented drivers in the field.
“From the testing I have done so far, I know the car is a proper machine! It just keeps on giving – Grip, feedback, surprising performance and its incredibly rewarding when you get it right. I love it!”
The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge is widely regarded as being the proving ground for many up-and-coming racers, who hope to reach the top tiers of motorsport in the UK and across the globe. On this, Mark reflects: “To be sharing the track this weekend with the BTCC and some of the UK’s top drivers is a great honor and I have to thank all of my sponsors for making this happen.
“The competition will be tough this year but proving myself against the other guys in the AM field is why I am here and the experience I have from previous racing series will prove vital!”
Mark will qualify once on Saturday and then race twice over the course of the weekend.
A 20-minute qualifying session will begin at 13:40 on Saturday, with Race One taking place later that day at 17:00 and Race Two commencing at 13:45 on Sunday 9th May.
The race on Sunday will be broadcast live on ITV4 and ITV4 HD as part of its BTCC coverage, with the programme starting at 10:50.
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