The grid for the 2021 Intelligent Money British GT Championship is starting to take shape with Barwell Motorsport announcing its line-up for next year.

Reigning champion Sandy Mitchell – who has been promoted from Junior to Lamborghini works driver – teams up with 2020 title contender Adam Balon as part of Barwell’s two-car Lamborghini Huracán GT3 line-up. With the Silver Cup being overhauled for 2021, Mitchell takes on the role of ‘Pro’ in the Pro-Am line-up, having contended his championship winning season together with Rob Collard as Silver Cup fighters. Mitchell and Balon will run with starting number 1 as earned by winning the 2020 championship.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to British GT in 2021 and it’s a fantastic feeling to start the season as defending champion,” said Mitchell. “We will be fully focused on the new season ahead and will be ready to hit the ground running at Round 1. It’ll be exciting racing alongside Adam, especially with the championship more heavily weighted to Pro-Am and Silver-Am, and I think it’ll make the championship very close.

“Next season will be my fourth with Barwell, everyone in the team works hugely hard, and I have no doubt we’ll be fighting at the front of the field again in 2021.”

The reigning Teams’ champions’ second Lamborghini features Leo Machitski. The Russian returns to the championship where he won the GT3 title in 2006 with an Aston Martin DBRS9. Machitski has been a household name with Barwell since the 2010s as he took on the Blancpain GT and GT World Challenge Endurance Cup with the British squad. The combination’s most recent success came this year at the 24 Hours of Spa where they claimed Pro-Am class victory. Dennis Lind comes in from WPI Motorsport to join Machitski at Barwell where the duo will drive Lamborghini’s car number 63 in reference to the brand’s birthyear.

“It’s a very competitive series and I’m very excited to start a new challenge,” said Machitski. “I have many great memories which take me back to 2006 when I first started my racing career and won the British GT with Barwell Motorsport in the GT3 class. I am delighted to be working with the team again, and especially teaming up with Dennis after winning the Barcelona 24 Hours last year. We know that we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am definitely enthusiastic about that.”

Team principal Mark Lemmer added: “I’m delighted with the line-ups we’ve been able to put together, which should give us the best chance possible to defend our coveted BGT titles. With Adam, Sandy, Leo and Dennis we have a fantastic blend of speed, youth and experience!”

Barwell’s 2021 testing program begins at Barcelona and Portimão in February ahead of Oulton Park’s British GT season opener on 3rd and 5th April.

 
 

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