Rich Mason adds McLaren 570S GT4 to expanded GTH line-up
International sportscar champion Jon Lancaster to co-drive
Additional outings planned for Yorkshire duo
Greystone GT is delighted to announce the entry of a third McLaren 570S GT4 for the opening round of the GT Cup at Donington Park on April 10-11.
Racing newcomer Rich Mason will be partnered by international sportscar racing champion Jon Lancaster in the GTH class in an extra car to complement the full-time entries of Mark Hopton/Adam Carroll and Iain Campbell/Oli Webb.
Rich, from Harrogate, was a regular competitor in club-level motocross during the 1990s, and has been part of the Greystone GT family for several years; beginning his relationship with the Silverstone-based team through its renowned Supercar Trackday programme.
He later expanded his horizons by stepping up to a track-based programme behind the wheel of a Ginetta G55 GT4 and has, since last Summer, continued to build his experience in the McLaren.
Jon, 32, has made winning international races a habit during a professional circuit-racing career that began in 2006.
Runner-up in the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2007, the Leeds driver later won races in the intensely competitive Formula 3 Euro Series, Formula Renault 3.5 and GP2 Series while on the single-seater ladder towards F1.
He began racing sportscars in 2013 in the FIA World Endurance Championship and brilliantly claimed the overall European Le Mans Series title two years later. Last season he raced in both the ELMS and WEC and has twice contested the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The 570s GT4, whose livery bears resemblance to McLaren’s ultra-successful F1 campaigns of the 1980s, is set to enter further GT Cup races during the latter stages of the season. Dates and venues will be announced at a later date once decided.
Rich Mason said: “I’m excited to start racing in the GT Cup. It’s looking like such a high-quality series this year that I know it’s going to be tough, but we’re just going to take things one step at a time and try to make some good progress. The Greystone GT team have prepared me well for this, and the work Jon and I have done together since last October in the McLaren has left me reasonably confident that I push myself to the limit, but not beyond it, and just keep listening and learning. At the moment we’re only confirmed for the first event, but I reckon we’ll add a few more in the second half of the season.”
Jon Lancaster said: “I’m pretty excited to be racing in a UK series for the first time since 2006, and in the McLaren too, which is such an iconic name in motor racing and one that most drivers would dream of getting behind the wheel of. Rich and I have worked together since last October and I can see a clear line of progression in his driving; something that’s only going to continue as he gains experience in racing. The GT Cup looks super-competitive this year with maybe it’s best-ever line-up of drivers, and it’s great to be a part of it. We’re not really setting any targets other than to make sure Rich has a good time and gets really confident with the car in a race situation so we can help take him to the next level.”
Mark McLoughlin, Team Principal, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to add a third car to the line-up for Donington and potentially a few more events later in the season. It’s also thoroughly satisfying to know that we’ve been able to help Rich move from trackday driver to fully-fledged racer in one of the UK’s most competitive GT series in just a couple of years. All three of our sporting drivers in the GT Cup have come into Greystone GT in the same way, so it’s great to know that our work behind the scenes is equipping drivers like Rich with what they need to take the step into racing. I’m sure he and Jon will work well together and move forwards through what’s sure to be an exciting campaign.”
