Greystone GT are delighted to announce an expanded GT3 campaign in the GT Cup in 2023 with team regulars Rich Mason and Jon Lancaster.
The pair will race a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, having already contested the final two events of last year’s campaign in the Italian-built V10-engined racing car.
Rich made his race debut with Greystone GT in 2021 aboard a McLaren 570S GT4 and created history with Jon as the duo claimed the team’s first race win in the GTH class at Silverstone in the GT Cup
After being sidelined for most of 2022 while recovering from heart surgery, the Harrogate-based driver graduated to the top GT3 category aboard the Lamborghini for the final two events of the year; he and Jon scoring a best result of sixth at the Snetterton season finale.
Professional racer Jon has made winning international races a habit throughout a 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. Most recently he has been a podium-finisher in the Indian Racing League during the European off-season.
GT Cup events typically feature practice, qualifying, two sprint races of 25-minute duration and two longer 50-minute pitstop races with driver changes allowed.
The emphasis is placed on giving ‘sporting’ drivers like Rich as much track time as possible, meaning professionals like Jon are restricted to taking part in practice and the second stint of each pitstop race.
Seven rounds will be held at the UK’s best racetracks between April and October with live streaming of all races on the GT Cup YouTube channel.
GT Cup 2023 Calendar
Round 1: Donington Park – Apr 01-02
Round 2: Brands Hatch – Apr 29-30
Round 3: Snetterton – Jun 03-04
Round 4: Oulton Park – Jul 01
Round 5: Silverstone – Jul 29-30
Round 6: Donington Park – Sep 16-17
Round 7: Snetterton – Oct 07-08
Rich Mason said: “I’m so excited to start the season. After missing most of last year while I recovered from heart surgery, I felt like it really was a case of ‘in at the deep end’ when I debuted in the Lamborghini, but those two events helped me familiarise myself with the car. I definitely feel more comfortable now, but I’m still learning to trust the aero, because it’s so much more effective than on a GT4 car. With Jon – who’s an ultra-quick driver and a fantastic coach – alongside me, I expect us to improve significantly as I spend more and more time in the car. We’ll be testing at Portimao, Silverstone and Donington ahead of the new season and the intention is to use those days to get myself ready for the first races. Until then I’ll ramp up my physical preparation and do as much practice as I can on the home simulator.”
Jon Lancaster said: “I’m really looking forward to the new season. Despite competing for more than 15 years, the two GT Cup events at Donington Park and Snetterton last Autumn were my first two race weekends in a GT3, but the Lamborghini is such a nice car to drive, it wasn’t hard to adapt. Rich hadn’t been on-track much in 2022 before we started racing the car, so he was still building his speed over those two weekends, but with more track time this winter and as his development continues, we’re only going to become more and more competitive as the season goes on. It’s going to be my busiest year with Greystone GT to date as I’m also racing in the McLaren Trophy across Europe, so I can’t wait for testing to get started.”
Mark McLoughlin, Team Principal, said: “We’re very excited to continue in the top class of the GT Cup in 2023. Rich and Jon scored our first-ever race win, so they will always be a cornerstone of our achievements. With a GT3 car underneath them this year, things will step up a level. Having the two rounds at the end of 2022 with the Lamborghini will be a huge benefit to both drivers and to us as a team as we get ready for the start of the new season. We really missed not having Rich around as a regular fixture in the line-up last year so having him as a much more permanent driver this year is something we’re all looking forward to.”
