British GT 2025 - Media Day Test

By Steve Hindle•March 24, 2025•In Endurance & GT•1 Minutes

Last Friday’s British GT Media Day test from Silverstone once again provided a glimpse of some of the stars, cars and action that can be expected during a closely contested 2025 season.

However, despite the welcome addition to the grid of the aggressively styled Evo-spec Honda NSX GT3 and Ferrari 296, the number of absences from the full-season entry list is more telling. There’s no mighty BMW M4 GT3, no Audis of any form, nor any Mustangs or Ginettas. Having said that, Century will hopefully bring at least one GT3 BMW to a number of events, and Steller earlier announced plans to run its new pair of Chevrolet Corvettes (Z06 GT3.R) in multiple championships, including the possibility of a British GT outing for at least one. So whilst this doesn’t mean that we’ll be denied calibre, the on-track focus might switch between celebrating one-off appearances and relishing battles that might not have previously happened.

Here are our Top 20 images of cars in action; some already dressed with intent, others awaiting that all-important splash of colour. But with less than a fortnight before engines roar into life at Donington, be assured that the racing will be close, fast, and definitely on the right side of thrilling!

All images: Steve Hindle

Simon Orange & Marcus Clutton (cover image and here) could not have found each other at a better time. Clutton is outrageously quick whilst Orange has steadily built his pace towards that of a leading amateur. Their Orange Racing by JMH McLaren 720S Evo topped the timing sheets during both the morning and afternoon sessions, and whilst Clutton was responsible for both fastest laps, Orange was noticeably quick too. There's a lot that goes unsaid on days like this, but providing the inevitable skirmishes are mostly avoided, this car should be right up there by the season finale.
Clutton's former 'Am' partner, Morgan Tillbrook is another who has steadily overcome the pressures of competing at the top level to warrant his place as a title challenger. Paired this year with Marvin Kirchhöfer, a driver currently leading the IMSA standings, these two will present a formidable partnership with the backing of top McLaren squad, Optimum.
Barwell's Alex Martin & Sandy Mitchell are aiming to go one better from their 2024 runners-up spot. The most-winning pairing last year (and probably only denied the title due to a DNF at Silverstone), though only P3 in the GT3 standings at the test day, this very much looks like the car to beat.
Rejoining Martin & Mitchell at Barwell will be reigning champion Rob Collard, partnered this year by Hugo Cook. Collard was absent on Friday, meaning that Matt Topham enjoyed a day behind the wheel of the Huracan. We know that Collard & Cook will be quick, but will they be quicker than their teammates? Only time will tell, but the absence of Ricky Collard from the driving lineup might just be the difference.
Aston Martin's main hopes will be pinned on the returning partnership of Giacomo Petrobelli & Jonny Adam. Podium finishers at Donington last year, Petrobelli is another whose stature has grown, due principally to the inputs and coaching of Adam. The car, as always from Blackthorn, looks stunning. Given the pace we know it can deliver, expect the #7 Vantage to be at the sharp end too.
Also returning for yet another season with Aston Martin is veteran Am Andrew Howard, this year partnered by Tom Wood. Howard will be the first to admit that little went right last year, but Wood's potential is obvious (as demonstrated by his performance at last year's season finale when he replaced Jess Hawkins at Beechdean - recording the fastest lap of the race). I don't think they'll have the outright pace of the Blackthorn car, but if they keep scoring good points, anything is possible.
Ferrari will make its long awaited full-time British GT Championship return this year with Duncan Cameron & Matt Griffin's Spirit of Race 296 GT3, supported by the AF Corse. Previously, Sky Tempesta Racing had planned to run a 296 (also with AF Corse) at last year's Silverstone 500, however, the entry was withdrawn after a testing accident.
Porsche superstar Harry King was on hand to put in the set-up work on Team Parker Racing's Porsche 911 GT3R. The car, in the familiar SD livery will be raced by returnee Nick Jones, partnered by former Supercup champion Sven Müller.
Honda will make its long-awaited debut in the British GT Championship with series debutants Bridger Motorsport, Chun Cheong (Johnny) Ip and Luke Garlick. Garlick steps up from support duties with Ginetta whilst Hong kong based racer Ip moves on from GT4 experience. There's clearly much for the Bridger squad and its drivers to learn, but hopefully, we'll see flashes of the pace expected from the NSX.
Bringing more than his usual splash of colour to the grid is Kevin Tse, partnered once again by former DTM champion Max Götz. Twice winners last year, both have the pace and skill to mount a determined title challenge with the 2 Seas squad.
Stepping up to Mercedes-AMG GT3 machinery is last season's GT4 Pro-Am champion Charles Dawson, being joined at Team Parker Racing by perrenial pace-setter Kiern Jewiss. Jewiss has impressed and won at every stage of his still young career and can be expected to challenge hard for honours.
One pairing making the switch from Mercedes-AMG to McLaren is Mike Price & Callum MacLeod, joining Tillbrook & Kirchhöfer at Optimum. MacLeod is always quick; Price has sometimes struggled to contain his enthusiasm, but evidence from this test shows that he seems more suited to the McLaren chassis.
Topping the GT4 times, just as they did when they won outright at both Snetterton and Donington last year (as Pro-Ams against the all-Silver pairings), was Century's duo of Ravi Ramyead & Charlie Robertson. This car is so well sorted, and both drivers know how to win. Expect more in 2025.
Leading the GT4 Silver challenge with Mahiki's Lotus Emira were the skilfully paired Aiden Neate & Josh Miller. Both were quick, and destined to be quicker. For all too long, GT4 has been dominated by the success of the McLarens; at long last, it looks like Lotus has engineered a car capable of not only matching the Artura, but beating it.
Staying at Mahiki for a second season is Steve Lake, joined this year by returning former champion Jack Mitchell. Mitchell's pace is unquestionable; if Lake can show the consistency that this test suggests, then they might just develop into formidable challengers in the Pro-Am category.
Last year's GT4 champion Jack Brown stays with Optimum and the Artura, but has a new teammate (Marc Warren), and moves into the Pro-Am class. Warren raced with Forsetti in the Aston Martin last year, and though not quite on the leaders' pace, was seldom far behind. These two can be expected to be in the mix and racing for more than just podiums.
Yet another GT4 pairing who can be expected to be battling for honours are Rob Boston Racing's Jamie Orton & Will Burns. RBR knows how to turn out a good car, whilst both drivers (once close rivals when racing Ginettas) have all the experience needed to deliver a structured campaign.
Jon Currie stays with Team Parker Racing, this time for a full-season, but with the added bonus of recruiting Phil Keen as his teammate. Currie still has lots to learn, but if he can focus on handing over to Keen without damage, then occasional pieces of silverware might just come their way.
This year sees just a single Aston Martin entry in GT4, the MKH Vantage of team founders Peter Montague & Stuart Hall, taking to the challenge of the new Endurance Cup category.
Joining British GT from GT Cup is McLaren customer team Jolt. Drivers Rupert Williams & John Ingram are an established partnership so it will be interesting to see how they progress against the depth of talent at this level.
Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo British GT gt3 gt4 Honda NSX GT3 Evo 22 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 McLaren720S GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo

Written By

Steve Hindle
Steve Hindle

Steve has lived his life with motor sport; from childhood years as a fan, to racing around the greatest tracks in Europe, first as a driver and later as a team principal. Today he's a familiar sight trackside and in the pit lane, notebook in one hand, camera in another, capturing moments and contributing to some of the leading titles in motor sport and automotive media.

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