Were the parting words left by Beechdean AMR boss Andrew Howard after an eventful weekend of racing at the championship's penultimate round from Donington.

Two races over two days for the multi class amateur driver line up before a third race on the Sunday featuring a Pro driver (if they had one in their line up) again provided for some very close and exciting racing with sometimes no certainty of a winner until the throwing of the chequered flag.


An unfortunate accident in race 1 saw a red flag being thrown with a new GT4 being almost destroyed and a driver temporarily hospitalised for checks (and thankfully later released) before the race was restarted that allowed for Howard and Nigel Hudson to claim second and third overall in their respective Vantage GT3's.

In the GTH Class (GT4), class championship contender Adam Hatfield and his Whitebridge AMR claimed their first win of the weekend aboard their Vantage whilst Paul Hollywood came a close second in his Beechdean  GT4.


The second race on Saturday was less fortunate for Howard who started from pole but soon had to retire his #107 car after damage was sustained in an overtaking manoeuvre with the then leading Mosler going into the Melbourne loop. The issues with these cars at least allowed the championship returning Hud Motorsport Vantage GT3 to claim the top step by the end of that 25 minute race.


Again, the #72 Whitebridge AMR Murphy/Hatfield car secured the top spot in GTH with Hollywood securing the final step to boot.

After an overnight break things ramped up to the start of the fifty minute compulsory pit stop interrupted race with Howard again being fastest in warm up before securing another front row slot for the race. For Hudson the winning ways of yesterday were to be swapped with the disappointment of an early retirement with a drive shaft failure but for Howard the the race went on.


Come the chequered flag it was another P2 for Howard in GTO , another first for Murphy and Hatfield securing them the class championship in the process and another P2 for Hollywood and Gunn both in the GTH class.

Plenty of silverware all round for the AMR guys!!

Role on Silverstone there could be another title up for grabs!

Photo credits - Steve Jackman / GT Cup 

It was great to read the following news release from the GT Cup organisers today about the increased Aston Martin Racing customer team attendance at their penultimate meeting of the season at Donington Park in a couple of weeks time.

Having already raced for a very gruelling fourteen hours yesterday the 41 cars spread across the eight classes have just restarted their second, ten hour part of the race have just enjoyed a very polite and gentlemanly overnight break.

For a circuit that appears so vast with safety barriers set way off the racing limits, the preceding fourteen hours created for some extremely eventful racing with some competitors suffering some extreme damage to their cars in the process.

The three Aston Martin cars entered have all been included in that plethora of cars sustaining damage (self inflicted or not) leading to untimely delays in the garages.


Unfortunately, the #225 Speedworks AMR Vantage GT4 has suffered the most to date, sustaining front end damage in the opening minutes of the race yesterday, damage that has then gone on to continually hinder them throughout yesterday with intermittent electrical issues.


Despite all of this, the team are well versed to the complexities of running in the Creventic Series and have 'dug deep' into their pool of resolve and available spare parts to continue.
At the moment, team boss Chritian Dick is running P34 and fourth in class.


Next up in the Aston Martin Lagonda entered Vantage GT8 #232 of AML boss Andy Palmer, Peter Cate, Paul Hollywood and John Hindhaugh have led the SP3 class for many hours yesterday before firstly braking issues dropped them back down slightly before more sizeable contact damage and then suspension issues dropped them still further.


Presumably it was a difficult night sleep last night for AML VP and Special Operations Director David King having seen his one off pride and joy so distorted but then - who is going to argue with the boss?!!

Having to run to a defined delta lap time of no faster than 2:20:00 the #232 presently runs second in class but 14 laps down to the leading Brookspeed Porsche.


Finally, but no means least is the #20 De La Torre AMR V12 Vantage GT3 of Jorge De La Torre, Ross Gunn, Mark Kvamme and Korean Tack Sung Kim running in the A6-AM Class. Having been up at or about the top of the Am class lead for much of yesterday the young Mexican De La Torre finds himself circulating P9 overall and P4 in class having themselves struggled with earlier technical issues and damage.


With still more than nine hours of racing remaining anything can happen.........!!

Photo credits - AMR / Speedworks / 24H

First, we had to wait all year for one and then three turn up at the final round of the 24H Series from the Circuit of the America's from Austin in Texas!!

Not since the tail end of September 2016 and the withdrawal of the Massive Motorsport V12 Vantage GT3 before the end of that season have we seen an AMR prepared car in this series. That has obviously been corrected this weekend with three cars from the stable being entered - two in the SP3 (GT4) class and another in the A6 (GT3) class.


With the fragmented (14 +10) 24 hour race already underway at CoTA, everything is for pride as far as these AMR teams and drivers are concerned, all conscious that championships still need to be resolved this weekend for some of the full season entries.

Car to look out for are -

#20 A6-Am Class De La Torre AMR V12 Vantage GT3 - Drivers Jorge De La Torre, Ross Gunn, Tack Sung Kim, Mark Kvamme.

#225 Speedworks AMR V8 Vantage GT4 - Drivers John Gilbert, Christian Dick, Will Phillips, Tom Ingram

#232 Aston Martin Lagonda V8 Vantage GT8 - Drivers Andy Palmer, Peter Cate, Paul Hollywood, John Hindhaugh.


Live stream and Timing available HERE

Photo credits - Speedworks / 24H

Andy Palmer will trade his business suit for a race suit this weekend, when he takes on the challenge of competing in a 24-hour motor race. The Aston Martin President and CEO will race in the Hankook 24 Hours of CoTA (Circuit of the Americas) in Austin, Texas on 11-12 November.

Naturally Palmer’s car of choice is the Aston Martin Vantage GT8, the very same car that won its class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours earlier this year. He will share driving duties with Paul Hollywood, John “The Voice of Le Mans” Hindhaugh and Peter Cate.

It's great to see that Will Phillips completes the Speedworks driver line up for next months inaugural 24H Series event at the Circuit of the America's in Austin, Texas.

The former MacMillan Racing racer competed with ever improving success in the British GT Championship this year alongside young Dane Jan Jonck in their #42 Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage GT4 so he should be well at home in the Speedwork's prepared car and with a team well versed in running these split long endurance races.


He joins the existing Speedwork's contingent of John Gilbert, team boss Christian Dick as well as BTCC racer Tom Ingram rounding off the quartet so despite this being his first 24 hour and the teams first racing venture to continental America, the #225 SP3 class car could be one to watch.

Joining them at CoTA will of course be the Aston Martin Lagonda entered Vantage GT8 with Messrs. Andy Palmer, Peter Cate, Paul Hollywood and John Hindhaugh behind the wheel of that car.

However, looking through the now 95% completed entry list you will see Aston Martin Racing names old and new (although not all racing any more Aston's unfortunately) including Roald Goethe, Stuart Hall and Jamie Campbell-Walter all in the RoFGO Mercedes AMG, Ross Gunn and Jorge De La Torre in his own V12 Vantage GT3 as well as Liam Griffin in the Track Club Porsche.

The event now has the machinery and drivers to make this a great one!

Track action takes place over the weekend of Friday 10th to the 12th November.

Photo credits - Jacob Ebrey / Speedworks

The answer to that would simply be Messrs Palmer, Cate, Hollywood and Hindhaugh!

That is the latest confirmed entry for the Aston Martin Lagonda entered #232 car Vantage GT8 for next months 24H Series' visit to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas for Creventic's first ever transatlantic visit with their speciality 'partitioned' 24 hour race format.

With more detail in the names it opens with Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda and keen petrol head who has obviously been ramping up his track time this year in the Aston Martin Owners Club series aboard his V8 Vantage GT4. Next up is Peter Cate, an AML supported driver with many years of VLN Nordschleife racing experience including winning his class at this years N24 aboard this very car.

Then there is Paul Hollywood of a certain UK TV cookery show fame, keen petrol head and a former entrant in the British GT Championship aboard a Beechdean GT4. We believe that his recent racing experience has been somewhat limited to possibly just one race in Britcar this year due to his TV heavy commitments so diving into a 24hour will be an eye opener for him.

Last but no means least is John Hindhaugh of Radio Le Mans fame. Never more a twenty miles from a race track and no stranger to Aston Martin Lagonda nor Aston Martin Racing this event will surely be his biggest race to date.

Track activity starts with an optional private test on Thursday 9th November before Qualifying on Friday 10th with the first 14 hours of racing on the Saturday before concluding over Sunday 12th.

Photo credits - VLN

Source material - Beechdean AMR

Having hardly caught our own breathe since the excitement of last weekend in France, the 2017 racing season continues with a vengeance again this weekend across Europe featuring a number of Aston Martin Teams.

Already in France, TF Sport drove further south from Le Mans where they already were with their V12 Vantage GT3 for the Road to Le Mans races that were in support of the 24 hour race and on to the 1000kms of Paul Ricard that forms third round of the Blancpain GT Endurance Cup.

Joining team regulars Ahmad Al Harthy and (Le Mans GTE Pro winner) Jonny Adam this time round will be Salih Yoluc.


Over at Silverstone, the Britcar Endurance Championship also resumes with their third round of their season with two Aston Martin Racing GT4 entries appearing.

Joining the Chris Murphy/Whitebridge Garage entry again will be Generation AMR SuperRacing's Matty George. Also appearing as a one off in both the championship and the car will be Beechdean's Andrew Howard who will be racing alongside TV chef Paul Hollywood again.


Over in Japan, the third round of the Blancpain GT Asia Series is currently underway at Suzuka but unfortunately the CMRT by Eurasia V12 Vantage GT3 entry of Kenneth Lim and James Cai is not competing. We assume that it may just be a logistical issue having had the team working flat out for almost a fortnight at Le Mans.

Photo credits - Blancpain / Britcar / Chris Valentine

With the sweat hardly dried from his brow after a 24hour racing event, Beechdean AMR boss will leave Le Mans had head almost straight to Silverstone for his next racing exploit of the month with the return of not just a Beechdean AMR GT4 but also TV chief Paul Hollywood.

Round three of the 2017 Dunlop Endurance Championship will see over 40 competitors enter the event around the full Grand Prix circuit on the 24th June. This race will be the first domestic event in 2017 that a Beechdean AMR Vantage has competed in following their season withdrawal from British GT over the winter and for the ever busy TV personality, his first racing event of the year.

Beechdean Aston Martin Racing (AMR) endured a difficult final round of the 2016 British GT season, but managed to successfully secure second in the GT4 drivers’ standings.

Driver Jack Bartholomew, a GT rookie, also took the Silver Cup Championship. Overall the team have had a decent season and Bartholomew certainly delivered more than expected in his first year.

Beechdean AMR driver Bartholomew started the 2 hour “Donington Decider” race with a genuine chance of taking the 2016 British GT, GT4 title. Bartholomew and outgoing British GT4 champion Ross Gunn, took a comfortable pole position for the Sunday two hour race. Unfortunately, the pairing dropped off the pace in the final stages of the race due to a rare technical problem to the Beechdean Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4 #407 car.

Reigning British GT Championship winning squad Beechdean Aston Martin Racing (AMR), will be back in action this weekend at Donington Park (10th and 11th of September), for the 2016 British GT Championship finale. The two hour race is the ninth and final race of the season and will be the last chance for each driver and all the British GT teams to score some championship points.

Donington Park, that famously held the 1993 European Grand Prix, has been popular with drivers for many years. The 2.498 mile lap starts with the high speed downhill ‘Craner Curves’ before heading uphill towards two medium speed left-handers at Mclean’s and Coppice. The lap is then concluded by the Esses and two slow speed hairpins.

This coming weekend will see the team’s three cars back in action. Following the unexpected withdrawal from Snetterton, after damage to the car in round six at Spa Francorchamps, the Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3 car returns to the track. Last week the team announced that the GT3 will be driven by Andrew Howard and Rory Butcher. The duo, who have a competitive history, pair together for the first time and should present a strong challenge for the other drivers in the class.

Team owner and driver, Andrew Howard commented on the upcoming finale at Donington saying “Having been involved in British GT since 2004, it is going to be a strange day driving in what will potentially be my last British GT event. But I am excited as ever to be racing in such a competitive field and am looking forward to one Scot beating another”

Butcher, who has spent the season competing against Beechdean AMR and Howard, in ELMS commented on the upcoming race saying, “I am looking forward to joining Beechdean AMR and Andrew this weekend, and I am thankful for the opportunity. It has been a full year since I competed in British GT and driven in the GT3 category, so it is really exciting to be back in the paddock, especially with the reigning champions. It will certainly be interesting to see how Andrew and I can challenge the GT3 field at the season finale.”

Ross Gunn continues his paring with Jack Bartholomew in the #407 Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4, after the duo had a successful two races at Snetterton. The pairing, took second in the seventh round and a win in the eighth round. Both Bartholomew and Gunn are ready for battle and are hoping for a strong race, ending the season on a positive note.

Gunn commented on the final race of the season saying, “It’s great to be driving this weekend at Donington in the Beechdean AMR GT4. Snetterton was very encouraging for everyone in the team and I will be pushing as hard as possible to make sure that title stays in the Beechdean family.”

Bartholomew, who is looking forward to his end of season race at Donington commented on the upcoming weekend saying, “The car, the team, Ross, and I are prepared. It is not going to be an easy weekend but I am ready for the challenge. It's been an awesome year up till now I've learnt so much. Now it’s time to take what I have learnt and fight for the title - bring on the battle.”

Finally, celebrity baker Paul Hollywood and reigning British GT4 Champion Jamie Chadwick complete the weekend’s line up, and are in the #408 Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4. The pairing joined forces and started their season together at Spa Francorchamps - Donington will be the fourth and final round for the pairing. Despite getting off to a slightly rocky start, both Chadwick and Hollywood now have a solid understanding of each other’s driving style. Teamwork prevailed for both of them at Snetterton, which saw them walk away from the eighth round with a very respectable sixth place.

Chadwick, who recently starred on Blue Peter, commented about the upcoming race stating, “I am eager to get back in the Beechdean #408. Following our recent top-6 success at Snetterton, I am keen to emulate our previous strong form this coming weekend.”

Hollywood - who is still relatively new to British GT - had an outstanding race at Snetterton, commented on the upcoming final race at Donington, saying, “I can’t wait for Donington. Last time I was there was in 1993, watching the great Ayrton Senna in a very memorable European GP. It is a challenging track, which I’m looking forward too.”


Source material - Beechdean AMR

Jamie Chadwick (18), 2015 British GT4 Champion, successfully completed her Licence upgrade this weekend, driving a V8 Vantage racecar and qualifying her to race at the legendary Nürburgring – incorporating Nordschleife and part of the GP Circuit.

This awesome circuit, originally built in 1927, is no longer used for Grand Prix having been deemed too long and dangerous. But, it remains popular for GT and Endurance racing, where the demanding combination of 73 corners, elevation changes of 1000 feet, and over 13 miles of tight and often bumpy track, reward only the finest drivers.

Following the announcement that the GT3 will not be competing at Snetterton, further update about the team and other changes have now come to light. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond his control Jordan Albert has decided to retire early from the season, leaving British GT and Beechdean AMR.

Albert drives the Beechdean Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4 car and makes up one half of the pairing, who are currently leading the Silver Cup driver standings and are second in the British GT GT4 drivers’ championship. The duo, who have had a successful debut season so far have impressed the team with their professional attitude and skill. The young driver, who has shown great potential and talent and a true dedicated to the sport has announced he will be departing from the Beechdean AMR and the championship. The team are understandably disappointed by the news of his departure but understand that the decision - which was not made lightly - is sadly unavoidable due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control.

Team owner, Andrew Howard commented on the news of Albert’s departure stating “Jordan has delivered more than we could have expected for his first season in British GT and driving a GT4 car. He is an ambitious young man and a skilful driver who has a promising career ahead of him and we wish him every success in the future.”

Reigning British GT championship winning squad Beechdean Aston Martin Racing (AMR) encountered a difficult weekend at Spa Francorchamps for the sixth round of British GT. The team’s GT3 and GT4 cars ran into trouble during the 2 hour race, resulting in the #407 GT4 car being the sole finisher.

Beechdean AMR was one of the few teams not to test at the 7.004 km circuit in Belgium. The Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3 car qualified at a very respectable sixth place and was driven by team owner Andrew Howard and Aston Martin Racing factory driver Ross Gunn. Unfortunately the pairing retired from the race on lap one after a collision with a European GT4 car. The #1 car driven by Howard at the time was found to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. “It is disappointing to retire from the race on lap 1 with damage, but motorsport can be like this sometimes”, commented a frustrated Howard.

Nineteen year old Gunn added, “These kind of results are incredibly difficult to swallow, however being able to drive the GT3 car in Qualifying on Friday was a steep but useful learning curve for me. Hopefully I will be back there soon”


Paul Hollywood and Jamie Chadwick driving the #408 Beechdean Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT4 suffered from a similar feat to their GT3 team mates. Hollywood was making steady but impressive progress through the GT4 field during his stint before a small mistake on the exit of ‘Fagnes’ on lap eight. Heavy damage was caused to the car and therefore an early retirement was inevitable.

“I’m on a steep learning curve.” stated celebrity baker Hollywood. “Spa was an incredible experience. I was happy with my pace and lines and felt I learnt a lot. I’m looking ahead now to Snetterton.”

Reigning British GT4 champion and BRDC Rising Star Jamie Chadwick said, “It was great to be back within the Beechdean AMR team this weekend at Spa! Unfortunately the race result was not a fair representation of Paul’s pace and progress over the course of the weekend.”

Fellow GT4 youngsters Jack Bartholomew and Jordan Albert endured a character building weekend at Spa Francorchamps. The pairing headed to east Belgium leading the championship, but knew they would have their work cut out for them with no previous Spa race experience and an additional 50kg in weight being added to the car.


Bartholomew plummeted to the back of the field in the early laps after contact with a European GT4 car but proceeded to make ground on his competitors in front. Albert was handed the car over on the fringes of the top 10 and the Silverstone based driver duly went on to secure four crucial championship points.

“The race weekend at Spa Francorchamps was always going to be a tough one for us as a pairing”, said Bartholomew. “After the collision in the early laps it was then a case of making the best of a bad situation”

Round 5 of the British GT Championship at Spa-Francorchamps, this weekend, signals an exciting return to racing for reigning British GT4 Champion and “BRDC Rising Star” Jamie Chadwick. The 17 year old will team up with BBC “Bake Off” celebrity Paul Hollywood to compete in the highly competitive and challenging GT4 class, driving a Beechdean AMR V8 Vantage.

The 2015 Champion makes her comeback following a break to complete her A-levels. Speaking ahead of this weekend, Chadwick commented:

“This year I’ve had to put racing on the back burner to finish my exams. I did two rounds at the beginning of the year, as stand in for James Holder at Generation AMR, but I’ve had to sit out Oulton Park and Silverstone. Spa is one of the most iconic circuits in the world so a pretty good place to mark my return.”

This will be the second time Chadwick has raced at the 7km track, collecting second place last year alongside Ross Gunn.

“2015 was my first time at Spa and I loved it – Ross and I had a great race and were rewarded with a podium. This year will be more challenging as Paul is new to British GT, and it will be the first time we’ve raced together, in a new car that we haven’t yet tested. And, we will be competing against drivers already established in this year’s series. So, hard to predict what to expect at this stage”.

Jamie will compete in the remaining rounds following Spa at both Snetterton (6-7 August) and Donnington (10-11 Sept).


Source material - Jamie Chadwick

Those fortunate to be going to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend will be treated to the sights and sounds of the #97 AMR V8 Vantage GTE fresh from its adventures at Le Mans, being thrashed up the hill by Aston Martin Racing Evolution Academy winner and Beechdean GT3 racer Ross Gunn. With the teams four Le Mans cars only being received back at the Prodrive factory yesterday a quick turn around will be needed ready to ship that car out again for the event that starts tomorrow.

He will be joined over the weekend by at least Darren Turner and Peter Dumbreck, who shall each share the driving of the Aston Martin Vulcan as it returns to 'the hill'. The IQ Option liveried V12 Vantage GT3 is also due to be run over the four day event as well as the highly successful Vantage GT8. The all new DB11 is also due to make its FOS debut.


Having only finished her A level exams this morning, seventeen year old Jamie Chadwick became the youngest person to drive an Aston Martin Vulcan at Silverstone this afternoon under the watchful eye of AML and AMR driver Darren Turner as nine other hypercars also hit the Nothamptonshire track.


Monday saw celebrity TV chef Paul Hollywood let loose with an AMR V12 Vantage GT3 at a very wet Silverstone (at least under the watchful eye of Jody Fannin though) as part of a making of a further BBC documentary about the baker cum aspiring race driver. This car would have needed extensive repair following its race ending damage sustained during the Nurburgring 24H earlier this month.


Both Hollywood and Chadwick are due to join driving forces in a second Beechdean AMR Vantage GT4 as the British GT Series returns to the tracks at Spa Francorchamps in early July.

Photo credits - Driver social media