> Double Pure McLaren champion steps up with 570S GT4
Reigning two-time Pure McLaren GT Series champion Mia Flewitt and McLaren factory driver Euan Hankey will race Balfe Motorsport’s second full-season British GT4 entry in 2020.
Flewitt returns to the championship and team full-time following three race-by-race outings alongside Stewart Proctor earlier this year. Hankey, meanwhile, makes his first appearance since deputising for Ben Barnicoat at Silverstone in 2018. His CV also features overall and class wins in the Le Mans Cup and European Le Mans Series, as well as podiums in the Dubai 24 Hours and FIA World Endurance Championship.
The Pro/Am pair have worked together as coach and pupil during both of Flewitt’s Pure McLaren title-winning campaigns, and also teamed up with Balfe to finish second in class at the recent Gulf 12 Hours. They’ll now share the same 570S GT4 throughout 2020.
“I’m very excited to join Balfe Motorsport for our Pro/Am championship challenge in 2020 and looking forward to sharing my McLaren 570S GT4 with my driver coach of the past two years, and recently appointed McLaren factory driver, Euan Hankey.” Said Flewitt. “Having just finished in second place in the Gulf 12 Hours together with Balfe Motorsport, it gives me great confidence in our team’s ability to deliver when it counts. Bring on 2020!”
Hankey added: “I’m very excited to back on the British GT Championship grid. Coming back to the UK tracks will be a nice change and I’m looking forward to helping and supporting Mia in her graduation from the Pure McLaren GT Series to a full season of British GT.
“Having been her driver coach over the last two years it’s exciting to be a part of her development and hopefully we'll be continuing that success into 2020. Having recently finished second in a Balfe Motorsport one-two at the Gulf 12 Hours, it was great to see and experience what a great team they are and I’m looking forward to developing that relationship further.”
2020 represents Balfe’s first full season as a multi-car British GT4 entrant after previously announcing the return of fellow Pro/Am crew Graham Johnson and Michael O’Brien. And as well as aiding the squad’s Teams’ Championship bid, team boss Shaun Balfe believes the extra data will prove useful for both line-ups.
“It’s great that Mia felt comfortable after three competitive races with us in British GT this season and is happy to return for a full campaign in 2020.” He said. “Bringing Euan with her will make the car ultra-competitive and I’m expecting to manage some internal team rivalry but, it will be very positive. We’ll have double the data so it will boost Michael and Graham and raise the bar for everyone. I expect Mia and Euan to push them hard all year.”
Oulton Park hosts the opening round of 2020’s British GT Championship campaign on April 11 & 13. Reserve your Easter Bank Holiday Weekend tickets here.