Greystone GT Add McLaren To GT Open Red Bull Ring Entry

Greystone GT will make their debut in the International GT Open at the Red Bull Ring on September 9-11.

The Silverstone-based team will field a McLaren 720S GT3 for team newcomers Andrew Gilbert and Fran Rueda in the European series. The pair will compete in the Pro-Am division against an international field.

Nottingham-born Andrew, who is now based in the UAE, began his racing career in the 2021 Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific; finishing on the podium three times in six races in the Coppa Shell Am division including two runner-up spots at Dubai Autodrome.

His full-season programme this year is in the Ferrari Challenge Europe, in which he currently sits eighth in the Trofeo Pirelli class. The Red Bull Ring GT Open event will mark his debut in a GT3 racing car.

Fran, 25, is the first Spaniard to race for Greystone GT. He has been a regular in the series since debuting in 2017 and finished as the overall series runner-up in 2017 and ’18.

The Malaga ace has also been a race winner in the Renault Sport Trophy and the SEAT Eurocup.

The news is the latest major announcement for Greystone GT, who are enjoying their best season to date in a very short GT racing history thus far.

Starting with a GT4 win at the Gulf 12 Hours in January, the team have also been multiple winners in the UK’s GT Cup and podium finishers in the British GT Championship.

Andrew and Fran are driving the Node4-supported McLaren for the first time today (Thursday) at Silverstone.

Andrew Gilbert said: “It’s a big step to come into GT3 racing in what’s my first full year of racing, but it’s hugely exciting too. It’s probably a bit sooner than I’d originally planned, but everything’s fallen into place to debut in the International GT Open and it’s just too good an opportunity to miss. This opening test will be my first time in a GT3 car and the category is absolutely where I want to be going forwards. We’re already looking at a range of potential programmes for 2023 with Greystone GT with the car so this will be a very good starting point as we focus on our plan going forwards.”

Fran Rueda said: “It’s amazing to be racing again because my full season was in 2020 and the world’s been a bit shaken since then. I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever be back in International GT Open, so I’m delighted to have the chance to return and to help Andrew as he takes on the biggest challenge of his racing career. I’ve been a young professional driver with McLaren in the past so I have lots of knowledge of the 720S GT3 and I’m sure that I can use this to benefit Andrew and the team.”

Mark McLoughlin, Team Principal, said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Andrew and Fran to Greystone GT. Andrew is an ambitious driver who ultimately wants to race at Le Mans and Fran brings a wealth of experience of the McLaren and the International GT Open that should prove an asset at the Red Bull Ring. From the creation of the Greystone GT race team in October 2020 we set two targets; to prepare enthusiastic trackday drivers for the rigours of professional motor racing and to compete against the best GT racing teams in the world. With a Gulf 12 Hours win and podium finishes in British GT this year, we’re heading in the right direction. Stepping up to the International GT Open increases the challenge even further, but it’s a challenge we’re ready to take on.”

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