CAPACITY GRID SET SEASON-OPENER AT JEREZ

22 mei 2024  

The Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, and Supercars Jarama RACE seasons kick off next weekend with a record entry list of forty-two cars at Circuito de Jerez.

The continuity of most of the drivers and teams demonstrates the high quality that the championship has achieved in recent years. The arrival of new structures and competitors highlights the growing interest it has sparked within the Iberian Peninsula and beyond, attracting participants from other regions.

Teams from five different countries—Portugal, Spain, England, Slovenia, and France—are set to compete. In terms of drivers, there are representatives from eleven countries spanning four continents: Africa, North America, South America, and Europe.

The forty-two cars are divided into three categories, with GT4 being the most numerous, featuring twenty-eight cars from thirteen different teams. Touring cars will have five entries, and GTC will feature seven.

Sixteen models from eleven different brands will be on the starting grid, contributing to the exoticism and spectacle that GT and Touring cars bring to circuit racing. This ensures an intoxicating display with lively races across all categories and divisions

LAST MINUTE ENTRIES
The entry list received a boost from last-minute entries, further increasing the excitement for the season start.

Last year’s GT4 Pro drivers champions, Speedy Motorsport will field four cars: two Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evos and two Porsches—a 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS and a 981 Cayman GT4 CS.

The Toyota cars will be driven by Iberian pair César Machado and Jan Duran in one, and Am driver Luís Liberal in the other. The Porsche 718 Cayman will be shared by brothers Miguel and André Nabais, while series veteran Andrius Zeimatis will drive his 981 Cayman in the GTX category.

McLaren Barcelona-supported team SMC Motorsport is returning to the series with two McLaren 570S GT4s. One will be shared by Spaniard Álvaro Gutierrez, who is fresh from the karting, and Ecuadorian Sébastian Merchán, while the other will be driven by Rafael Muncharaz.

Araújo Competição’s brand-new Aston Martin Vantage GT4, which arrived at the team’s workshop in Lisbon this week, will be driven by race debutant Bruno Pereira and former A1 Team Portugal driver Gonçalo Araújo.

Tockwith Motorsports will field a fifth car, a Ginetta G55, shared by GTC race winner Jemma Moore and former ETCC driver Fábio Mota. The car will be entered in the invitational class.

Chefo Sport is making its series debut with a Ligier JS2 R. Local drivers Álvaro Vela and Sébastien Villadary will be competing for top positions in the GTX division.

Portugal’s Art of Speed will race a Porsche 911 Cup in the Cup division, with Frederico Formiga and Frederico Castro as the drivers, both making their first appearance in the Iberian Supercars series.

The official Jerez Classic programme begins on Saturday with free practice and qualifying, followed by races on Sunday.

Both races will be broadcast live on social media and will have live TV coverage on Spain’s DAZN and Portugal’s A Bola TV.