Brit GT: MTECH heads south for pre-season

British GT squad MTECH will spend one month testing in southern Europe ahead of the new season.

The Algarve circuit in Portugal and the Spanish tracks of Jerez and Monteblanco are on the schedule for MTECH and its Ferrari 430 Scuderia.

Team boss Mike Edmonds believes the warm-weather break from Britain will be just the boost needed by the squad and its talented drivers Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin.

"Duncan and Matt will drive the car at all three circuits over seven days in the coming weeks, and I am sure it will be invaluable preparation," said Edmonds.

"The whole team is revved up and raring to go for the coming year. On paper we are looking very strong: we have the right drivers and the right equipment. Last year we worked hard and it paid dividends towards the middle of the season. We should be strong from the start in 2010."

The team's 'Scud' has just emerged from a valuable wind tunnel session. "We learned a lot from it and we plan to build on that during the February tests," added Edmonds. MTECH's three Formula Renault chassis will be testing in Spain and Portugal also, as will several other of the team's Ferrari racers.

MTECH was the first team to score a British GT race win with the 430 Scuderia; the team's triumph, in the Silverstone two-hour enduro in August, was also the maiden British GT victory for 38-year-old Cameron, who started competing only in 2008. Cork-born 27-year-old pro Griffin was the championship's GT Cup title winner in 2003.

Watch British GT Championship highlights on Motors TV (Sky Channel 413, Virgin Media 545) in 2010.