Brit GT: Argentine duo to race Chad Ferrari

Chad Racing will field a Ferrari F430 for Argentine drivers Jose Manuel Balbiani and Juan Garriz in the British GT Championship this season.

Balbiani made his debut in the series last season when he deputised for Paul Warren in Chad’s 430, helping Chris Hyman to the team’s only podium finish of the year. His return comes with more silverware in mind.

"I won't say the championship is my target because there are many factors required, but for sure I hope for the top three,” said the 32-year-old, who has previous experience racing in FIA GT2, GT3 and the Seat Leon Supercopa. “We are not planning a series of 17-hour flights just to hang around and see what happens: we want to score as many points as possible."

The 19-year-old Garriz, who is backed by his home town of Chascomus, was spotted by Balbiani racing in Formula Metropolitana single-seaters at the Mouras circuit in Argentina.

"I saw that Juanchi was really reliable and finished all the races, then we tested at Snetterton and he went well.

"Probably it is the first time an Argentinian team has tried British GT, and we will use our national racing colours of blue and yellow, which, is a design dating back to the Fangio days.

“Our car is not the latest model but the British tracks are made for drivers, or at least drivers count and it rains a lot, so we believe that a great team and good drivers can make a difference.”

Chad Racing will run three Ferraris this season, with Dan Brown and Hyman already confirmed one 430 backed by STP.

"Chad has expanded over the winter in all areas and we have recruited the best people possible with Ferrari experience,” said Team Manager Piers Masarati. “This is a large program in 2010 and we are really happy that we have found a space for José and Juan. It is also nice that we have drivers who have been attracted to our team from outside the UK.

"We know José well from last year and he was the quickest driver in the wet at Donington last year in the same car, so we know he has the pace. Juan tested our GT2 Porsche in November and did a good job; he will have a lot to learn but before the first round he will have tested at Snetterton, Oulton and Silverstone. This is a 2008-spec 430, so not a Scuderia, but the car is nimble and in the longer races this could be the car to have.

"We will announce Chad's third driver pairing next week, and this pairing will be in the team's second Scuderia. It's going to be a long hard season but the time is right for us to challenge for honours and this year will certainly be more competitive than 2009. The field looks very strong."

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


Andy Wilkinson