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BTCC squad Speedworks to race new Toyota GT4 car in 2020 British GT

British Touring Car Championship squad Speedworks Motorsport will expand into British GT this year, running a factory-supported Toyota GR Supra GT4

The GT4 programme will build on the squad's relationship with the Japanese manufacturer, having secured works backing for its BTCC team last year when it started running a Toyota Corolla.

Speedworks's BTCC racer Tom Ingram tested the brand new Supra machine at the end of last year and the team has now decided to return to British GT for the first time since 2012 this season.

The Supra will be driven by Sam Smelt - who made his GT debut in a Ford Mustang GT4 last season - and Ginetta GT4 Supercup graduate James Kell.

Speedworks boss Christian Dick expects to take delivery of the car in the second week of March, allowing for a few weeks of testing before the first round.

The team will have one of the first six cars to be produced and Dick explained that the relationship with TMG will allow Speedworks to benefit from data from the other cars.

"One of the things that's really important for TMG and ourselves and the drivers is we can piggy back on as much of their [TMG's] testing experience they have got with the car to hit the ground running," he told Autosport.

"It's really exciting times - Tom Ingram drove the car for us and was full of praise of the car.

"One of the big things we learned with the BTCC programme is it's about evolution not revolution.

"It's not where we start the year, it's where we finish. Wherever the starting point is, we need to make sure we make steady progress and improve throughout the year."

Florian von Hasselbach of Toyota Motorsport GmbH added: "There was large customer demand for this car so the process of selecting teams wasn't easy.

"Thanks to Speedworks's BTCC programme with Toyota, we know how professional and dedicated they are, so we are convinced they will be able to show the potential of the GR Supra GT4."

New McLaren team bolsters GT3 field

By James Newbold

Four McLaren 720S GT3s will compete in the championship this year, with the addition of two further cars from the new 2 Seas Motorsport outfit to run in the Silver Cup.

It joins the previously confirmed single car entries from Balfe Motorsport and 2018 British GT3 title-winning Optimum Motorsport, which has switched from Aston Martin.

The lead car will be driven by GT4 race-winner Dean MacDonald and Angus Fender, who took two GT3 podiums last year with Century Motorsport, with the second car set to be campaigned by team co-owner Isa Al-Khalifa and an as yet unconfirmed driver.

Porsche GT3 Challenge Middle East regular Al-Khalifa, 20, is the eldest son of Bahrain Motor Federation chairman Abdullah and the grandson of the King of Bahrain.

The team, which will be run by Nick Cristaforo, has hired former HHC engineer Mark Chittenden as team manager and experienced engineer Xavi Ramon Torrijos.

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