Scots racers are fired up for podium glory this weekend

SCOTS endurance racers are hoping for podium success as the 2022 GT World Challenge Europe gets under way in Italy this weekend.

They will tackle the famous Imola circuit in a fiercely competitive three-hour race on Sunday that’s set to feature more than 50 cars.

Dundee’s Finlay Hutchison will team up with Aberdonian Lewis Proctor and Mexican Diego Menchaca in a Team WRT Audi R8 LMS evo II GT3 for the Silver Cup class.

Forfar’s Sandy Mitchell will compete in the Gold Cup on board a familiar Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo. And Motherwell’s Ian Loggie will be part of the SPS automotive performance Mercedes-AMG GT3 outfit taking on other Pro-Am Cup contenders.

Hutchison said: “I’m looking forward to being back at Imola and determined to make the best possible start to the season – we’re hungry to fight for the podium.”

Mitchell was equally positive, saying: “Given the strength of our Lamborghini Evo race car, allied to the experience of Barwell, I see no reason why we can’t be in the mix battling for the championship right from the start of the season.”

Back in the UK, East Kilbride’s Logan Hannah and Perth’s Chloe Grant will seek to make an immediate impression in the inaugural GB4 Championship.

The Graham Brunton Racing/Laser Tools Racing duo will be at Snetterton in Norfolk for the first round of the single-seater contest featuring Tatuus F4-T014 machines.

Grant said: “Having only had three test days in the car, I’ve put a lot of time in on the sim to get to grips with the handling ahead of our first race. I can’t wait.”

And there’s Britcar Endurance Championship action at Oulton Park, Cheshire, with Aberdeenshire’s Josh Hislop and Michael Macpherson, from Inverness, once again teaming up in a TeamHard