The legendary Rossoverde team will make a welcome return to UK competition this season after confirming an entry into the GB4 Championship
The Edinburgh-based squad, which dates its motorsport exploits back 50 years this year, were front-runners of the British GT Championship across the last two decades, with multiple race wins courtesy of the iconic pairing of team owner Hector Lester and the late Allan Simonsen, plus dedicated Ferrari engineer, John Buchan.
Rossoverde Racing has also provided opportunities for other highly respected names in the past including the formative Formula Ford career of 1999 F1 Championship runner-up Eddie Irvine, BTCC ace Gordon Shedden, and a cameo outing for Boyzone star Shane Lynch.
The team’s existence dates back to 1972, starting out in Formula Ford 1600, and then branching off into sports car racing with the Ferrari Challenge.
Entries into British GT followed in 2003 before a move into European GT3 in 2006, winning the first ever GT3 event at Silverstone. Further international action came as the team expanded into Australian GT, winning the Australian Grand Prix support race in 2008, Bathurst 12 Hours with an overall fifth place and class win, and participation in the Spa 24 Hours, whilst almost claiming the British GT title in 2009, missing out by just a solitary point.
Regrouping after the sad loss of Simonsen at Le Mans in 2013, the squad reappeared in British GT the following year with the Dane’s brother Benny Simonsen alongside Lester, while also continuing efforts in Australian GT and the Ferrari Challenge.
The team moved back to its entry-level single-seater roots in 2018 when Hector’s son Christian made his British F4 bow, which was followed by races in the Australian F4 category the following season, finishing second in the rookie class in that year's Formula One support race.
Rossoverde Racing are now ramping up their efforts ahead of their GB4 debut at Snetterton on 2-3 April, with an initial one car entry, and plans to expand further.
Team Principal Hector Lester commented: “We are excited by this new opportunity to be back in the British GT Paddock, which will be engineered by Cameron Doyle. As a company, Rossoverde Racing recognises the GB4 Championship, which runs alongside British GT and critically GB3, as key series that will promote and encourage talent to progress towards FIA F3 and F2.”
Get in touch with Rossoverde Racing to find out more about our packages avaliable for GB4.