02.Mar.2010 Deal Done and Dusted!

The deal is done. The contracts are all signed and I can tell you that I will be tackling the British GT Championship this season.

I have joined former British GT champions ABG Motorsport and will be driving a stunning KTM X-Bow along with Ben Harvey.

The chance really came out of the blue, but I was ready to grab it with both hands.
I had done some coaching with Ben at Knockhill last year before the Gt Cup round and it was great fun. His Porsche 996 broke down and we ended up hiring a Chevy Matiz from Dunfermline.
He didn’t hold that against me and we maintained contact. Then, at New Year, Ben got in touch to say he was stepping up to the British Gt Championship with a KTM X-bow and wanted to give me a shot at the drive.

Ben’s prestigecarleasing.co.uk firm is the major backer and it was a tremendous opportunity, especially as we are looking at doing some European rounds as well.
Don’t forget to check out his site — I might even ask him for commission if he gets a load of hits!
He has a great vision for what he wants to achieve — and I was delighted to be asked to be part of it.
But, amazingly, I did have to think twice. I had already had a test and had a chance to compete in the Benelux Formula Ford championship with Geva Racing.
The guys had been brilliant and I was sorry when I had to phone to say I wasn’t going to be able to join them.

But I knew chances like the one Ben was offering don’t come along every day.
And my mind was made up after we tested at Oulton Park. The car has the potential to be really quick. I loved driving it and I feel there is more to come as I get used to the X-Bow and the team get used to me.

It may be a new project but the team has already done a great job. The X-Bow has excellent aero grip – that makes it very stable through the fast stuff. In fact, it feels very familiar to what I have driven the last three years so that helped me settle in more quickly.
 
The carbon fibre tub is built by the single-seater manufacturer, Dallara, and it only weighs 700kg. We aren’t giving away any secrets by saying we have a reliable 2.0 turbo Audi engine with bags of torque.
 
So it basically feels like a single seater-sports car combo and that suits me just fine. It is the perfect start for me in such a prestigious series as the British GT.
 
So I am glad I know what I will be doing. This is the series where Andrew Kirkaldy made a massive impact. It is full of famous names like Ferrari, Mosler and Ginetta. 

It will be a big step up, but I am really looking forward to the challenge.
I know I will have to raise my game, but that is what I am in it for.

We know we have plenty to work on before the opening race, so I will keep you posted!

18.Feb.2010 Nearly There!

I have seriously had it with sliding up and down the nation’s roads.

But it had to be done because I want to get everything sorted for this year.

It looks like being a really exciting year — but unfortunately I can’t talk about it just yet.

We are so close but some final details need to be sorted before I can let the cat out of the bag. However, if it all works out as I hope, 2010 is set to be a massive year.

I can say that I have had a few tests in both Duratec Formula Ford and British GT— and they went really well.

I have a couple of options and, given the financial state at the moment and the uncertainty surrounding a lot of drivers, I’m happy to settle for that when we are still in February.

I have been working hard in the gym – well, I did until I tweaked my back. Not very clever, but the magical hands of the physio put me right.

Elsewhere wasn’t it great to see the Saltire flying in Florida after Ryan Dalziel won the Rolex 24-Hour race at Daytona?

It is brilliant to see the Scots doing well across the globe and one hell of an achievement for Ryan and the guys on the team’s first competitive outing.

It is no secret that I would love to tackle the Le Mans 24-hour race, but Daytona looks like an awesome place to go racing. The stands hold 150,000 and hitting that famous banking would be a real buzz.

I’ll have to add that to my list of ambitions. I’d love to talk to Ryan about how he prepared for it, and how he saw the whole race.

In the meantime, I have to put the finishing touches to my own commitments. I just hope I don’t have to do any more driving in the snow!

16.Dec.2009 RORY RECIEVES PRESTIGOUS ECURIE ECOSSE HUB CAP FOR 2009 ACHIEVEMENTS!

The season finished on a massive high last weekend with the Scottish Motor Racing Club awards at the Sheraton in Edinburgh.
As well as the annual prize-giving, there were a host of star names – proving what a huge motor racing heritage we have in this country.
David Coulthard and Dario Franchitti were joined by Paul di Resta, fresh from his test with Formula One team Force India. It would be great if he could add his name to the list of Scots on the F1 grid.
The highlight of the night was DC “interviewing” Paul, Dario and SMRC president Allan McNish. It was hilarious, but very little of it can be repeated here or they may sue me.
At least I now know why DC thinks driving an F1 car is better than sex!
On a personal note, it was great to get my hands on the Scottish Formula Ford title trophy. I have waited a long time to get a championship, although going up to receive it was more nerve-wracking than driving the car.
But I also won the Ecurie Ecosse Hub Cap – what an honour. It is presented to an up-and-coming young driver who has started their racing career in Scotland and shown enormous potential.
After winning the Brands Hatch festival and the CRS Formula Renault test, this capped a stunning season. But I had to make a short speech. Not so much fun. I was just desperate not to miss anyone out – sorry, dad!
Well done to all those who won trophies on the night.
Now it’s all about sorting out my plans for 2010.