Birch celebrates Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB title

                                     Birch celebrates Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB title

James Birch sealed the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge GB title during the final race weekend at Silverstone (6/7 October) and is already aiming to graduate into the Carrera Cup GB in 2013.

Birch won six times in 12 races and was on the podium in five of the other six races in a season when he raced with both IN2 Racing and GT Marques. The 22-year old racer from Amersham made a huge effort even to get to Silverstone as the final two races came during a four-week training course in India with his employer. He flew to the UK from Bangalore on Friday and then had to hastily re-arrange his return – planned for Sunday afternoon – when the race timetable was changed due to fog early in the day.

“I’m absolutely over the moon and so, so happy,” said Birch. “I’m still a bit lost for words to be honest. It’s sunk in a bit but not properly yet, I’ve just had a really enjoyable weekend. Massive thanks to GT Marques for a great weekend of racing.”
For Birch and the rest of the GT3 Cup Challenge drivers, the season finale on the BTCC programme was a real highlight of the year. “Winning the final race at Silverstone was fantastic,” he said. “It was brilliant coming round Luffield on the last lap and seeing myself on the big screen: that was a really enjoyable moment. I’ve never driven in front of so many people before so it was a great experience as well.”

Now, Birch will turn his focus towards plans for next season. “For 2013 we’re looking to move into Carrera Cup. Obviously that’s going to be dependent on funds but hopefully off the back of this weekend we might get some more sponsorship opportunities. Carrera Cup is the logical step for us and that’s the reason we did the GT3 Cup in the first place as a feeder. The Carrera Cup is certainly the route I want to go down.”