Griffin excited to drive Le Mans Series after inking Ram deal

Cork-born racing driver Matt Griffin has signed for the Silverstone-based Ram Racing and will contest the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).

The 30-year-old, who is recognised as one of the brightest GT stars in the UK, will join Johnny Mowlem in one of the team’s new GTE Ferrari 458 Italia’s for the ELMS.

Griffin, a former British GT Cup Champion, has made quite an impact on international GT racing in the last couple of years. He is vastly experienced and has competed successfully in events such as the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“While Ram is a new team, there’s an awful lot of experience there right the way through the team,” said Griffin. “I think there’s a lot of synergy about what we want to achieve this year. For me, it’s a massive bonus to drive with someone like Johnny, and I’ve got a massive amount of respect for what he’s achieved.”

According to Ram Racing’s team principal, Dan Shufflebottom, Griffin was a natural choice: “With the amount of experience Matt has accumulated over the last couple of years, he’s naturally a man in demand and we’re really pleased that he chose to put his faith in us for the ELMS. The specific Ferrari knowledge that Matt is able to bring with him will be a real advantage.” Aside from racing in ELMS, Griffin has also confirmed a deal for the Bathurst 12-hour in Australia where he will drive a Ferrari 458 GT3 for the Singapore-based Clearwater Racing outfit.

In rallying, triple British Rally champion Keith Cronin will compete in next week’s Safety Direct Galway International Rally and drive the S11 Subaru WRC Thomas Fitzmaurice campaigned in last year. The Galway top 10 is as follows: 1. D Gass (Subaru WRC); 2. Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC); 3. Keith Cronin (Subaru WRC); 4. Gary Jennings (Subaru S12B); 5. Thomas Fitzmaurice (Subaru WRC); 6. Donagh Kelly (Subaru WRC); 7. Declan Boyle (Subaru WRC); 8. John Joe Fleming (Ford Focus WRC); 9. Eoin Doyle (Ford Focus WRC); 10. Sam Moffett Mitsubishi EvoIX).

The opening round of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship will take place in the forests of West Limerick on Sunday, February 10. The rally is a joint promotion between the National Forestry championship sub-committee and Limerick Motor Club and will feature two stages repeated twice. Scrutiny, service and administration will take place in the Kantoher Business Park near Newcastle West with the first car away at midday. Former national Forest champion Pat O’Connell (Mitsubishi), London-based Cork driver Mick O’Brien (Ford Focus WRC), Gerard Lucey (Mitsubishi) and Jimmy Deane (Escort) are amongst the early entries.

Meanwhile, several drivers expressed interest in competing in the plasticbags.ie Willie Loughman Forest Rally in Waterford (April 14) after the organising club took the initiative to promote the rally at the recent Autosport Show at the NEC in Birmingham. Derry’s Marty McCormack, overseas drivers, Steve Perez (Lancia Stratos), Andy Fenwick (Hyundai WRC), Mick O’Brien (Ford Focus WRC), Dan O’Brien (Ford Focus WRC), Richard Ceen (Subaru WRC) and Bob Ceen (Ford Focus WRC) have all expressed interest. Former Forestry champion Owen Murphy has also decided to tackle the series and will use his 2011 Hankook-backed Mitsubishi EvoIX.

Tyrone’s Frank Kelly and his co-driver Liam Brennan will receive the principal award at the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship prize-giving ceremony in Tralee tomorrow night.

On the competitive front, the Donegal Navigation Trial begins from Newmills, Letterkenny at 9pm tomorrow night and on Sunday, the Cavan Autocross at Latton Quarry near Cootehill, starts at 11am.