Tuesday 8th April 2014

Chris Hoy to race in British GTs

Legendary Olympian attempts racing on four wheels with a Nissan GT-R GT3. Le Mans on the agenda...

---

Normally information on a new brand ambassador wouldn't especially pique the PH interest. But unlike Maria Sharapova being used to sell Panameras, today's new tie-up between Nissan and Chris Hoy is rather more relevant.

Probably less strenuous than cycling

Nissan is the official partner of the British Olympic Association and has signed six-time Olympic champ Hoy as a Brand Ambassador for the Road to Rio 2016. He will support British athletes in their quest for medals in Brazil, which is all very worthy. In return, Nissan will make Hoy a racing driver. Seems like a fair deal.

So this year he will be fast tracked though the Nissan Driver Development Programme used by the GT Academy winners. His tutor? Alex Buncombe, the man Harris shared a Mille Miglia drive with last year. Having competed in a few novice races last year, Hoy will be thrown in at the deep end in 2014 racing a GT-R GT3 in the British GT Championship.

But there are further plans too, with Hoy intending to race the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2016."That is the dream", he said, "but I'm taking this one step at a time". Having been fascinated with LM since owning a Scalextric set as "a wee boy", it would certainly make for an incredible story. Furthermore, who would bet against Hoy achieving his ambitions after his incredible cycling success? We'll be following this story with interest

The first part of Hoy's road to Le Mans begins at Oulton Park on April 19-21 with the first round of the British GT Championship.

[IrishAsal]

He's thighs add considerable ballast.

[British Beef]

Shouldnt need any servo assistance on the pedals, although right hand corners may pose a problem.

Pros and cons of hiring a cyclist I suppose!!

[boxsey]

The British GT championship is my favourite meeting of the year at Oulton Park. In recent years there has been some fabulous racing and it's seriously contested by some great pro drivers and very good ams. Look forward to seeing Sir Chris mixing it up with them this year.

[OvalOwl]

Those "sprinter's thighs" should slim down considerably now he isn't lifting mahoosive weights all the time. Victoria Pendleton was noticeably more svelte on SCD than she was on the velodrome.

[patmahe]

I've spotted a flaw in this plan, as a cyclist will he know what to do when he encounters a red light

I jest of course, I wish him well, a lot of transferable skills from cycling to motor racing delicacy and an appreciation of minimising resistance, cat like reactions etc... All adds up. He did look quite handy in that rallying program that he was in driving and Impreza. Assuming it was actually him driving.

[Madkat]

This'll stir up some fun on here Cyclist gets chance to show drivers how it's done...

Either way he seems like a genuinely nice guy and a budding petrol head judging by the piece he did on Mcrae a little while back. So i'm going to say from both a cyclist and a driver all the best to him and i hope he does well and i seriously think he will be a hard competitor to beat.

[zeb]

Is it just me or does anyone else think this could go all mike smith?

[zorba_the_greek]

He seems handy in the classic little mini that he raced at Goodwood Revival 2013

Good luck to him

[Allyc85]

Told the lad at work who is a big GTR fan boi that Sir Chris Hoy was to drive one in British Gts, and he didn't have a clue who he was!! What the fu..

Really looking forward to seeing how Chris gets on! I say it every year, but I have to get to a British GT round!

[Victor Hugo]

Sir Chris was in a couple of Mazda 6 support races at last years Australian Grand Prix and from memory was pretty handy (came third in one heat). Was a real contact series, very few door handles left after the race. As the commentator said "you wouldn't want to buy any if these cars second hand after that !"

[JohnS]

A couple of my photos from his warm up race in the Nismo prepared 370Z on Sunday at Silverstone.

Chatting to fellow racer Simon Deaton after the first race.


Getting chased by Simon during the 2nd race going into Copse.


Coming out of Copse

[VTECMatt]

Didn't he write off a car at Oulton Park last year?

[Hilts]

JohnS said:

A couple of my photos from his warm up race in the Nismo prepared 370Z on Sunday at Silverstone.

Chatting to fellow racer Simon Deaton after the first race.

He looks a bit slimmer. That must be a two/tenths advantage.

[MentalRental]

Good luck to him. He was on a trackday at Oulton Park last year in a black 2-11 whilst I was in my Atom. Had a good few laps hunting him down but he pulled into the pits as I caught him. I enjoyed it very much. God I miss my Atom

[TheJimi]

VTECMatt said:

Didn't he write off a car at Oulton Park last year?

and if he did?

[Alex Langheck]

Another coup for the British GT series; probably the best national GT series anywhere. The more seat time he gets the better he's going to get. As is usual; Nissan have got the PR absolutely right.

[trando]

It will be good to see another Hoy in a racing car - I am sure we all mourn the great driver that was Will....

Edited by trando on Wednesday 9th April 08:16

[trando]

It will be good to see another Hoy in a racing car - I am sure we all mourn the great driver that was Will....

Edited by trando on Wednesday 9th April 08:17

[JTN358AT]

Watched him race a radical at Oulton last year. He was very aggressive and overtook more cars than the rest of the field together. I think he is too inexperienced a racer for British GT but I'm sure there will be fireworks. One to watch for sure.

[Henry Fiddleton]

Tom-Onslow-Cole is GT'ing it this year in a GTR as well.

Should be, as always, a top series again this year.

Also Hoy on getting the drive...

"whats he got that I have not?"

Oh...