Matech Concepts, based on the prototype fielded in the previous season, started developing a new Ford GT1 as early as 2009, before the regulations of the new GT Championship came into force.
Matech Competition stopped in Spain at the Ascari circuit to perform the roll-out of the new car. With Thomas Mutsch at the wheel, the first metres of the Ford GT1 went according to plan, just as the driver and Martin Bartek had been hoping: “The car is completely new”. The next step will be the “balance of performance” at Portimão on 3 and 4 February, followed by further testing at the Alcañiz circuit where a handful of previously selected drivers will take the wheel of the Ford GT1. This first stage will then be concluded by the presentation of the vehicle to the press in Paris on 1 March.
Matech Competition has invited seven drivers to participate in a comparative test in a “special” Ford GT3 on the Portimão circuit, to determine the final line-up for the cockpits of the two Ford GT1 cars. Beside the five men – Mathias Beche, Yann Zimmer, Borja Garcia, Casper Elgaard and Carlo Van Dam – the group also includes two ladies, Natacha Gachnang and Cyndie Allemann. ‘’Our goal, clearly, is to form two teams that are as strong as possible by giving young drivers, including women, an opportunity to compete. For these tests, they will be driving one of our Ford GT3 cars on which we have removed the ballast and the air-restrictor so that it will handle in a similar way on the track as the GT1,” explains Martin Bartek. After this initial evaluation, there will be some candidates for further tests including Jonathan Hirschi and Marc Hennerici. The test will be in the Ford GT1 at the Motorland circuit near Alcañiz.
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