“I have some work to do to establish myself in the GT world…”

Meet pro driver Sam Tordoff, who is competing in the British GT this year having finished second in last season’s British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). He will be racing a Barwell Motorsport-prepared Lamborghini Huracan GT3 with Liam Griffin.

Front Runner: You’ve been described to us as a ‘VERY high-profile GT racing convert’ having announced you’re joining the British GT Championship this year – what’s your reaction to that?

Sam: I guess that is a reflection of the profile of the BTCC in people knowing my name. That doesn’t count for anything on the race track though and I have some work to do to establish myself in the GT world. It is very different from what I have raced previously but the expectation is still very high and I am determined to succeed.

Front Runner: How’s your partnership with Liam Griffin and Barwell Motorsport ahead of the British GT season beginning?

Sam: It has all started fantastically well! I have known Liam for a long time and we have worked well together in pre-season. Barwell Motorsport were a completely new team to me but my first impressions are really good: they are a very professional team with lots of talented individuals so I know I have all the ingredients for success.

Front Runner: What are looking forward to most this British GT Season?

Sam: Personally it will be my first opportunity to race at Spa-Francorchamps as this is a big tick on my bucket list!

Front Runner: You’ll be in a Barwell Motorsport-prepared Lamborghini Huracan GT3, what’s the car like to race in?

Sam: Much quicker than anything I have ever driven before! The levels of acceleration, braking and cornering are a big step up and took some getting used to initially! However, the more I have driven the car through the winter, the more it has started to feel normal. I am looking forward to driving it under race conditions and battling with the other manufacturers.

Front Runner: Which track are you most looking forward to tackling in the Lamborghini this season?

Sam: Spa aside, my favourite circuit is Brands Hatch GP Circuit, so I’m really looking forward to driving the Lamborghini there later in the year. I have also never raced around the GP loop of Donington Park in my nine years of car racing so this will be a new side to Donington I have never experienced before!

Live coverage of the 2017 British GT Championship starts Easter Monday (April 17) at 10.45am-2pm and 3pm-5.15pm.

Also see Front Runner’s exclusive interviews with drivers Jonny Adam, Graham Johnson and Joe Osborne and read Andy Lloyd’s season preview.