GSC: Total Control Racing signs Carl Breeze

BREEZE RETURNS WITH TCR FOR GINETTA GT SUPERCUP CHAMPIONSHIP BID

Carl Breeze will continue his successful partnership with Total Control Racing in 2011 after today, Thursday, 13th January, confirming a deal with the Wednesbury team to contest the inaugural Ginetta GT Supercup in a brand new Ginetta G55.

Heading into the first season with the spectacular 370bhp Ford-powered car as one of the undoubted favourites to claim the title, the 2010 Ginetta G50 Cup Vice-Champion will team-up once again with Joachim Ritter to provide TCR with an enviable level of continuity.

Delighted to secure Breeze's services once again, team principal Lee Brookes said: "It's obviously fantastic news we've agreed a deal with Carl and his chief sponsor Blue Chip to remain part of TCR for the inaugural Ginetta GT Supercup.

"It promises to be a really exciting year with the new G55 and with Carl rejoining Joachim, it gives us perfect continuity. He's almost certain to start the season as the championship favourite and having come really close to winning a title with us over the last two years, he'll be hungrier than ever."

Kings Lynn-based Breeze has enjoyed a hugely successful career to date, starting in the realms of Formula Ford and Formula Palmer Audi before progressing into Formula Renault UK, where he won the coveted championship in 2001.

Switching disciplines to saloon car competition the following year, he moved into the high profile British Touring Car Championship in a Peugeot 406 Coupe. Remaining in the BTCC in 2003 he raced a Peugeot and Vauxhall Astra before contesting a full season in 2004 in an Alfa Romeo 156. Over the course of the three seasons he became a multiple Independents Class race winner.

With budget restrictions curtailing his involvement in the BTCC, Breeze moved into support category the SEAT Cupra Championship in 2005 and finished fourth overall in his first season. Remaining in SEATs for the next three years, he was a consistent front-runner and had a best championship finish of third overall in 2007.

When the SEAT series was canned at the end of 2008, the Norfolk racer joined TCR for the team's maiden year in the Ginetta G50 Cup. Helping the squad secure the entrant's title at its first attempt, Breeze's bid for the driver's championship was badly affected by a huge accident at Oulton Park. He eventually ended the year third in the standings, with seven wins, after a stirring comeback.

Returning to Ginettas with TCR last year, he took the championship battle down to the final event of the season but just missed out by 10 points -- having taken nine wins. Now, the 31-year-old intends to add the inaugural Ginetta GT Supercup title to his extensive trophy cabinet and to also secure a return to the BTCC by scooping the champion's prize of a fully-funded season in touring cars.

"I'm really looking forward to competing in the first season of the new Ginetta GT Supercup, the G55 looks great and the lap times should be greatly increased from the old G50", said Breeze, "The prize of a BTCC drive for the champion is what I am aiming for. Although I have won 17 races and taken 33 podiums over the last two years, a championship is missing and I want to change that this season!

"TCR is a great team and I am proud to have been their most successful TOCA support series driver during my time with them. There's absolutely no reason why we can't continue that this season and go for that championship title. Thanks, as always, to Blue Chip for continuing to put their support behind me -- now we need to work hard over the next couple of months to find additional backing."

Running as support to the BTCC once again in 2011, the Ginetta GT Supercup will get underway at Brands Hatch over the weekend 2nd/3rd April and after a six month tour of the UK the championship will conclude at Silverstone on 15th/16th October.

-source: tcr