After finishing the 2022 Intelligent Money British GT Championship with victory at the final round at Donington, and on his first competitive outing in the car, Darren Leung will be contesting the full season of the UK’s premier GT championship, driving alongside BMW factory driver Dan Harper in the Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.
In 2022 Century’s M4 GT3 was driven by Betty Chen, David Holloway, Joel Eriksson and Angus Fender but it was the pairing of Leung with BMW factory driver Alexander Sims that delivered the breakthrough outright victory at the final round.
Darren Leung’s racing career began in 2021 with an entry into the then-new Ginetta GT Academy where he finished second. Leung enjoyed a busy season in 2022 where, in addition to his two outings in the British GT Championship, he contested the Miller Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup Championship where he finished second with Assetto Motorsport. He also had outings in the 24H series and the FFSA GT championship.
Leung joined forces with Harper and Eduardo Coseteng to race in the 2022 Gulf 12 Hours, bringing the Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 home in 6th place in the GT3 Pro-Am class.
Leung is determined to leave nothing on the table as he commits his first full season in the GT3 ranks.
“At the start of my 2021 rookie season in Ginetta’s GT Academy I remember the GT3s approaching the Melbourne Hairpin at Donington blowing my mind. If someone told me I’d be racing one of those in my second year I would have laughed, and if they said I’d win on my debut I would have rung them an ambulance.
“Between Century, Dan and myself, our aim is to turn up to every round leaving no stone unturned. Set the odds in our favour, and commit to every send, every lap. We’re massive underdogs, but we’ve shown at Donington it’s worth giving it everything despite all the reasons not to. A lot of great drivers are competing in British GT this year, the grids are packed, and we will be right in the thick of it giving it everything, both on and off track.
“The results, we’re not in control of, but the odds, we are.”
2019 Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion Dan Harper was promoted to full factory driver status at the end of 2022 after spending three years on the Munich-based manufacturer’s junior roster. Last season Harper competed in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with Rowe Racing in addition to selected races in the VLN series.
Harper is looking forward to a season racing on home soil in 2023.
“I’m delighted to have this opportunity to join the British GT Championship grid with Century Motorsport,” he said. “Over the last few years I’ve had lots of people asking me about when I’d be back racing over here, so I’m really looking forward to competing on all the great British circuits again.
“I had a great time working with Century and Darren in Abu Dhabi, so I’m looking forward to being back with them. Both myself and the team have a year of experience with the BMW M4 GT3 now, so we’re ready to hit the ground running in pre-season testing and hopefully be at the sharp end of the grid this season.”
Century Motorsport team principal Nathan Freke is looking to use last season’s final round win as a platform for even greater GT3 success.
“It’s so nice to be returning this year with the BMW M4 GT3 and it feels only right to be returning with Darren after the victory at Donington last year,” he said. “Darren, although in the very early stages of his racing career, clearly has a great natural talent and is very thorough and analytical with his driving and prep.
“We competed in the Gulf 12 Hours over the winter, and had the opportunity to work with BMW factory driver, Dan Harper. His maturity, speed and work ethic were a very pleasant surprise. It was an easy decision to continue the partnership into British GT. It’s great to further our relationship with BMW, with them supplying a factory driver and continue their trackside support for us at all British GT rounds.
“We have a very thorough test schedule where we plan to develop the car further and get as much seat time for Darren as possible. Our goal is clear: be in the championship fight come the last round and we are doing everything to be prepared and ready to achieve it.”
The 2023 Intelligent Money British GT Championship gets underway at Oulton Park on April 8 – 10.
