Beechdean and Mansell sign Le Mans partnership

Leading UK GT race team Beechdean Motorsport has entered into a long term partnership with Nigel Mansell to form Beechdean Mansell Motorsport, with the long term aim of acheiving glory at the Le Mans 24 Hours. The Buckinghamshire based team will run a factory supported Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S Le Mans Prototype in the 2010 Le Mans Series for Nigel’s sons Leo and Greg, with the 1992 Formula One World Champion joining them behind the wheel at several events including the Silverstone 1000km in September and, subject to receiving an entry, at the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

The LMP1 car will be run with full factory support from Derbyshire based Zytek Engineering, one of the world’s leading motorsport and automotive engineering companies. Zytek will provide Beechdean Motorsport with full engineering and development for the Le Mans Prototype throughout the season.

Leo and Greg Mansell go into next year with a consistent 2009 season under their belts. Greg Mansell competed in the World Series by Renault but also found time to share a Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 with his father and Lawrence Tomlinson at the 2009 Silverstone 1000KM. Older brother Leo spent 2009 racing in the Le Mans Series in a Team Modena Ferrari 430 GT, finishing the season 3rd overall in GT2 alongside teammate Antonio Garcia. Leo has already competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours, taking the chequered flag in the world’s greatest sportscar event at his first attempt.

Nigel Mansell said: “I’m very happy to announce this partnership between myself and Beechdean Motorsport. The team comes fresh to the Le Mans Series with an impeccable pedigree and with full support from Zytek Engineering and I’m looking forward to working closely with Andrew and his team. I am very excited about 2010 and the prospect of racing with both my sons for the first time. I can confirm that I will be racing with Leo and Greg during the season and if we receive an entry we will also be racing at the Le Mans 24 Hours as a father and sons team.”

Beechdean Motorsport Team Principle, Andrew Howard said: “It has been an ambition of mine to race a Le Mans Prototype ever since we started racing GTs and competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours is the ultimate goal. It’s a dream come true for our young team to enter into a partnership with one of the sports most famous names in the first year at this level. Nigel brings a huge wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, with Leo and Greg, already established as accomplished race drivers in their own right, forming an integral part of the intensive development programme we are now setting in motion with Zytek. We will begin testing early in the new year and 2010 already promises to be an exciting and dynamic year for Beechdean Motorsport, the Mansell family and Zytek. We can’t wait to get started!”