Paddock Motorsport have completed their two car line up for 2023, confirming a McLaren Artura GT4 for Kavi Jundu and Tom Rawlings. The new GT4 offering for McLaren replaces the 570S GT4 the team ran last year and joins the previously announced McLaren 720S GT3 crewed by Mark Smith and Martin Plowman.

Kavi Jundu impressed on his debut in the series, racing alongside Moh Ritson to victory in the GT4 Pro-Am class at the Donington Decider. His full season last year was aboard the same GT4 machine in the GT Cup, where he also claimed race wins in what was his first season of competitive racing. The second full year on his CV will be quite different as Jundu explained to BritishGT.com.

“This year is going to be something quite special, stepping up to British GT with Paddock Motorsport and a brand-new McLaren Artura… it’s going to be incredible. Last year was my first season of racing, and I learned an incredible amount. I’d done loads of high-performance track days, but learning about things like qualifying, race starts, pit stops all clicked toward the end of the year. Then to get a class win on my British GT debut was a dream. 

“British GT is a real step up. The grid is packed with so many great drivers, cars and teams… it’s just another level. 

“I did have a brief test in an early version of the Artura GT4 last year and it felt much different to the old 570S GT4. It was more alive, the front-end is much more responsive and it should be a big step forward in all areas. I think Tom and I will make a great partnership. We have similar driving styles and setup preferences, and with the Paddock team behind us we should have a car to go out there and challenge for some strong results this year.”

Tom Rawlings is also returning to Paddock Motorsport after contesting the GT4 class of GT Cup with them in 2021. Last year he shared ‘Harriot’s Chariot’ with Chris Salkeld in the BMW M4 GT4 run by Century Motorsport.

Rawlings added to the series, “I’m really excited to get going, and it’s great to be back with the guys at Paddock Motorsport. This is where I started my GT racing career and I’m definitely looking to carry on the same sort of success we had together in the GT Cup where we finished second in the 2021 championship. 

“I learned a lot from my first British GT season last year in the BMW, and feel I’m a better all-round driver coming into this year. Getting to grips with the new McLaren Artura will be a great experience, too. It’s a brand-new car that is both lighter and more powerful than the old 570S GT4, and I loved driving that, so this promises to be even better! 

“I’m looking forward to working with Kavi. He had an impressive British GT debut last year, so I hope we can achieve a lot together in his first full season.”

The new pairing will make their competitive debut at Oulton Park on Easter Weekend. Fans should be able to see the car for themselves at British GT’s Media Day test which takes place on 14th March.

Nicholas Smith
Author

Nick Smith is a time served motorsport journalist and photographer specialising in the British GT Championship. The originator of the idea behind the British GT Fans Show, which became the British Sportscar Podcast, Nick works as the shows resident expert. Away from the track Nick earns his way as a driving instructor and instructor trainer.

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