FOSTER JOINS LANAN FOR GT4

Formula Ford star Joey Foster will switch to the British GT Championship this year to share Lanan Racing’s first Porsche Cayman Clubsport GT4 with young ace Alex Reed.

Lanan Racing has become the first team to register a fullcrewed Cayman Clubsport GT4 for the British championship, with triple Walter Hayes Trophy winner Foster, 33, and Lotus Cup UK racer Reed, 17, in the first of its two cars.

Cornishman Foster, a former Australian F3 champion, has worked as a driver coach for Lanan’s BRDC Formula 4 team in recent years, which has led to this opportunity.

Reed will become one of British GT’S youngest-ever drivers, having impressed by taking two race wins in his maiden season of sportscar racing with a Lotus Exige last year. He formerly raced Renault Clios.

Foster said: “This chance has been a long time coming and I still can’t quite believe it’s actually here. I’ve wanted to do GTS for a while, and to get into British GT with Lanan is brilliant. The team feels like family to me, so I already have the relationships there.

“I’ve not worked with Alex yet, but his record last season speaks for itself. He’s clearly a young lad with a lot of potential and hopefully some of my experience can rub off on him and perhaps he’ll teach me a few things too as we’ll be learning the new car together.”

Reed said: “The Lotus last year was ideal preparation and showed I can be quick at each of the circuits on the calendar. I’m confident I can be fighting for wins with Lanan and Joey.”

Lanan will take delivery of its two Cayman Clubsport GT4 chassis in March, leaving little time for pre-season testing. Foster added: “It will be tight but Graham [Johnson, Lanan team head] knows his stuff when it comes to car set-up and we’ll probably be able to factor in a test day or two before the first race. GT4 will be more competitive than ever this year so we’re up against it, but I believe we’ve got all of the experience in place to make this work.”