Iberian Supercars not only lured drivers and teams from Portugal and Spain but also beckoned competitors from diverse corners, including figures like Mauritius’ Dave Benett and Great Britain’s Marcus Fothergill. Following their triumph in the 2023 Cup Division, they have set their sights on a return this year.
The Bespoke Cars Racing duo had been participating in endurance races in the UK but wanted to compete on the iconic tracks of the Iberian Peninsula, close to big cities and areas of great tourist interest, such as Estoril, Jarama, Jerez, or Portimão. They also aimed to benefit from the excellent climate experienced in this part of Europe throughout most of the year.
The logical choice for Dave Benett and Marcus Fothergill was to enter their Porsche 911 Cup in the Cup division, which is part of the GTC category (this category also includes the GTX division).
“We wanted to drive on famous European circuits, having competed for many years in the UK. We really enjoyed the historic Jarama and Jerez circuits, as well as the legendary Autódromo do Estoril”, they said.
The Porsche drivers run by Tockwith Motorsports—a British team that still has several Ginetta cars available to rent for the upcoming season—emerged as a formidable force in the Cup division and the GTC category, despite navigating unfamiliar circuits.
At the end of the year, with a remarkable performance, Dave Benett and Marcus Fothergill secured the Cup title in the Iberian Supercars Endurance and the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade. The British duo also contested the GTC title right up to the last race, finishing with the same points as the champions, Álvaro Ramos and Fernando Soares. The number of wins became the first tie-breaker factor in favor of the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 duo.
The UK-based drivers will be in the Porsche 911 Cup for the 2024 season once again. “We’re going to defend our title! It was our first season. Winning the Cup title was a great honor, and we were delighted to have been competitive where we hadn’t been before”.
In the 2024 season, all events will take place over two days – Saturday and Sunday – preceded on Friday by two private test sessions of one hour each. This setup allows drivers to choose whether to participate only in the official sessions or to start preparing for the weekend straight away with the non-competitive tests.
The two drivers see this change as a very positive decision since, for the ‘Gentlemen Drivers’ who don’t have time to test during the winter, this is an opportunity to gain pace. “Unfortunately, due to our professional commitments, we’re going to face some difficulties in carrying out winter tests, but the new timetables will help us with the extra tests at the events, providing us with more time in the car”, they concluded.
The Circuito de Jerez in Spain hosts Iberian Supercars season opener on May 25/26.
