Matech Racing Claims The GT3 Team Title
At Dubai

The 2008 FIA GT3 Championship may have only run to 11 races, after rain stopped play so spectacularly in Dubai on Saturday, but after having won six of them Matech Racing were popping the champagne corks in celebration of clinching the team title.

"I must admit that this European title is the culmination of unrelenting hard work during these last two years," said team boss Martin Bartek. "For Matech GT Racing, a team that only saw the light of day in February 2007, it is an extraordinary achievement that clearly illustrates the way in which our car was built, developed and managed. Heartiest congratulations to all the members of the team and our thanks to Ford Racing USA and Ford of Europe for having believed in us!"

The teams’ trophy went some way towards making up for the disappointment of missing out on the drivers’ title, but Bartek was magnanimous in defeat; "First and foremost I wish to congratulate Arnaud Peyroles and James Ruffier, who definitely deserve their 2008 title. This duo, which has consistently progressed throughout the championship season, was simply unbeatable here in Dubai.

"However, after the first race the drivers’ vice-champion title remained perfectly in reach. Unfortunately, the violent storm that hit the city during Friday night and Saturday morning converted the Autodrome, built entirely without any drainage system, into a water-ski circuit and put an end to all our hopes! For the Matech GT Racing team it is rather saddening that it should end in this manner, especially when one travels so far with the entire team and the back-up required."

Bradley Ellis thus had to content himself with joint third in the championship – with team mates Ian Khan and Thomas Mutsch, while Alex Mortimer finished joint fourth – but he was also the sole winner of the Ford Manufacturer Cup.