Griffin: RAM Racing Ready For World Platform

When the sportscar racing world converged on Paris for February’s annual ACO press conference to discover which teams had been granted an entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours, Dan Shufflebottom’s RAM Racing outfit could sit pretty in the knowledge that the hard work had already been done. LMGTE class champions of the European Le Mans Series in only their first season of competition to guarantee their invitation to the great race, RAM have enjoyed a fine start to life in the sportscar arena and will look to continue that momentum in 2014 as they graduate to the World Endurance Championship with a two-car attack on the Pro and Am categories. 

Griffin has settled in well with Dan Shufflebottom's RAM
Racing team since its inception in 2013. (Credit: Drew Gibson)

One of the team’s lead drivers, Irishman Matt Griffin, has raced Ferraris for a number of years and knows a good thing when he sees it. First introduced to RAM through his connections with Amato Ferrari’s crack AF Corse GT team, the 31-year old was immediately struck with the ambition of the project, its geographic location only adding to the appeal.

“Racing for a British team is great because I’m only based forty minutes away from the workshop, so it’s very different from having to get on a plane and go to Italy,” Griffin said.  “It means I can drop in a couple of times a week, to go through stuff, even to just go in and have a cup of tea with the boys, it really helps with building relationships.

“RAM is a great team, I’m really comfortable. Everyone working there is absolutely at the top level and it really works as a unit. I think that’s why we were so successful last year in the European Le Mans Series.

“When they do something, they do it to win. They’re not doing it for any other reason; the objective is to win, so it’s great to be associated with something like that.”

Griffin enjoyed the most successful season of his career in
2013, winning the ELMS crown with Mowlem (right) and
finishing third in GTE-Am at Le Mans. (Credit: Drew Gibson)

If winning is the yardstick for measuring success, then RAM have certainly been living up to expectations. With the hugely experienced British pilot Johnny Mowlem alongside Griffin, RAM would enjoy a fairy-tale season of dominance that produced three wins from five races and never failed to make the podium.

The level of competition is sure to step up again as RAM take on the WEC, but Griffin is looking forward to playing the underdog against a Pro class almost exclusively made up of factory teams fielded by Aston Martin, Porsche and of course, Ferrari.

“Racing in the Pro class is where I want to be, it allows you to concentrate on your own performance and not have to worry too much about helping your team-mates out. Both drivers need to pull their weight and particularly with the change in qualifying rules both drivers have to do qualifying anyway. But what comes from that is the level of competitiveness; it’s absolutely through the roof,” he said. 

“I genuinely believe that GTE-Pro is the toughest and most competitive class there is, and I’m not just saying that because I’m in it. When that green flag drops you have to go as hard as you can. Once you get to Le Mans all bets are off, it’s 24 hours of qualifying laps, it’s really pure racing.

“It’s going to be tough for RAM this year as a private team up against all the factory teams with all factory drivers. Particularly on the strategy point of view, the team needs to be bang on, because whereas last year you could afford to have a couple of hiccups along the way, in the WEC you can’t do that because there are seven cars that can realistically win the race.”

There is also change on the driving front, with Mowlem slated to head up the Am car alongside Mark Patterson and Ben Collins, better known as Top Gear’s ‘The Stig’, to give RAM the best chance at both titles. Nonetheless, Griffin has every confidence that his new partnership with McLaren factory racer Alvaro Parente, a race-winner in the FIA GT Series with Sebastien Loeb last season, can prove just as fruitful over the course of the season.

The 458 GTE is a proven package and will be quick in the
capable hands of Griffin and Parente. (Credit: Drew Gibson)

“Dan had an eye on Alvaro for a while; it’s just been a case of trying to negotiate with McLaren to have him on loan.  It’s not as easy as you’d think to find a really good driver who will fit in, so I’m really happy that RAM signed him,” commented Griffin.

“I think we’ll make a really good team, we’re both of a similar age and at similar performance levels. It’s about both of us absolutely driving the wheels off the thing, that’s what’s going to be needed. I’m nervous and excited, it’s a massive challenge ahead but I’ve got  loads of confidence in myself, RAM and my new team-mate as well.

“It will change things, not having Johnny in the car, because he’s a great driver and he’s a great guy, a really top professional, but having him in the team will still be a really good thing. It’s always an advantage to have Johnny on the team, whether you’re driving with him or in a different car to him because he has such a lot of experience. I’m sure there will be times when he comes and sits in our debriefs because he can add something,” he added.

Should the plucky British privateer team continue their remarkable success story against the might of the manufacturers, it would also provide a much-needed feel-good story for sportscars after a 2013 season marred by tragedy. Equipped with the proven 458 Italia, which took Gianmaria Bruni to the WEC title in 2013 and a seriously talented driver roster, the no. 52 car certainly shouldn't be discounted.