Irish sportscar ace Matt Griffin has confirmed that his 2008 campaign will kick off with Toyo Tires Dubai 24 Hours next weekend, providing a dramatic counter-point to his already confirmed British GT programme.
Griffin last raced over 24 at Silverstone in 2006, finishing third in class, and makes his Dubai debut at the wheel of an RPM Porsche 997. Despite not knowing the desert circuit, he heads to the event looking for a strong finish.
“I love endurance racing and, although it's my first time out there, the team has competed there before and contested three 24 hour races in total, finishing all of them,” he reasoned, “That in itself is an achievement and I intend to continue that trend and be up at the front when the event finishes next Saturday.
“It's not just a case of setting fast laps - it's a whole different approach to racing over 24 hours. The break between stints in the car means that it never feels the same when you get back into it, so it takes a lap or so to get back into the rhythm and to acclimatise with how the car may then handle. But that's all part of the challenge. Plus, when you add to that the number of cars on the track, there'll be around 90 cars out there. The track is very fast, I can't wait!"
With the physical demands on the body experienced by travelling at some 170mph for hours at a time, fitness is a crucial factor, and Griffin has spent several months under a strict fitness regime to ensure he is at peak fitness ready for the race, which starts at 2pm next Friday.
“I've always had a good fitness programme and, in sportscar and endurance races in particular, you need to," he said, "Now though, I've spent a while working on specific areas with my fitness trainers to ensure I'm fit and healthy, which includes ensuring I eat correctly - not just on-event but now, in the build-up to the race, so that I'm ready for the demands.”
With a campaign in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship with Chad Racing's Ferrari 430 already announced, the year looks like being a busy one for the 2003 British GT Cup champion as he prepares to announce an additional programme in two weeks' time.
“Next weekend kicks off my 2008 season, and I couldn't get more far removed from Dubai than the opening round of the British series at Oulton Park in April," Griffin admitted, "It's going to be a very busy year for me - we have not just the British championship, but some other fairly major events coming up, which I will be announcing after Dubai.”
Griffin will be joined in Dubai by his regular co-driver Peter Bamford, with whom he will contest the British series, as well as Daniel Welch and Jim Getty.
