CHIPPENHAM race driver Kyle Tilley is mulling over an offer to race for the new factory-backed Lotus team in this year’s British GT Championship.

Tilley, who recently turned 23, won the Castle Combe Formula Ford 1600 Pre 90 series last season and could get behind the wheel of a Lotus Evora, with between 350 and 400 brake horse power, in the GT4 series The Chippenham driver currently juggles working as a delivery driver for John Sheppard Butchers in Bristol, part-time at Homebase in Chippenham and as a driving coach on race days at Castle Combe, but is finalising his proposed budget before committing to Lotus, with the season’s racing likely to cost around £250,000.

“As soon as I know that the budget is right, then I should be able to make a final decision – I will get a decent amount by the team but that will only cover around half of what it will cost,” said Tilley, who lives on Audley Road.

“It’s even like that in Formula One and you’d find that some of the drivers there aren’t being paid at all and the money will come from their sponsors.

“I met up with Gary Ayles (former British Touring Car and Le Mans driver, who is set to manage the team) and he said that he’d like me to race for them.

“It obviously could be a big opportunity for me because the team will be backed by Lotus and they’re such an iconic brand too – I’ve also got the chance to be with the team from the beginning and hopefully grow with them.”

He added: “It would be a bit different because it’s going to be a lot more like 100-lap races and I’d have to get used to driver changes,” he said.

“I’m sure that being a factory team would mean that we’d get the best parts for the car but I’d have to start putting a lot more effort into keeping fit for the longer races.”

For information visit kyletilley.com.