New FIA GT Championship and Le Mans Endurance Series entrant, B-Racing, launched its 2006 season plans in the most spectacular fashion with the presentation of its new Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT and four already contracted racing drivers during a glittering evening gala presentation and dinner at the Scalaria event resort near St. Wolfgang, Austria. 

B-Racing's 2006 racing weapon of choice, the Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT which was developed by German concern Reiter Engineering, took centre stage during the ceremony, while the team's four new drivers posed for photos: three times FIA GT Champion Christophe Bouchet, last year's Le Mans Endurance Series GT2 class champion Michele Bartyan, Benjamin Leuenberger, and B-Racing team owner Norbert Walchhofer.  Bouchut, Bartyan and Walchhofer are expected to be the drivers chosen to take part in the FIA GT Championship this year. The team has ambitious plans to enter selected rounds of the FIA GT Championship, the LMES and the Le Mans 24 Hours this year.

B-Racing officially announced that it was planning to take part in the European rounds of 2006 FIA GT Championship with a Reiter Engineering-built Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT on 16th December 2005, and a week prior to Christmas, the new car had its first test at the Adria Raceway in Italy with Peter Kox, Phillipp Peter and team owner Norbert Walchhofer all taking turns at the wheel of the V12-engined machine and immediately expressing satisfaction with its potential.

Earlier this month the team was back out testing at Imola with B-Racing RS driver Norbert Walchhofer joined by Benjamin Leuenberger, Reinhard Kofler and the three times FIA GT Champion Christophe Bouchut, all of whom were invited to take part in the one day of development testing.
 

After 50 laps of driving on what was an extremely busy race track, team manager Rainer Stiefel was able to announce the successful conclusion of contract talks with Christophe Bouchut for the French star to lead their planned FIA GT Championship programme. With the engagement of this highly successful racing driver, who has claimed many victories in both the FIA GT Championship and the Le Mans Endurance Series, the team was able to underline its professionalism.

Next up for B-Racing was the FIA GT official tests at Paul the Ricard HTTT circuit. Marino Franchitti tested the car at the French track, commenting on the second day: “The team have made big improvements overnight with the set-up, but the circuit is still so wet on the kerbs, which makes it like ice. The car can go a lot faster. It’s my first time in a Lamborghini and my first time at the circuit, so it’s quite a steep learning curve.  This place is unbelievable, a good circuit, and a fantastic facility.”

A two-time Le Mans 24 Hours entrant, Franchitti, younger brother of Dario, then signed up to drive for the team at the French classic, provided that the ACO nominates the team. He will drive alongside the already-confirmed Swiss driver Benjamin Leuenberger.