What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a freelancer? While the possibilities are fairly extensive, you’re probably not picturing a professional racing driver who competes in some of the world’s most prestigious events.
Yet this is exactly the case for Ben Green. The British driver is among the best in the world right now, but unlike his fellow pros he’s not contracted to a manufacturer. Green is a genuine freelancer, with this year’s gigs including a seat in Emil Frey Racing’s Ferrari 296 for the GT World Challenge powered by AWS Sprint Cup.
Nice work if you can get it...
"The level is so high"
Green burst on to the scene by taking pole for his first-ever Sprint Cup race at Brands Hatch in 2024. He and teammate Konsta Lappalainen then broke into the title fight by winning at Hockenheim, ultimately taking third in the standings – the team’s best championship finish.
With this in mind, last year was a disappointment: the unchanged pairing fell to ninth, taking pole at Zandvoort but often struggling to convert their speed into results. Both remain with the Swiss squad this season, albeit in separate cars. Green's new teammate is Thierry Vermeulen, another Emil Frey loyalist who enters his fourth year in the series.
So, what will it take to transform the duo's obvious potential into a title challenge?
"I think the level is so high [in Sprint], you can't afford to have any mistakes," says Green. "You can't afford any penalties, bad pit stops, or mistakes in qualifying. I think it's all about being consistent across the year. We need to be there every time, every day
"I think myself and Thierry have both shown our speed during the past two years,” he adds. “We just need to bring that consistently and then I think we'll be up there."
Having cut his teeth in Europe – notably winning the GT4-based DTM Trophy in 2021 – Green was not as well-known as he deserved to be in his home country. But his debut pole made everyone sit up and take notice.
"It was a surreal experience," he recalls. "We turned up at Brands Hatch, did a couple of practice sessions and the went straight into qualifying. It was one of those adrenaline-filled days where you take each moment as it comes, step by step. Suddenly, I put it all together and I was on pole. I was very, very proud to be there."
"The funny thing is everyone thinks that I'm the local guy who's been to Brands Hatch loads," continues Green, "But in fact, I hadn't raced there in about four years. The last time was 2020, when I did a one-off British GT round in GT4. So it was quite funny for me, four years since racing at my home track, to be able to put it on pole."
"I can hop into any car and be competitive"
Green is nothing if not adaptable: this year, in addition to the Emil Frey-run Ferrari, he will race a Mercedes-AMG in British GT. He's driven a Corvette in GT World Challenge Asia (below) and at this year's Bathurst 12 Hour, and he's slated to pilot an Audi at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Having previously raced the BMW M4 and Aston Martin Vantage, he’s among the most versatile modern GT drivers.
"The first lap always feels weird, it feels a little bit alien," he explains of the transition between cars. “Things are moving in different ways and then after two or three laps everything feels normal and you just carry on. It's a skill I've learned over the last three years. In 2024 I was racing the Aston and Ferrari both for the first time and both for a full season, so I had to learn two new cars and then jump between them.
"It was a great skill to be able to pick up. Driving different cars and being in the seat more often keeps me focused, so that helps a lot. It's something I've never talked about, but I can hop into any car and be competitive immediately.
"You just have to commit"
Next weekend (2/3 May) his sole focus will be the Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO. The Sprint Cup grid is stacked this year, with several factory-aligned crews ready to fight for the title. Emil Frey Racing has always been something of an underdog, but it’s shown in the past that it can achieve big things.
“We just have to put everything together and do that consistently throughout the year,” says Green. “I look back on 2024 when we were on the front row in each of the first four rounds. That was a key factor in us finishing third in the championship. We need to focus on bringing that level of performance to qualifying each time and then optimising the race as best we can.”
Starting at Brands Hatch should play to their advantage. Last year it was Vermeulen who scored pole, so both drivers know how to get the job done at the Kent venue.
"Being fast there requires commitment,” says Green. “It's fast out the back, so you need to be confident in the car you have underneath you and to just send it without any worries. The track is narrow, it's bumpy. It's quite blind in a few places. Hawthorn, Westfield and Sheen especially, they're fourth or fifth gear corners that are all pretty much blind when you turn in. You just have to commit.
"You don't get to drive [Brands Hatch] in a quick car very often,” he adds. “It's not a bad year when you can drive one GT3 car there, let alone be doing it in British GT and Sprint! It's a privilege."
Two years ago, Green raised plenty of eyebrows with his debut pole. If he begins this Sprint Cup season by putting his Ferrari on the front row, nobody will be surprised.