Aston Martin Racing will make its Blancpain Sprint Series debut later this month when it contests the final two rounds of the 2014 season with partner team Beechdean AMR in the V12 Vantage GT3.
Gaydon, 7 October 2014 – Aston Martin Racing will make its Blancpain Sprint Series debut later this month when it contests the final two rounds of the 2014 season with partner team Beechdean AMR in the V12 Vantage GT3.
The new-for-2014 Blancpain Sprint Series has been a great success, with promoters SRO offering teams a series of one-hour long GT races. On the 19 October the penultimate round will take place at Zolder in Belgium with the final two weeks later, on the 2 November, at Baku in Azerbaijan.
In both of the events, the Beechdean V12 Vantage GT3 will be driven by Aston Martin Racing works driver Jonny Adam (GB) and ex-F1 test driver Andy Soucek (ES).
Despite being better known for his single-seater career, Soucek is no stranger to sportscar racing, having raced in the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2012 and 2013, but it’ll be his debut in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.
“It’s a great opportunity to drive with such a great team with good results and alongside a factory driver,” Soucek comments. “It’s a big challenge but I’m confident I can do a good job. I know Zolder very well as I’ve driven there a lot - I actually did my first GT test there. So, I know the track, I just need to use the practice sessions to learn the Vantage GT3.”
The V12 Vantage GT3 has had success around the world with numerous Aston Martin Racing teams and drivers, but none more so than with Beechdean AMR’s driving duo Andrew Howard (GB) and Jonny Adam, who recorded the car’s first race win just weeks after its launch in 2012 and its first national Championship in 2013.
“At Aston Martin Racing we work very closely with our partner teams, like Beechdean AMR, and this enables us to embark on joint ventures like this,” comments Team Principal John Gaw. “We were very keen to have a works team entry in the Blancpain Sprint Series and SRO have been extremely cooperative and supportive in enabling us to get this entry together. We are also grateful to Beechdean AMR for its continued commitment to racing at the highest level.
“Hopefully this is the start of more Aston Martin Racing works entries in both the Blancpain Sprint and GT Series.”
Beechdean AMR team owner Andrew Howard added: “Having been involved with the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 from the beginning it is very exciting for us to see the car racing at the highest level of GT3 racing. It’s a good test for the team for future projects.”
The Zolder round of the Blancpain Sprint Series takes place on 19/20 October. More information can be found at www.blancpain-gt-series.com.