R-Motorsport has confirmed an expanded challenge this term, with a brace of new Aston Martin Vantage V8 GT3s set to contest both the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe.
A further car will be added for the Total 24 Hours of Spa (25-28 July), with a total of 10 drivers set to represent the squad across the full campaign. R-Motorsport has placed its faith in youth for the year ahead, with nine of those drivers under the age of 30
This follows an impressive 2018 season for the team, which included pole positions at Silverstone, Circuit Paul Ricard and the Total 24 Hours as Spa, as well as a lights-to-flag victory at the British venue.
As was the case last term, R-Motorsport will again field a brace of impressive Pro class line-ups in the Endurance Cup, both of which include Aston Martin factory drivers.
The #62 will see the returning Maxime Martin and Matthieu Vaxivière joined by Welsh racer Matt Parry, who arrives at R-Motorsport following an Endurance Cup campaign with the RJN-Nissan outfit. Parry has already made his debut for the squad, competing at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour earlier this month.
The team’s #76 will also contest the full Endurance Cup campaign with established R-Motorsport men Jake Dennis and Marvin Kirchhöfer joined by Aston Martin works driver Alex Lynn. Though still just 25, the English ace brings vast experience of single-seater and GT racing to the crew.
The #62 and #76 Aston Martins will contest Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe, though the line-ups will be shuffled for the sprint-format championship
The #62 will enter the Silver Cup category, with Finnish racer Aaro Vainio and Swiss ace Hugo De Sadeleer at the wheel of the Vantage GT3. Both youngsters are rising stars of GT racing and are likely to be front-runners in the Silver category.
The #76 will see Kirchhöfer joined by Ricky Collard in a Pro entry. The young Englishman arrives at R-Motorsport following an Endurance Cup campaign with the ROWE Racing BMW squad and forms a competitive pairing with Kirchhöfer. What’s more, by combining Endurance Cup and World Challenge Europe campaigns, the German will be able to contend for the overall Blancpain GT Series title this term.
The team will add further firepower for the Total 24 Hours of Spa (25-28 July), with the #760 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 driven by Collard, De Sadeleer and newcomer Ferdinand Habsburg. The Austrian has graduated from F3 to DTM this term and will form part of a talented young line-up at the season’s marquee GT3 race.
The 2019 campaign begins with an Endurance Cup event at Monza (12-14 April) before Brands Hatch stages the opening Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe contest on 4-5 May.
The 2019 campaign begins with an Endurance Cup event at Monza (12-14 April) before Brands Hatch stages the opening Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe contest on 4-5 May.