Denmark’s GMB Motorsport will bring the first-ever entry into the 24H Series with a Honda NSX GT3 Evo for at least two races in 2022.
Managed by ex Le Mans Series racer and 2009 LMP2 Le Mans class winner Casper Elgaard and with a multi-year plan that is focusing on a potential Le Mans effort in 2024, the squad looks set to involve Dynamic Porsche driver Mikkel O. Pedersen and Danish TCR racer Gustav Birch.
The team will take delivery of the new car from JAS Motorsort and will then test in Italy ahead of entries in both the Hankook 12H HOCKENHEIM and the Hankook 24H PORTIMAO.
The team intend to take in a full European Series in the car in 2023.
Thai Season Finale Sees NSX Debut
Christmas weekend will still see GT racing with the final round of the Thai Super Series at Buriram.
Vattana Motorsport, multiple race winners in both TCR Thailand and TCR Asia with the Honda Civic Type R TCR, are debuting their NSX GT3 Evo at the event.
As part of his programme with JAS Motorsport, Development Driver Jacopo Guidetti has been part of a team from JAS Motorsport taken out to Buriram to help the team orientate with their new acquisition.
The 19-year-old Italian scored a landmark maiden Italian GT Championship victory for the JAS-built Honda NSX GT3 Evo at Imola during the summer and was also a podium finisher on his International GT Open debut at Monza a few weeks later.
Jacopo, together with Riccardo Incarbone – the JAS Development Programme leader have been passing on valuable experience with the NSX, efforts that have been welcome enough for the team to change their initial plans, the team has now invited him to race, alongside Thai racer Phuakkarawut Dechathorn after Dechathorn plus Team Principal Chonsawat Asavahame and Pitsanu Sirimongkolkasem spent several days of testing and practice benefitting from Guidetti’s experience behind the wheel.
Chonsawat was initially due to drive and had offered the young Italian a free drive in the 12-hour race on Sunday in the team’s Toyota Yaris in one of the junior classes. That plan has now changed and instead, he’ll contest the race in the NSX
“It’s been an amazing experience so far,” said Guidetti. “I’ve been out here a week now, having my first opportunity to have a foreign experience with GT cars and JAS.
“As soon as we arrived in Thailand we were welcomed so warmly. Everyone wants to work together to really learn how we can benefit most on and off the track.
“We’ve been testing a few times to improve the performance. The track here at Buriram is very fast and technical and plays to the strengths of the NSX GT3 Evo.
“Chonsawat Asavahame is very happy with how the presence of JAS technical staff, as well as me as a driver with a lot of experience of the car, are helping to improve his driving as well as the team’s knowledge by using the data and videos.”
Officially launched last year, the JAS Motorsport Driver Development Programme is a comprehensive package aimed at preparing the next generation of young racers for the rigours and challenges of life as a professional competitor.
The programme focuses on developing each young driver’s on- and off-track skills in a variety of areas with expertise and coaching provided by JAS Motorsport’s team of technicians and managers plus experienced drivers from within the Honda Racing family.
Areas of focus include disciplines such as managing tyres and fuel, pitstop training, optimising compromised set-ups for co-drivers, effective engineer and team communication, using data to impact car behaviour and working with customer teams.
