Racing One scores first win for 296 GT3
Racing One claimed the first-class win globally for the new Ferrari 296 GT3 on Saturday in the third NLS race of the season.
The car, crewed by Christian Kohlhaas, Stefan Aust and Luca Ludwig, triumphed in the SP9 Pro-Am class.
The same race also featured two 296 GT3s in the SP9 Pro class fielded by Frikadelli Racing Team and WTM by Rinaldi Racing, which came home sixth and eleventh respectively.
A full report on NLS3 will follow on DSC in due course.
Juta Racing joins ADAC GT Masters
Nordpass by Juta Racing is set to become the first team from Lithuania to compete in the ADAC GT Masters.
Lithuanian drivers Jonas Karklys and Jonas Gelžinis will be racing with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II in their first season together. Karklys is moving to the ADAC GT Masters after two years spent competing in ADAC TCR Germany.
“There is a really good feeling throughout the environment of the ADAC race series, as the overall package is spot on, in terms of organisation and the proximity to the fans,” says Karklys.
“The Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II is uncharted territory for me, as I have previously only competed with front-wheel drive cars. So, now I have to get used to the rear-wheel drive system in the Audi. However, my familiarity with the circuits from the ADAC TCR Germany will be helpful, as I already know a lot of the tracks from the ADAC GT Masters 2023.”
Eastalent Racing to make GT Open debut
Austrian team Eastalent Racing will make its debut in the International GT Open this year with an Audi R8 LMS Evo II, and has confirmed its line-up, which will be composed of 23-year-old Simon Reicher and Audi driver Christopher Haase.
“I’m really looking forward to the new season,” Reicher said. “Neither the team nor I know some of the circuits on the calendar, but these unknowns attract us to the challenge. It’s a novelty for all of us. The challenge lies in leaving our own comfort zone. Even though the series and some circuits are new to us, if we perform we don’t have to hide. I’m particularly excited to work with my new teammate. He will be a great asset for all of us.”
Hassid returns to LP Racing
2022 Fanatec GT2 European Series Am champion Henry Hassid is set to return to the series for a second season with LP Racing this year, this time in the Pro-Am class with Anthony Beltoise in an Audi R8 LMS GT2.
“Last year we of course won the GT2 Am title, so this year I wanted a new target,” said Hassid. “Anthony Beltoise, one of my oldest friends with whom I won the 2012 French GT Championship, has accepted to join me in the Pro-Am class. He’s an incredibly quick driver and I hope we will get some strong results. I love working with LP Racing, it’s like being with family and we have good fun, so it’s great to be back.”
Hassid and Beltoise complete the trio of LP Racing Audis fighting for the Fanatec GT2 European Series Pro-Am title this term, which also includes Stéphane Ratel and Mattia di Giusto in the #88 car, plus Michael Doppelmayr and Pierre Kaffer in the #18 Audi.
The LP Racing squad get their season underway in the first round of the season at Monza, Italy 21-23 April.
Elite Motorsport joins GT4 European Series field
Tom Emson and Josh Rattican remain with Elite Motorsport for 2023 to graduate with the progressive Norfolk squad for its first foray in the GT4 European Series.
Elite took delivery of its first Artura last year and are benefitting from the wealth of experience offered by Entire Race Engineering with its McLaren programme. Emson and Rattican, Elite’s Ginetta Junior & SuperCup race winning duo, have since clocked up around 2,000km in testing. The team’s second McLaren was delivered recently.
“I’m extremely excited to announce that Josh and Tom will race together in our first McLaren,” Ed Ives said. “They are both fast drivers and have a great relationship within Elite. We can’t wait to work together in Europe. I want to say a massive thank you to our team sponsors, Entire Race Engineering, who without their help with this project, none of it would have happened.”
Images courtesy of Ferrari, Juta Racing, Elite Motorsport and LP Racing
