TGR extends safety car partnership with World Challenge Asia
Toyota Gazoo Racing has extended its deal with GT World Challenge Asia to remain the Official Safety Car Partner of the series for a second season.
The Toyota Supra was a permanent and prominent feature last year when it oversaw formation lap and safety duties at all five events. Now various vehicles, including cars from Lexus, will perform the same role during 12 hour-long races at this season’s six weekends.
They include four rounds of the Fanatec Japan Cup, a championship within a championship reserved for local teams and drivers that compete for separate points at Fuji, Suzuka, Motegi and Okayama. Chang International Circuit in Thailand opens the wider campaign on May 12-14, while Sepang in Malaysia stages the season finale in September.
“We are pleased to extend our Safety Car collaboration with Toyota Gazoo Racing into a second season,” said Benjamin Franassovici, the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS general manager. The Supra GR became a recognisable presence at the front of our grid throughout 2022 and is a very capable car in its own right. Plus, the championship’s strong ties with Japan – which continue into this year – make the country’s biggest car manufacturer a perfect fit.”
Second Racing Experience D08 for Protoype Cup Germany
Racing Experience has confirmed that it will bring a seocnd Duqueine D08 LMP3 to the Prototype Cup Germany grid in 2023.
Driving its second car will be Markus Pommer and Gary Hauser, a duo that were previosuly sparring partners in German Formula 3 Cup over a decade ago.
“We are happy to have signed such a talented and experienced driver as Markus for the 2023 season of the ADAC Prototype Cup Germany,” said Christian Hauser, Racing Experience’s team owner. “As more and more teams have announced their line-ups, we can see that the level of competition has even further increased compared to last year.
“We still feel like we have made the right decisions over the winter break regarding our team structure and engineers and feel confident that we are able to fight for podiums and race wins.”
Strong field for the Super Series opening weekend
The Super Series by B-Quik 2023 season gets underway this weekend at a very hot and dry Buriram’s Chang International Circuit, with a 19-car grid of GT cars in the Super Car division which features GT3, GTM, GT4 and GTC machinery.
The entry for this weekend includes GT3 cars from Audi, Aston Martin, Ferrari BMW and Lexus. Audi has the biggest fleet of customer cars of the brands represented, as Absolute Racing is running four R8 LMS GT3s in addition to a Porsche Cayman in the GT4 class.
In GT4, there are three entrants. Absolute will face Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand, which is running a Supra GT4 and a Lexus RCF GT3 in the event and YK Motorsport, which brings a Mercedes AMG-GT4.
Elsewhere, other teams present that DSC readers will be familiar with include Vipa Niza Racing, running an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 and AAI Motorsport, which is representing BMW in the top class with an M4 GT3.
The schedule sees Free Practice sessions on Friday before Qualifying takes place Saturday morning, while the double header races play out on Saturday afternoon and across Sunday.
To can follow all the action on the TSS Facebook Page with a live stream.
Full-season GT Open programme for SPS
SPS automotive performance is set to bring a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s to the 2023 GT Open season, for the full campaign.
In addition to the well-known Swiss duo Dexter Müller and Yannick Mettler in the #54 Mercedes-AMG GT3, Reece Barr and Mikaeel Pitamber will contest a full season for the first time in the #20 sister car.
“The team is very proud to bring another international line-up into the race,” said Stephan Sohn, team principal SPS automotive performance. “Dexter and Yannick showed a strong performance last season. I think they can also score good results this year. With Reece and Mikaeel, we gave two young talents a chance to prove themselves in an international racing series. I think we can cause a surprise or two here as well.”
V-Series.R at VIR
The VIR social media channels have given us a first glimps of Action Express Racing’s Le Mans-bound V-Series.R, which is a brand new Cadillac chassis built up specifically for the team’s Le Mans debut in June.
Look who decided to stop by yesterday evening 👀 @AX_Racing / @FIAWEC / @24hoursoflemans pic.twitter.com/hD1K7hQ3Zv
— VIRginia International Raceway (@VIRNow) April 20, 2023
In France the team will run the #311.
Images courtesy of GT Open, World Challenge Asia, Racing Experience and TSS Super Series
