Aston Martin customer team R-Racing has confirmed that 2022 title challenger Josh Miller will remain with the team for the 2023 British GT season and pair up with fellow teenager, Seb Hopkins, for a full-season GT4 class entry.
Last year Miller, alongside Jamie Day, broke the record for the youngest driver pairing in the championship’s history, with R Racing, and came close to winning the title in the season finale at Donington. He will be hoping to take the next step in the team’s Vantage AMR GT4 in 2023 with Hopkins, who moves to R Racing from Team Parker.
Hopkins, meanwhile, drove with Jamie Orton during his maiden British GT campaign last year, and finished eighth in the class standings.
“There’s no two ways about it: Seb and I are gunning for the title this year,” said Miller, ahead of his third season with R Racing. (His first came in 2021 when he competed with the team in the Ginetta Junior Championship).
“2022 was great and I learned a lot but it was disappointing to miss out at the final round. We topped the standings at various points during that race but it just wasn’t to be when it mattered most. Now I want to finish the job, and in Seb I know I’ve found the ideal co-driver to do that. His 2022 championship position didn’t tell the whole story – his potential was clear to anyone paying close attention.”
Hopkins said he hopes the experience he gained last year will translate into wins in 2023: “Josh and R Racing did fantastically well in their debut season so I’m really excited by the prospect of joining them this year. Continuity is important, which we have through the team and Josh, but that year of experience in which I learned so much about sharing a car and managing GT3 traffic will also be crucial for me.
“There were a few podiums last year but missing out on the top step was, admittedly, frustrating. However, we also know consistency wins British GT titles, and I think that will be especially true this season if the class is as big and competitive as we’re expecting it to be.”
The Vantage AMR GT4 has two British GT drivers’ and teams’ titles to its name (2019 and 2020) while R Racing was instantly quick after joining the championship at the start of 2022 – a year in which it also won Ginetta Junior’s regular and winter titles.
“We are excited to get going and mount a serious title assault in 2023,” said team director Jamie Ross. “After learning a lot last year and ending it very strongly, we are intending to pick up where we left off.
“Josh showed great pace and consistency last year; we have a great relationship with him and it’s fantastic to retain him for this year. Seb has raced against the team for a few years now and has always impressed us, so to get him with us this season is very exciting. We know what he is capable of and we are looking forward to maximising that.
“We have seen a few strong driver line-ups for GT4 but believe you need the whole package to give you the edge.”
The first round of the 2023 season is set for April 8-10 at Oulton Park.
Images courtesy of R Racing
