The eighth edition of the Gulf 12 Hours will witness three partner teams of Aston Martin Racing getting behind the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3. The event will be held on December 15 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi consisting of two six-hour races.
The first among the three taking part in Gulf 12 Hours is Oman Racing with TF Sport who is leading the Aston Martin Challenge in the Pro Class and stood second in the PRO/AM class in 2017. We will see three-time Le Mans class winner Darren Turner (GB) and team regular Jonny Adam (GB) together with Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) getting behind the Vantage GT3.
Racing beside the TF Sport will be R-Motorsport who have won the Blancpain Endurance Series. The team will debut with their expected driver Jake Dennis (GB) and Marvin Kirchhöfer (GER). We have no news about the third driver yet.
The third team in Gulf 12 Hours, Beechdean AMR will also make its race debut campaigning with two-time British GT and European Le Mans Series champion Andrew Howard (GB), Humaid Al Masaood (UAE), Chris Dyson (USA) and works driver Ross Gunn (GB).
TF Sport team principal Tom Ferrier stated: “It’s an honor to be among the first customers to race the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3, a car for which we have high hopes. We’ve already committed to racing it in the British GT Championship in 2019 and we’re excited to find out what the car is capable of in competitive conditions in the Gulf 12 Hours.”
Beechdean AMR team owner Andrew Howard stated: “Having been the first team to run the outgoing multiple race and championship winning Vantage, it is a real privilege to be part of a line-up with the first AM drivers to race the new Vantage GT3. We have been lucky enough to test the prototype and if that is anything to go by, then it will be as big a leap from the current car as the Vantage was from the glorious DBRS9. Another great step forward by Aston Martin.”
R-Motorsport team principal Florian Kamelger stated: “We are really excited to run the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 on its debut outing outside Europe. The challenging event in Abu Dhabi will give us the best opportunity to test the car in a long-distance race before we run it in 2019.”
Aston Martin Racing President David King stated: “Handing the keys of the new Vantage GT3s to our top partner teams to race in Abu Dhabi is the next critical step in the car’s development ahead of its planned homologation early next year. The Vantage GT3 has performed exceptionally well in its test and development programme to date and proved highly competitive on its Nürburgring Nordschleife debut in October. Primarily a car built for top-level customers to race, we’re confident it will be a potent force in the Gulf 12 Hours and the feedback from our partner teams will no doubt be invaluable in refining the car prior to wider customer team supply next year.”