Highly successful International sports car racing team, AF Corse today announced its intention to compete in the 2013 Avon Tyres British GT Championship with series regulars John Dhillon and Aaron Scott in a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.
The reigning Blancpain Endurance Series Teams Pro-Am Champions will join the exciting British series as a full season entrant when racing gets underway at Oulton Park on the Easter Weekend (2931 March 2013), and hope to add a second car to its squad in the coming months.
Drivers John Dhillon (Leicester) and Aaron Scott (Shropshire) join the Italian team after a successful two-day test at Italys Vallelunga circuit last week. Following a progressive maiden season with the Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 in British GT prepared by British outfit, Scuderia Vittoria, Dhillon and Scott finished the 2012 season seventeenth in the standings with three top-ten finishes in arguably the most competitive season in British GT ever.
Now with twelve months experience of the 458 GT3 under their belt, two full seasons in British GT completed and a thorough testing programme planned, the British driving duo are understandably keen to get the 2013 season underway.
This year saw British GT grids swell to an average of 28 cars per race and with competition closer than ever on track, but the arrival of the Italian team is something of a landmark moment for the Championship, which will next year celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its inception.
AF Corse joins United Autosports in confirming their entry into the 2013 Avon Tyres British GT championship. The Anglo-American squad announced earlier this year its intention to run two McLaren MP4-12cs and an Audi R8 ULTRA LMS GT3.
Quotes:Benjamin Franassovici, British GT Championship Manager:I am very excited for British GT to receive interest from the continent, it shows we are doing something special here. British GT is I think one of the strongest National GT series in Europe if not the world, the racing is exceptional and the addition of a team of the calibre of AF Corse is very positive.
Amato Ferrari, AF Corse Team Principal:The British GT Championship is one of the new 2013 plans for AF Corse. We are happy to race in this championship organized by SRO; AF Corse has run from 2006 in its championships. The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is a success in European motorsport and we are glad to race with John Dhillon and Aaron Scott. We are also looking to set-up a second AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 for the upcoming British GT season.
John Dhillon, Driver:For me to work with AF Corse is a superb opportunity. This year I learnt a lot about the 458 and feel I improved, but with the resource of AF supporting us I think there are more ways for me to progress. I know I need to get as close to Aarons lap time as possible for us to improve as a pairing, so that is my aim with the additional testing. The team have shown they work well with drivers of all abilities, so I feel both Aaron and I will get the support we need next year in British GT. Due to the success theyve had in other series, the team have a winning mentality, but dont apply a level of expectation. This I feel will be a good environment for me to learn in and grow and to have the deal in place before Christmas means we can prepare properly for next season.
Aaron Scott, Driver:Its great to be working with such a prestigious team. The deal came together in the last three weeks and the conversations with the team have been very straightforward. The plan is to focus on British GT and within the confines of budget do more testing throughout the year; weve kicked this off already with a two-day test at Vallelunga last week which went really well. I know John benefited from that test as his times came down progressively and we both felt settled in tour surroundings by the start of the second day. I think Im driving at a good level, but by joining AF Corse it means I now have the opportunity to compare my data with some of the best in the world. Im confident that the winning philosophy that AF has is as much a benefit to me as it will be to John. Were both happy to have the deal secured already so we can focus on 2013.
