McLaren 650S GT3 and 570S GT4 both confirmed

Another of Asia’s sportscar heavyweights, Clearwater Racing, will compete in both Blancpain GT Series Asia’s GT3 and GT4 classes this season, the team has confirmed.

The Singapore-based squad won the Asian Le Mans Series’ teams’ title in 2015/16 and will now enter the same McLaren 650S GT3 in SRO’s inaugural pan-continental championship. It will also become the first outfit to field the new 570S GT4 in Asia.

Richard Wee partners long-time Clearwater and McLaren factory ace Rob Bell in the senior class at every round except Suzuka thanks to the Briton’s European Blancpain GT Series commitments. Deputising will be fellow Clearwater Racing stalwart and Suzuka specialist Hiroki Katoh.

Meanwhile, the McLaren GT-supported outfit will also spend much of the year testing its new 570S GT4. However, Clearwater have confirmed the car will also make selected race appearances ahead of a season-long entry in 2018.

Arj Pillay Kulasegaram, Clearwater Racing Managing Director: “We are really pleased to be a part of the inaugural Blancpain GT Series Asia campaign this year. Clearwater Racing looks forward to much championship success with the dynamic pairing of Richard ‘Rocket’ Wee and Rob ‘Captain Picard’ Bell in our beautiful McLaren 650S GT3, which has brought us so much success in the past two seasons. We can't wait for the action to begin!”

Benjamin Franassovici, Blancpain GT Series Asia championship manager: “It’s absolutely fantastic to see another exceptional team joining the Blancpain GT Series Asia grid in 2017. Clearly Arj [Pillay Kulasegaram] isn’t afraid of a challenge given the impressive entry we’ve already been able to announce, but I have no doubt that Clearwater will be right at the front when the season starts in April. Rob [Bell] and the McLaren 650S GT3 is a proven package, while the 570S GT4 is an exciting addition to the class after an impressive development year in British GT.”

The opening round of 2017’s inaugural Blancpain GT Series Asia season kicks off at Sepang in Malaysia on April 8/9.

2017 Blancpain GT Series Asia Schedule

April 8/9 Sepang, MalaysiaMay 20/21 Chang International Circuit, ThailandJune 24/25 Suzuka, JapanAugust 19/20 Fuji Speedway, JapanSeptember 23/24 Shanghai, ChinaOctober 21/22 Zhejiang, China