British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) Rising Star Michael Lyons, the 2012 FIA GT3 European Vice-Champion, is delighted to confirm his continuation with world-famous sportscar team AF Corse for the coming year, having signed a deal to partner Matteo Beretta in the International GT Open.The 22-year-old from Felsted in Essex, one of the UKs top emerging talents in sportscar racing, will share a brand new Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 in the burgeoning pan-European championship with Italian driver Beretta. He will run with sponsorship from QM Aggregate Contractors and additional support from Finning CAT.Since graduating from junior single-seater racing into sportscar competition at the start of 2011, Michael has been a standout performer. First finishing third overall in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship during his maiden season, taking wins at Oulton Park and Donington Park in a Ferrari 458 Italia run by Scuderia Vittoria, he leapt onto the international stage the following year.Joining AF Corse for his debut campaign in the prestigious FIA GT3 European Championship, the young Britonteaming with Italys Stefano Gaiexcelled and the pairing claimed five podiums with runner-up spots at Nogaro in France, Navarra in Spain and Germanys Nurburgring.Finishing third and then second in his respective title campaigns for the past two years, Michael is determined to go one place higher in 2013 by winning his first contemporary motor racing title in the International GT Open.Were delighted to be staying with AF Corse this year, we had a fantastic season together in 2012 and Im sure we will only build on that for the move into the GT Open, he commented, Im really hungry for my first title and Im confident weve got everything in place to make it happen. We have a brand new 2013 Ferrari 458 and Ive retained my engineer from last year, so its all looking great.Theres always someone at AF who is a world class driver, you always have that benchmark to test yourself against and to get better and better. Its a fantastic team, really enjoyable to drive for, and Im looking forward to teaming with Matteo [Beretta] to try and win the GT Open title.Italian-based AF Corse, which shares very close links with the Ferrari factory in Maranello, has won countless championships in GT racing with title successes in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, the FIA GT Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship and Blancpain Endurance Series. The squad, led by former racer Amato Ferrari, is also a class winner at the Le Mans 24 Hours.In addition to his commitments in the International GT Open this year, Michael will continue to be involved in historic racingwhere he first got his introduction to motorsport through his parents, fellow racers Frank and Judy Lyons. Today, he manages the sporting activities of the Frank Lyons Racing squad and fits in as many races himself as he can.Making headlines in his first season of motor racing in 2007 by becoming the youngest ever driver to race a Formula One car, at just 16 years-of-age, Michael won on his historic racing debut in at Philip Island in Australia. He went on to win multiple championship titles before moving into contemporary single-seater racing in 2008 in the ranks of Formula Renault.Round one of the 2013 International GT open will take place at Paul Ricard HTTT in France just over a fortnight from now, over the weekend 27th/28th April. The eight-event championship will reach its conclusion in Barcelona, Spain, in early November.