Blancpain Endurance Series competitor Ahmad Al Harthy will get his 2014 motor racing season underway at world-famous Italian circuit Monza next weekend, 12th/13th April – his first competitive outing at the wheel of the Oman Racing Team’s new Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.As part of a dual campaign this year, in which he will dovetail involvement in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship, the Omani 32-year-old will begin his second season in the heavily subscribed pan-European Blancpain series with high hopes of a successful bid.With no fewer than 44 cars set to line-up on the Monza grid, round one of the season – which will be a three hour endurance contest – is set to kick-start the championship in spectacular fashion with some of the globe’s most prestigious and exclusive automotive marques all doing battle.Teaming-up with experienced British pairing Michael Caine and Stephen Jelley in the Motorbase Performance-run Aston Martin, Ahmad graduates from the Gentlemen Trophy, where he was a class winner in 2013, into the headline Pro Cup category.Backed by long-time partners Omar Air, the Oman Ministry of Tourism, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Nawras and the National Bank of Oman, along with new sponsor Al Hashar Group/Aston Martin Oman, the Muscat racer is relishing the new season and delighted to be starting his racing year at ultra-fast Monza.“After an unbelievable amount of hard work and effort behind the scenes, over many months, we’re finally ready to go racing next weekend and I cannot wait”, he commented, “Monza is an amazing circuit, I really enjoyed driving there last season in Blancpain, and I’m hopeful Michael, Stephen and I can make a competitive start and score some points there.“Driving the Oman Racing Team Aston Martin is such a pleasure, it’s an incredible car and the guys at Motorbase will undoubtedly do a fantastic job and give us a competitive set-up at Monza. It’s always important to make a strong start to the season, we’ll be doing our very best to achieve that. I must say a massive thank you to all of our fantastic partners for 2014, here’s to a successful year!”Following free practice and qualifying at Monza on Saturday, 12th April, the opening round of the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series will get underway at 14.45 local time, 12.45 UK time, on Sunday, 13th April. Live coverage of the three hour race will be streamed online at the official championship website www.blancpain-gt-series.com/liveBefore next weekend’s racing, Ahmad and the Oman Racing Team will make an appearance at Donington Park in the UK on Tuesday, 8th April, for the Avon Tyres British GT Championship pre-season test and Media Day.