With two months still remaining until the deadline for entries organisers of the Maxi Endurance 48 race have released an initial preliminary entry list for the March 14-17 event, billed as the longest race in history.
The entry list also comes as organisers add a fifth class to the event, welcoming CN Prototype cars to the Navarra circuit alongside the GT and touring cars previously included in the plans. The new class has already attracted interest, three teams listed on the initial entry list, including the Italian Avelon Formula team that ran Ivan Bellarosa to the Speed EuroSeries title this year.
With further entries expected – over 100 teams have expressed interest in the event – there are already several major international teams on the entry list, headed by International GT Open team Autolando that currently lead their class standings with race winning drivers Marco Mapelli and Briton Archie Hamilton.
Jet Alliance Racing – the Austrian team who have previously raced Aston Martins, Porsche and – in the short lived GTE program – Lotus Evoras – are entered with Ferrari 430 Challenge in the Maxi Cup class, where their opposition will include British teams Intersport Racing and Spirit Motorsport, both entering BMW M3.
Also representing Britain at the event – in the Maxi Sport category – will be McMillan Motorsport, tackling the 48 hours in Caterham 300 Superlight, Carvell Motorsport, with the Jaguar XF Diesel and Mission Motorsport, the team comprised of armed services personnel, who will take on the Maxi Endurance 48 in a Nissan 370Z after finishing strongly in the Britcar 24 Hours in September.
The British contingent is completed by Martin Short’s Rollcentre operation, entering a Subaru BRZ and Piranha Motorsport with a Ginetta G40.