Motorbase Performance has unveiled its most ambitious GT programme to date, fielding Aston Martin Vantage GT3s in both the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the Blancpain Endurance Series.
Team boss David Bartrum confirmed the change of marque and expanded GT campaign ahead of the start of the team’s extensive winter testing programme in preparation for 2014.
“It was time for us to take on a new challenge and the Aston Martin is a very strong GT3 car at the moment,” said Bartrum. “The people at Aston Martin were very keen for us to build a new two-car team. The car showed excellent form in 2013 and we’ve watched it with great interest. This is a new challenge for us. We want to grow our GT operation and it’s great to be doing it with a British manufacturer. We also needed a car that could be adapted to the two series we want to contest, and the Aston Martin firmly ticks that box.”
Bartrum has been drawing on the feedback from works Aston Martin driver Jonny Adam, who used to drive for Motorbase during his time in the BTCC. Adam played a major part in Aston Martin’s British GT Championship success in 2013.
Motorbase entered GT racing for the 2012 season, winning the British GT title with Michael Caine and Daniele Perfetti sharing a Porsche. Now with Caine, partnered with Carrera Cup graduate Ahmad Al-Harthy, had a strong and consistent season in 2013, being the only squad to score in all but one of the season’s ten races, taking two victories. “Of course we want to remain very competitive in British GT and we need to hit the ground running when the season starts at Oulton Park at Easter,” added Bartrum. “By making an early decision we have given ourselves time to understand the Aston Martin both on the track and in the workshop.”
The team’s driver lineup will be announced over the coming weeks.
