Reigning British GT Championship GT4 champion Ross Gunn has won Aston Martin Racing’s Evolution Academy following a stiff final round in Bahrain.
Gunn, who has just completed his first season of GT racing following an early career in single seaters, won the GT4 title alongside Jamie Chadwick at Beechdean AMR and his impressive form on and off the track at the rookie test following the Bahrain WEC round saw him secure a factory contract for 2016.
Now, thanks to his success, he will move into Beechdean’s Aston Martin Vantage GT3 to fill the space vacated by Jonny Adam and race alongside team boss Andrew Howard to defend Howard’s driver’s title.
“I am really excited to be joining Andrew Howard in his Beechdean AMR V12 Vantage GT3 as an Aston Martin Racing factory driver,” Gunn, a former BRDC F4 racer, said. “I have enjoyed my first year with the team so much and have been able to learn an awful lot about what it takes to become a professional racing driver.
“This is great news for my career, but it is no secret that I still have an awful lot to learn and certain skills to develop and there certainly is no better place to do it. I am looking forward to getting to work on our 2016 test programme.”
Andrew Howard himself is looking forward to helping the next generation of racer following his years of success with Adam and is looking forward to driving with the 18-year-old: “Having watched Jonny develop into a world class factory GT driver, it is very exciting to be involved in the development of the next generation. It was Ross’s dad who got me involved in motor racing so it’s amazing to bring the story full circle. Beechdean will be continuing its commitment to young drivers in 2016.”
Even though seats in both cars are now filled, with Jack Bartholomew and Jordan Albert confirmed for the GT4 car, the team has promised further announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
