Optimum Motorsport will have a second McLaren 720S GT3 in the GT World Challenge Europe series with the drivers Nick Foster and Martin Berry and Yasser Shahin in the second car in this year’s Pro-AM series.
Earlier this year the team already confirmed that Ollie Wilkinson, Joe Osborne and Rob Bell will be running in Pro class in the Endurance Cup in a program that has support from McLaren Customer Racing.
“It was always our intention to field two cars in GT World Challenge Europe and to do this as part of the McLaren Customer Racing programme is a big step for us as a team.” Shaun Goff, Team Principal, said.
“With entries in both the Pro-Am and Pro championship, I’m looking forward to the season ahead where I believe our pre-season preparation will stand us in good stead. It’s a pleasure to welcome Yasser to the team; we aim to give him the best tools in the business to get the job done.”
Foster competed in the championship last season and secured three top-five results from his five starts with Attempto Racing. He is currently competing in the Asian Le Mans Series 2019-20, where he has secured three places from three starts so far.
“We’re continuing our Australian theme through 2020, so it’s really exciting to be in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and I’m looking forward to hitting the track in testing at Paul Ricard.” Foster said.
“From my side, I’m stoked with the second race programme and continuing with Martin and Optimum Motorsport. It’s great continuity with both the British GT Championship and GTWC.”
“I’m looking forward to returning to the blue riband events of GT racing and to have Yasser on board is a bonus. We’ve had a relationship for a long time, so it’s good to be racing with him as a very strong Bronze driver and a good bloke to have in the car.”
Berry became the champion in the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific in 2017, competed with Rinaldi Racing last year in the Am Series, and secured one of the season’s best of the third on the Paul Ricard track.
“Having established such a strong platform with Nick and Optimum Motorsport for British GT, it was only logical to extend this further into a return to GT World Challenge. Partnering with Nick in the same car and same team for both championships will help to add a lot of consistency and it’s great to be able to field an all-Australian team with the addition of good mate Yasser!” Berry said.
Shanin is executive chairman of The Bend Motorsport Park, he has a wealth of experience in his home country of Australia, but will face a new challenge when competing on some of the finest circuits in Europe for the first time.
“The Bend Motorsport Park’s Yasser Shahin is proud to be part of an all Australian contingent participating in the premier GT3 race series globally.” Told on behalf of Shanin.
The team will be starting their five-round championship that will begin at Monza on 19 April.
