The Oman Racing Team will unveil its new look driver line-up this week as the squad heads to the spectacular Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium for the biggest event of the 2015 GT season; the Total 24 Hours of Spa (July 25/26).
Arguably the biggest GT3 race in the world; this year marks the 67th annual event of what is undoubtedly the highlight on the Blancpain Endurance Series calendar. The Oman Racing Team returns to Spa with high hopes of a strong finish where it will compete in the Pro-Am class for the first time during Saturday’s round the clock contest.
19 year-old Australian and Aston Martin Racing Evolution Academy driver Jonathan Venter joins the existing Oman Racing Team driver line-up and will make his debut on the Belgian circuit alongside Aston Martin works driver Jonny Adam, fellow Evolution Academy driver Daniel Lloyd and Ahmad Al Harthy in the #44 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.
“You look forward to certain races during the season and Spa 24 hours is one of those races that it’s a massive privilege to be a part of;” said the Oman Racing Team Principal David Bartrum. “This year with the quality of the grid being what it is in the Blancpain, you need to go there with a clear plan in your mind of how you’re going to tackle it. For us this year the big decision has been to move into the Pro-Am class.”
Bartrum continued: “To then add a driver to the strong line-up that we already have you need to make sure that you have the right ingredient so that team balance stays right. It’s essential not only to get the grading right but also that to find a driver fits well within the team, has the character we need, offers the turn of speed required and is also able to use the product – and in Jonathan we have the ideal man.
“He comes very highly recommended and from what we know so far we have a young, dynamic driver that fits perfectly in the Oman Racing Team line-up and I’m really, really excited about Spa now;” added the Team Boss.
Bartrum’s squad faces a remarkable grid of competitors this year, with 59 GT3’s from the world’s leading endurance teams set to race on the mighty Ardennes track and the Team Principal is confident that with a little good fortune this time out the Oman-backed team has the potential to deliver a strong result.
“Spa feels like unfinished business for us after last year, especially when we were running as high up as we were. Everyone is really looking forward to going back this year and hopefully getting the chance to finish off what we started 12 months ago. If we can stay out of trouble and things go our way then I feel confident that the driver line-up and our pace should see us right in the mix where of the action.”
The build-up for the Total 24 hours of Spa begins with a town centre grand parade on Wednesday (July 22) before race preparations get underway in earnest on Thursday (July 23) with free practice, qualifying and night qualifying sessions running into the late evening. Friday then plays host to the Super Pole shootout where the top 20 qualifying cars compete ahead of Saturday’s 24 hour race (July 25).