The V12 Vantage GT3 is set for competition in the Pirelli World Challenge this weekend at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California. TRG-AMR Team Owner Kevin Buckler was slated to drive the 007 machine at Sonoma, but has handed the reins over to GT racing rising star Christina Nielsen. Christina comes from a strong racing lineage starting with her father, Lars-Erik Nielsen, having competed at the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans with TRG in 2004.
Christina started her racing career in 2007 with karting followed by various European formula car series including the ADAC Formula Masters. After that it was on to Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and then onto ADAC GT Masters followed by Porsche GT3 Cup Middle East and Europe. Nielsen is now currently competing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and is a top competitor in the Porsche GT3 Cup. Nielsen jumped at the chance to drive in the rapidly expanding and competitive Pirelli World Challenge GT class.
Christina Nielsen, TRG-AMR Team Driver: “I was really excited to get the opportunity to drive the V12 Vantage GT3 in World Challenge this weekend – it’s an unbelievably capable car. I was testing early last week at Sonoma and was impressed with how easily I adapted to the car and its power
and aero. I’d never driven at Sonoma before then, and the TRG-AMR team helped me with data and video, and the car was incredibly fast and easy to drive – I was able to get up to speed very quickly. I’m excited and looking forward to racing with TRG-AMR this weekend!”
Kevin Buckler, CEO, TRG-AMR North America: “This is going to be a great weekend for us – we’ve got five strong drivers gunning for the win in GTS and defending our win from last year, but one of the big surprises for this weekend is Christina! When halfway through the test last week my engineers turned to me and said “She’s good… really good.” That ended up being the understatement of the week. She came here to learn the car and learn the track and focus on everything we told her to do and she did all of that and more. At the end of the day her times were on top of James’ and mine and we were just blown away… she’s fast and she’s going to surprise a lot of the guys this weekend. At that point there was only one thing left to do, and I gave her my seat because I have to admit I am really going to enjoy watching this one unfold… She has so much talent and also brings so much to the series. Her father is a friend of mine and has run with us in the past and I’ve always enjoyed their dedication to racing. It’s great to have Christina racing for TRG-AMR this weekend, and I am really looking forward to her big debut in the Pirelli World Challenge event here at Sonoma. I guarantee she’s going to turn more than a few heads this weekend and we’re going to make sure of it.”