Races

Here you will find up to date race information for the Blancpain Endurance Championship 2013 and other racing events I will be competing in.



READ MORE >>

Profile

Peter continues with JRM in the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series. He will also race at the Nürgurgring 24hrs and head back to Le Mans 24 hours as an Aston Martin factory driver.

READ MORE >>

Gallery

Visit my online gallery where you can view photographs from throughout my career both past and present including championships in GT1, LMS, Le-Mans 24 hours, Super GT and DTM.

READ MORE >>

Links

For information about my teams; JRM Honda, Falken Porsche and my sponsors along with other useful links to relevant resources on the internet visit the links section of my website.

READ MORE >>

LATEST NEWS

ASTON MARTIN SECURES DOUBLE WEC PODIUM AT SPA

Spa-Francorchamps, 4 May 2013 - Aston Martin Racing has finished second in both GTE classes at round two of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
The Gulf-liveried #98 Vantage GTE Pro car, driven by Bruno Senna (BR), Fred Makowiecki (FR) and Rob Bell (GB), took second place in the six-hour race following a competitive performance by all three drivers. Their prospects of challenging for the race win were dashed when an untimely safety car interruption caused them to fall behind their competitors in the early stages of the race.
Danish GTE Am trio Allan Simonsen, Kristian Poulsen and Christoffer Nygaard also finished second in class having pushed their 2012-specification #95 Vantage GTE to its limits for the duration of the six hours. The result completed a double podium success for Aston Martin Racing and backs up the #95 car’s convincing race win at the season opener at Silverstone.
The #97 Vantage GTE Pro car of Darren Turner (GB), Stefan Mücke (D) and Peter Dumbreck (GB) was unable to repeat its Silverstone victory as its also fell foul of the early safety car period. Having shown competitive pace through the weekend, it narrowly missed out on the podium to finish fourth in class as the chequered flag fell. Pedro Lamy (PT), Paul Dalla Lana (CN) and Aston Martin Racing newcomer Richie Stanaway (NZ) finished in seventh in the identical #99 car.
In the GTE Am class, the #96 car piloted by Jamie Campbell-Walter (GB), Stuart Hall (GB) and Roald Goethe (D) finished fourth in a highly competitive pack of nine cars.
Bruno Senna comments: “It’s a great result and we’re pleased to get so many points in the bag, but we also had a lot of bad luck today. The safety car came out after the Ferrari had pitted and before we had, so it played to their advantage. Still, we adapted our strategy and double stinted our tyres. It worked well and we made up time but we just didn’t have a enough left in the tyres for Fred to catch the lead Ferrari.”
Rob Bell comments: “It’s fantastic to get a podium on my first race with Aston Martin. However, we always race to win so we’re not completely happy. What we have proven is that we have the pace to be competitive at Le Mans and that Bruno, Fred and I work well as a team; we’ve really gelled.”
Allan Simonsen adds: “We had bad luck today and it cost us the win, but getting second place points to add to our win at Silverstone has given us a solid start to the season. We are leading the GTE Am class and that’s a strong position to be in so early on in the season. We are looking forward to challenging for the win at Le Mans.”
John Gaw, Team Principal at Aston Martin Racing comments: “Like at Silverstone, we came here with the objective of scoring maximum points and preparing thoroughly for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Unfortunately, the timing of an early safety car effectively ended our hopes of repeating the Silverstone double victory, but surprisingly we were able, with the reliability and pace of the cars, to almost close back the full half lap we lost.
“As expected, our competitors have made significant steps forward since Silverstone so we look forward to getting back to the workshop and working on the cars ahead of Le Mans. We are particularly encouraged to once again to finish the weekend without a single issue with any of the cars. The drivers - having had an error-free weekend - are, like the cars, well prepared for the 24-hour race.
“Thanks to all the team and partners who have enabled us to head into the most demanding race of the year leading the championship.”
The FIA World Endurance Championship resumes with the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 22/23 June. The five Aston Martin Vantage GTEs – which all share their bonded aluminium structures and basic engine and suspension architecture with Aston Martin’s sportiest road-going model, the V8 Vantage – will next be on track at the Le Mans test day on 9 June. Keep up to date with the latest from the team at www.astonmartin.com/racing, on Facebook www.facebook.com/astonmartinracing and on Twitter using @AMR_Official.
- ENDS -

JMB Racing to field JRM-prepared Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 in GT Tour season opener

A further Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 will be out in action this weekend as JRM Racing will supply Monegasque racing team JMB Racing with one 550bhp V6 turbo car for use in the opening round of the 2013 French GT Tour at the famed Le Mans Bugatti circuit on 27 – 28 April.
 
JRM has been the official development partner of the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 for NISMO since 2011. The race at Le Mans is the first time the marque has participated in the French championship and adds to the group of Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3s currently racing in sportscar series across Europe. JRM fields two cars in the highly subscribed Blancpain Endurance Series; one crewed by Lucas Luhr, Peter Dumbreck and Steven Kane in the Pro car category, with a sister car driven by Matt Bell, Charles Bateman and Humaid Al-Masaood in the Pro-Am class. JRM also ran two Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3s in the British GT championship opener, while a further two cars contest the FIA GT Series and Blancpain Endurance Series with Nissan GT Academy Team RJN.
 
JMB, who are based at the Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France, will field the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 in the first event of the seven round French sportscar series, which also includes races at Magny-Cours, Paul Ricard, Lédenon and Le Vigeant plus two international races in Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and Imola (Italy).
 
The Le Mans entry will be crewed by Nismo Athlete Alex Buncombe and JMB team owner Nicolas Misslin. Alex will use his extensive experience of Nissan GT-R technology, having been the professional team-mate to the Nissan GT Academy graduates since 2008. The Englishman is currently contesting the FIA GT Series and Blancpain Endurance Series with the latest alumni.
 
James Rumsey, Executive Director of JRM, commented, ‘Over the past two years we have worked extremely hard with Nissan and Nismo to make the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 as competitive as possible and we have made major steps forward in driveability and outright speed, thereby making the car a strong prospect to win championships. Driver feedback has been very positive, and the car has proved very reliable at the start of this season.
 
‘That JMB, a team with a great prestige and history in the sport, has enough confidence in the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 to use it in its return to the French championship is extremely positive. We will now work with the team to ensure the car is built to our exacting standards, and that we support the car and the JMB Racing team in the first race of the championship so they may find the additional funding to run the car for the remaining races of the season.’
 
Nicolas Misslin, owner of JMB Racing, commented, ‘JMB Racing is proud to enter a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 in the opening round of the GT Tour championship and to start a new collaboration with JRM. Ultimately our aim is to put the Nissan GT-R on the podium as many times as possible this year and to fight for the championship next year. To do that, we can rely on the full support of JRM, the official partner of NISMO and on the expertise of the JMB team. We go to Le Mans confident of a good result that will be the defining factor to secure our funding for the remainder of the season.’
 
About JMB Racing
JMB Racing was created in 1995 and has secured 19 titles to date, including three Sports Prototype World Cups in 1998, 1999 and 2000, a drivers’ title in the N-GT class of the FIA GT Championship in 2001 and 2002 plus the Le Mans Endurance Series drivers’ title in 2004. In 2011 JMB Racing won both driver and team titles of the Open GT Championship. The team has also competed in the Andros Trophy, FIA GT Championship as well as the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours, Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours.
 
About JRM Racing
JRM Racing has been the official partner of NISMO since 2011. Over this two year period the Daventry-based team has worked hand in hand with the Japanese manufacturer to optimize the car’s handling and performance for competitive use in domestic and international sportscar championships. Since its creation in 2010, JRM has experienced success in each of the categories it has entered. Last season it finished its debut Le Mans 24 Hours campaign in sixth overall with a Honda HPD ARX-03a and also finished third in the privateer standings in the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2011 JRM took the German pairing of Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr to victory in the FIA GT1 Championship using Nissan GT1 GT-Rs.

JRM Racing ends a reliable first race weekend at Monza

14 April 2013 – JRM Racing finished its Blancpain Endurance Series debut race in 12th position in the PRO class and 10th in the PRO-AM class today at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy. The trio of Peter Dumbreck, Lucas Luhr and Steven Kane in the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 #23 and the #230 of Matt Bell, Charles Bateman and Humaid Al Masaood were reliable throughout the entire weekend.
 
Another bright and sunny day welcomed the team to the track. The Qualifying session took place in the morning, with all three drivers of both cars #23 and #230 going out to set a time. Peter Dumbreck in the #23 set a fastest time of 1:49.484 to put the car 14th in class on the grid for the race. Matt Bell's fastest lap (1:49.697) meant the #230 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 started the race 16th in PRO-AM class.
 
Peter and Humaid both got off to a good start and completed the first lap safely, staying out of trouble. Both the #23 and #230 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 cars soon started to climb up the field and gain places. At the end of his stint Peter had gained a total of 28 laps and was running at a very good pace. After an hour, both Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3's pitted, with Peter handing the #23 over to Lucas and Charles getting into the #230 after Humaid had completed the first 32 laps of the race.
 
Exactly halfway through the race the Safety Car was deployed and on that same lap Lucas had to pit due to a puncture. Unfortunately Lucas lost the positions he had gained, but as soon as he rejoined the race he got up to speed and started recovering positions. Meanwhile, the #230 with Charles at the wheel of the car was running at a constant pace in mid-field.
 
Steven and Matt were at the wheel of the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 for the final hour of the race. They drove consistently to the end and brought both the #23 and #230 cars home safely, demonstrating great reliability.
 
The second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series championship will take place at the beginning of June in Silverstone.

Qualifying:      Car #23          19 laps completed        Fastest lap: 1:49.484          (PD)     +1.1secs

Race:  Position in PRO Class: 12th

Peter Dumbreck, Car #23:
“It hasn't been the best of starts for us, but this is only our first race with the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. The first lap of the race was always going to be very busy and I was right in the middle of it. To be honest, I think everyone was trying to take it easy and nobody really did anything too stupid. We got through without any problems and I was soon able to pass some cars and bring us up a bit. I looked after the tyres well and during the second half of my stint I seemed to be able to catch the cars in front, so I just had my head down and had a little bit of space behind me, so I was able to push and catch the cars up. I got caught out with one of the lapped cars and lost a couple of places, but I was pitting the next lap anyway so it didn't cost me much. It's a shame that we pitted at the same time as the cars next door – it cost us a bit of time. But it was a good stint during which we gained a lot of places. The car has a great straight line speed and is quick in the fast corners, even though we've got some work to do in the slow corners.”
 
Lucas Luhr, Car #23:
“It hasn't been the best of days as we were struggling with the set-up and we were lacking a bit of pace during the race. We also had a problem with my tyre which didn't help as I had to do an extra pit-stop when the Safety Car was out on track... Overall we still have some work to do. I am sure we will get there and this is only our first race of the Championship, but it's just a little bit frustrating as the car has a lot of potential and we were very quick down the straights.”
 
Steven Kane, Car #23:
“It was a very hot race. It was great to finally get out there. We struggled a bit this weekend but I think we've got a lot of good areas to work on. It's a learning curve for the whole team and we just have to take it one step at a time. We're still learning and I think the performance is in there, we just need to drag it out.”

Nigel Stepney, Team Manager and Chief engineer:
“It hasn't been the start to the season we were hoping for, but we've learned a lot over the weekend. The Blancpain Endurance Series are proving to be a very competitive championship. Our qualifying made the race very difficult and things just didn't go our way. We've got to look at the positives – we have demonstrated once again that the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 is a reliable car and we have plenty of data to go through and this will only make us better. All six drivers did an excellent job on track and we will come back stronger and better for the next race in Silverstone.”
 
James Rumsey, Team Principal:
“This is only our first race weekend and it’s good to start it in such a reliable way. The Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 has proven once again that it's not only fast but reliable. We had very high expectations and even though the race didn't end as we thought it would, we can be satisfied with our job this weekend. We have some work to do during the following weeks but the car is fast and the drivers worked well together for the first time and held a good fight out on track. Unfortunately Lucas had to pit because of a puncture, so we lost some time, but all in all it’s been an interesting weekend for us and we just need to carry on working as hard as we already are. The team has done an excellent job throughout the weekend and I am confident that the results will soon be even better.”

JRM Racing set for Blancpain Endurance Series opener in Monza

RM Racing will be out in action this weekend in the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at the Autodromo di Monza, Italy. JRM will field two Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 cars in the series this year. The Pro Car entry (# 23) will be shared between an exciting driver line-up of Lucas Luhr – who returns to the team following his FIA GT1 World Championship title in 2011 – and Peter Dumbreck, who raced in the Daventry-based team’s FIA World Endurance Championship campaign in 2012. Joining Peter and Lucas will be Northern Irishman, Steven Kane.
The sister Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 (# 230) will be driven by Matt Bell, Charles Bateman and Humaid Al-Masaood in the Pro-Am category.
The two entries will face stiff competition, with a bumper grid of 62 cars expected at Monza. Lucas, Peter and Steven will race amongst 22 Pro entries in the three-hour race on Sunday – more than double the average number of entries in 2011.
‘We have a very tough weekend ahead of us!’ commented JRM team principal, James Rumsey. ‘To be racing against more than 60 cars, and some of the most competitive teams and drivers in Europe will be a stern test for the team and the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. All the same we are confident about what we can do. We had a very positive first outing with the cars in the British GT championship over the Easter weekend, just missing out on points. The reliability of the car was also excellent, which stands us in very good stead. We’ve got very aggressive targets this year so we need to be competitive from the off.’
Team manager and chief engineer, Nigel Stepney, believes the 5.793km Monza track will show off the strongest characteristics of the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. ‘Monza is obviously a power track, with its wide open straights and long periods of time at full throttle. We know that this is one of the strengths of the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 from our experience of the car in testing, and also the GT1 car, from which the GT3 is derived. The car works very well on the long straights where it gets to stretch its legs. Therefore we are hoping for a good start and to be on the pace – and in the points – with both cars from the start of the season.’
Lucas Luhr got behind the wheel of the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 at a test in Snetterton a couple of weeks ago and eagerly anticipates his return to JRM: ‘I first drove the car at the test in Snetterton a couple of weeks ago so I don’t have a lot of experience with it just yet, but it seemed like a very capable and positive car. My first impressions were quite good. I know the team very well from the win in 2011 and with Nigel, Peter and Steven I think we have a good working group. With this background I hope we will be quick from the beginning.
 
‘The last time I drove at Monza was in 2004 in a Porsche GT2 but I love the track; it’s very special with the park and the history. This weekend is going to be a good challenge – there are so many cars out there it will be a great championship. I followed it last year and look forward to making my debut this weekend.’
 
Joining Lucas in the Pro Car is Scot Peter Dumbreck, who aided development of the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 throughout 2011 and rejoins JRM after its inaugural WEC campaign last year, ‘I’m really looking forward to this weekend. There are so many cars out there – it is definitely the hardest and most competitive sportscar championship in Europe at the moment. Both the Pro and the Pro Am class are full of good cars and drivers – some of whom I’ve raced with over the years – so both the win and points are up for grabs. It should be a lot of fun, particularly with the car we have. We’ve had a bit of testing and the overall promise seems good. There’s some work to do over the weekend but everyone else is in exactly the same position – it’s going to be an interesting challenge.’
 
Northern Irishman Steven Kane joins forces with Lucas and Peter as the final driver in the Pro car. ‘This team is the GT1 World Champion, one of the best teams, not only in Britain but also in the world in terms of GT racing, so it’s a pleasure to drive here. You can already see that there's good speed and that it's a car we can race with and be fast. It certainly has great potential and the aim this year is clearly to win races. I'm really looking forward to the start of the season – we just need to do our best to stay out of trouble and keep our noses clean at every race and I'm confident we will be very strong throughout the year.’
 
Geordie racer Matt Bell brings his experience of Blancpain to the team, as he contests the Pro Am class with Charles and Humaid. ‘This season I think we’ve got a car to do well. The Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 has shown good potential so far in testing, we just need to get in there and unlock it even more. Knowing this is actually very positive going into the race weekend – we’ve got a good basis and there is even more to come. From what we’ve seen in testing the car seems to be quick in high-speed sections and straights, which should really suit Monza. I’m looking forward to getting out and going racing – it’s going to be hard with so many cars on track, but we’ll do our best to bring the car to the finish and in the points.’
 
Racing alongside Matt for the second season is Boston-born Charles Bateman. ‘It's good to be back in the car with Matt. We get on really well, we pushed each other last year and we can build on it. Obviously it’s a new team and a new car, but having the same team-mate is always a bonus. I got a run in the car at Ricard and Snetterton and it feels like a very good car so we’ll try our hardest to be best in class. I think we've got the car to do that, as well as the driver line-up so we've got a good shot at the Pro-Am Championship. We've just got to keep our noses clean in the longer races and hope it will come to us.’
 
Humaid Al Masaood meanwhile anticipates his first race in the Blancpain Endurance Championship: ‘I’m looking forward to this weekend immensely. Due to other commitments it will be the first time I’ll have driven the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 but I’ve been following the progress over the winter very closely. I’m also looking forward to meeting Matt and Charles and getting to know the team. We know it will be a very steep learning curve but I have every confidence in the work Matt and Charles have put in over the winter.’
 
The weekend is split over two days. On Saturday there will be a one hour practice session for bronze drivers, in which Humaid will participate. Following this there will then be two further 1.5 hour practice sessions. The one-hour Qualifying takes place on Sunday morning, with the quickest lap time of each car deciding the grid for the later three-hour race.
 

EXCEPTIONAL ENTRY TO OPEN BIGGEST AND BEST EVER BLANCPAIN ENDURANCE SERIES SEASON AT MONZA

60 CARS GET SET FOR 2013 SEASON BLAST OFF
• Huge grid descends on famous Monza track
• Multiple brands start intense battle for 2013 titles
• New teams and drivers join series in all classes
• Blancpain Endurance Series once again the benchmark in global GT racing
The world’s best supported and most competitive GT competition, the Blancpain Endurance Series bursts in to life at the mythical Autodromo Nazionale Di Monza this weekend, 13-14 April. Since its inaugural season in 2011, the Blancpain Endurance Series has been a notable success story in motorsport, attracting large, quality and diverse grids.
61 potent GT3 cars, entered by some of the most professional teams and driven by a host of distinguished and highly skilled professional racers are set to entertain and thrill once again at Monza. Action in the PRO Cup, PRO-AM Cup and Gentlemen’s Trophy is guaranteed on the ultra-fast, slipstreaming circuit, just north of Milan.
After a sensational 2012 season, the Blancpain Endurance Series will be bigger and better this season as teams from 13 different countries race in 9 of the most recognised prestige racing brands on the planet. Upwards of 180 drivers will be in action at Monza, with 36 teams competing. Recognised and established big name drivers will be joined this year by a new generation of young and hungry chargers, who will be determined to stamp their mark on the Blancpain Endurance Series.
Five exciting rounds will be held this season, all taking place on world-class racing facilities in Europe. Monza this weekend is followed by Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, on June 1-2. Paul Ricard follows on June 29-30, before the biggest and most celebrated endurance test takes place at the legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit from 24-28 July. The fabled Total 24 Hours of Spa will see an even larger grid as one of the summers best racing festivals bursts in to life in the Ardennes forest. The season concludes with a return to the racing calendar of the illustrious Nurburgring 1000kms on September 21-22, where a memorable finale will take place.
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST HERE

PRO CUP – The competition goes up several levels for 2013
The title winners from 2012, Belgian Audi Club Team WRT are back with a three car strong Audi R8 LMS ultra attack. Their on-track rivals from last season - Marc VDS Racing, return with a pair of BMW Z4s, drafting in new works BMW driver, Yelmer Buurman. Bas Leinders will be hoping to re-create the superb victory of 2012 when he, Maxime Martin and Markus Palttala took a memorable win in wet conditions.
Gulf Racing, Hexis Racing and ART Grand Prix head the McLaren attack, as the F1 constructor looks to mount a title challenge after an exhaustive development programme during the winter. Gulf look very strong with a stellar driver line-up of Adam Carroll, Nico Verdock and Rob Bell, while Hexis Racing’s famously slick pit work and trio of Alvaro Parente, Alexander Sims and Stef Dusseldorp, looks very intimidating too.
Nissan commit a renewed programme to the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2013, as JRM team enter a very potent looking PRO Cup class Nissan GT3-R NISMO GT3 for Peter Dumbreck, Steven Kane and Lucas Luhr.
Further PRO Cup challenges from a host of familiar teams will come in the shape of SMG Challenge and Prospeed Competition with their Porsche 997 GT3Rs and Phoenix Racing with a pair of Audi R8 LMS ultras. Included in their ranks is reigning GT1 World Champion, Markus Winkelhock and works Audi driver, Oliver Jarvis.
The Vita4one Racing team also recently announced a planned two-car entry with their familiar BMW Z4s planned for Monza, including a series debut for their new driver and reigning Italian GT champion, Alberto Colombo in the PRO Cup class. A second BMW Z4 is entered for Monza with Argentine driver, Matias Russo being joined by Stefano Cressoni and Czech racer, Martin Matzke.
Variety is the spice of racing life in the Blancpain Endurance Series as the ‘tifosi’ will have the Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 Italia to cheer on at Monza with the very pacey Daniel Zampieiri and Davide Rigon staying with the team for another season. Another Ferrari worth watching will be the Vita4one Italia 458 Italia, which posted a late entry to join the party at their home circuit.
The Russian Ferrari of SMP Racing also looks strong with former World Series by Renault champion, Mikhail Aleshin among its driver strength.
Fortec Motorsport brings two Mercedes SLS AMG GT3s to Monza after making their GT debut at Oulton Park in the British GT Series last weekend. The Richard Dutton led team has branched out in to GT racing this season and plan to race both cars in the PRO Cup class this year.
PRO-AM CUP – ‘Backbone of the series’ is bigger and better for 2013
The thrilling and ultra-competitive PRO-AM Cup also gets bigger and better in 2013 as a host of new and exciting teams and drivers join the loyal and regular entries.
A massive 28 car field in PRO-AM Cup will make-up this intriguing class, where a rich verity of professional and amateur categorised drivers race together, creating some fascinating racing strategies over the 3-hour event.
2012 champions, AF Corse, will be back to defend their crown in 2013 and they will have to fight off some very competitive looking propositions. Reigning champions Louis Machiels and Niek Hommerson are again joined by Andrea Bertolini and will be doing everything possible to defend their crown from the very start.
Blancpain Racing keeps the continuity of Marc A.Hayek and Peter Kox this season. The familiar duo has a new-look and newly developed Lamborghini this season with the Lamboghini Gallardo GT3 FLII. The spectacular and popular machine has looked strong in testing and will once again be in the hunt for strong class performances in 2013.
Boutsen-Ginion laid down an impressive marker at Paul Ricard during the official test days last month. New recruit Frederic Vervisch looks like he might be the find of the season. He shares PRO-AM McLaren with Koen Wauters and David Dermont.
No fewer than 10 Ferrari 458s are entered in the PRO AM Cup class meaning that the ‘Tifosi’ are likely to be in full song as they support their national manufacturer on home ground.
Sure to be challenging for big points, if not the class win at Monza, will be the distinctive Haribo Racing Porsche 997GT3R with Emmanuel Collard, Mike Stursberg and Hans-Guido Riegel sharing the cockpit. More Porches will be out in force with Pro GT by Almeras entering two and Prospeed Competition one respectively.
New teams that have been attracted to the spirit and ambience of the Blancpain Endurance Series this season include former Touring Car legend, Roberto Ravaglia’s ROAL Motorsport team and French outfit, TDS Racing, who enter a BMW Z4 each. MRS (Molitor Racing Systems) is another fresh face to the series, with a McLaren MP4-12C confirmed for the 2013 season, with American driver Rodin Younessi joined by Phillip Eng and Carlo Kray.
The fascinating ‘gamers to racers’ story of the GT Academy initiative comes to the Blancpain Endurance Series this season with two Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3s race in the PRO-AM class, as they continue to test their most recent recruits on the International scene.
Keeping the truly International flavour in the Blancpain Endurance Series, all-Russian and all-Argentine driver trios will be seen this season. From Russia come the SMP Ferrari team with a full squad of promising Russian drivers, including well known International pedigree drivers, Sergey Zlobin and Dani Move. From Argentina come Diego Menedez, Fabian Taroborelli and Jorge Ginaz who are entered by M-Tech Racing. A second M-Tech Ferrari will be run for Welsh youngster, Jake Rattenbury, Canadian – Andrew Danyliw and ex Von Ryan driver, Stephen Jelley.
GENTLEMEN’S TROPHY – Enhanced competition for 2013
Keeping in line with the theme of continuous improvement in the Blancpain Endurance Series, the Gentlemen Trophy is set to enter its most competitive season in 2013.
An 11 car field is entered at Monza with some of the series best teams ready to lock horns. SOFREV ASP brings two Ferrari 458 Italia’s to the class with very strong driver line-ups. Gabriel Balthazard/Maurice Ricci and team owner, Jerome Policand race the #10 Ferrari, while in the sister car, Jean-Luc Beaubelique is joined by Patrice Goueslard and Jean-Luc Blanchemain.
2012 title winners Sainteloc Racing enter an Audi R8 LMS ultra, while Boutsen-Ginion field a McLaren MP4-12C for experienced Saudi Arabian driver, Karim Oijeh and one of the two female racers in this year’s series Marlene Broggi.
The only Mercedes in the Gentlemens Trophy class is entered by Black Falcon with 2012 champion Robert Hissom returning to defend his title with British driver Oliver Morley and newcomer Andre Lebed.
The German team have fought back from a testing accident at Paul Ricard last month and look to be one of the pre-season favourites to challenge for the title in 2013.
Sport Garage bring two Ferrari 458 Italia’s, the French team showing a strong statement of intent to chase class wins with drivers Georges Cabanne and Lionel Comole among the nominated drivers.
Vita4one Italia are back with the popular duo of Giacomo Petrobelli and Eugenio Amos who came so close to last year's title after a strong season.
Porsche are well represented in the Gentlemen Trophy class with PRO GT by Almeras and Delahaye Racing bringing 997 GT3Rs to Monza. The ARC Bratislava team returns to the Blancpain Endurance Series with Oman’s premier racing driver, Ahmad Al Harty making his series debut in the Slovakian based team's Porsche. Many of the Gentlemen Trophy entered drivers will get an hour of running on Saturday morning with the Bronze test session starting at 9am cet.
The Monza weekend is always a popular and busy weekend and this year sees a feast of action as the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo will also provide guaranteed action at their home track with two races on Sunday.
Free Practice for the Blancpain Endurance Series takes place at 11.20cet on Saturday followed by Pre-Qualifying at 15.00am. Qualifying for the Blancpain Endurance Series cars takes place at 10.35am on Sunday morning followed by the big race at 14.15cet.
QUOTES
Marc A. Hayek, #24 Blancpain Racing Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 FL II
"With over 60 entries at Monza it is going to be a thrilling race for sure. I cannot wait to find myself back behind the wheel and confront the other drivers. The level of the championship is getting better year after year, and this new season will certainly lead to a lot of developments and surprises.
“For its third year, the Blancpain Endurance Series has become the reference in the GT world, and Blancpain is proud of being at the origin of this success."
Andy Soucek, #11 ART Grand Prix McLaren MP4-12C
“Things are coming together nicely for us at ART Grand Prix. We had a useful test at Magny Cours last week and although the weather was not too good we did some useful work and it was productive. Between us all we can achieve some great things this season.”
Bas Leinders, #3 Marc VDS Racing Team BMW Z4
“The Paul Ricard test was positive for us last month and we were just off our qualifying time from 2012. We haven’t had a major upgrade like some of our competitors have but we are in good shape and looking forward to the season. We have one new driver with Yelmer (Buurman) but we have also improved our engineering staff, so it is going to be interesting to see where we are at Monza.”
Lucas Luhr, #23 JRM Nissan GT3-R NISMO
“We had a good shakedown test in Snetterton last week. It was my first time driving the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 so it was good to get some laps before we go to Monza. Working with all the JRM boys again is great as it brings back many memories of 2011 when we won the FIA GT1 World Championship together. I have not been to Monza since I think 2004 so I am looking forward to going back to Italy to race. It will also be my first Blancpain event and it is a very impressive grid, with lots of good drivers and teams so I think the racing will be very competitive.”
Marlene Broggi, #15 Boutsen-Ginion McLaren MP4-12C
“I am so happy to be in the Blancpain Endurance Series and also in the Boutsen-Ginion team. The level of competitiveness in the Series is really high but the test we had at Paul Ricard was very good for me, especially getting some very useful advice from Karim (Oijeh) who has lots of experience.”
Steve Doherty, #32 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN Nissan GT3-R NISMO
“I am really looking forward to the Blancpain Series! It is some of the best GT racing in the world, I'm very proud and excited to be a part of it.
“As it is one of the highest levels of GT racing, in no way does it look easy! It will be a big challenge for sure. Trial by fire for me and Peter.
“I am also super excited for Monza, There was a game at an arcade that I used to play all the time growing up. I pretty much exclusively used the Monza circuit in this game, so it will be a huge dream come true for me to actually get to race there! It’s a fantastic circuit.”
Blancpain - Over 275 years of tradition in motion:
Founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, the watch brand bearing his name is the oldest in the world. Blancpain is currently engaged to the renewal of mechanical watchmaking and to passing on exceptional expertise from one generation to the next  through constant investment in human resources, production facilities and research. This approach is its strength and the expression of our long-term vision, even though it goes against the tide of a certain tendency to seek immediate profit.
From the creation of components through to watch design, Blancpain is distinguished by its ability to develop exceptional movements. Over the past seven years, the Manufacture has indeed developed no less than 26 new calibres.
Through its various models, Blancpain preserves its heritage of precision and elegance, while also displaying an innovative and occasionally provocative spirit. Its range encompasses the sportive L-evolution line, the legendary Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch, as well as the classic Villeret collection, the high complication from Le Brassus collection and the feminine Women models.
Pirelli – Official Tyre Supplier to the Blancpain Endurance Series
Pirelli is a tyre manufacturer and world leader in the automotive industry. It has an exclusive relationship with over 50 racing series worldwide, including Formula One.
Pirelli has a long and illustrious history in endurance racing, and has also claimed a huge variety of class wins in GT racing all over the world.
The design of the new Pirelli GT tyres meets the needs of the Blancpain Endurance Series while maintaining the performance characteristics that endurance drivers have appreciated in the past.
The slick tyres used for GT racing are branded P Zero: just like the slicks that have become a central feature of Formula One. The name P Zero is used in the highest categories of motorsport such as GT racing.
For live text commentary of all sessions please click on to www.twitter.com/BES_GT and follow #MonzaGT
 
 

website by Raspberry Creative