- Quartet of international talents to join forces in Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by Team Motopark
- German squad brings proven track record of developing young drivers
- Aspiring professionals on four continents vying for fully funded prize seat
An international crew of SRO GT Academy graduates will compete for class victory at next year's 24 Hours of Spa. The identity of the team that will run them has now been confirmed, with Team Motopark selected to oversee the prize winners’ Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The line-up will comprise one representative each from the continental GT World Challenge powered by AWS series in America, Asia and Australia, as well as British GT. The car is provisionally set to compete in either the Gold Cup or the Silver Cup, both fiercely contested classes featuring some of the brightest talents in global GT racing.
Best known for its success in single-seaters, Team Motopark has more recently expanded into GT racing and made its first appearance at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa this summer. Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, Liam Lawson, Brendon Hartley and Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Lucas Auer are just some of the drivers who cut their teeth with Timo Rumpfkeil’s team, while many others have progressed to Formula 1, IndyCar, and the highest levels of sportscar racing.
“We are delighted that SRO has chosen Team Motopark, a Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Team, for this special project,” said Stefan Wendl, the Head of Customer Racing at Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. “The team has a proven track record of developing young talent, including drivers who have gone on to become established names in international motorsport.”
“We are honoured to be chosen by SRO to be part of this unique project," said Timo Rumpfkeil, Team Principal and Owner of Team Motopark. "I trust that, with our experience of promoting young talent we can add a lot of value. Together with SRO we are creating a comprehensive programme to ensure that the SRO GT Academy graduates will receive the maximum support possible.”
“As an experienced professional outfit with a growing reputation in GT racing, Team Motopark was the ideal candidate to field our SRO GT Academy entry at next year’s 24 Hours of Spa,” added SRO Motorsports Group Founder & CEO Stéphane Ratel. "Their record of working with young talents is truly exceptional and I am certain they will provide our winning drivers with an opportunity to shine."
With the season approaching its conclusion, the leading candidates for the SRO GT Academy seat have emerged in each series. Tom Sargent, Yu Kuai and Oscar Targett lead the standings in GT World Challenge America, Asia and Australia respectively, while Jarrod Waberski tops the British GT table.
The SRO GT Academy judges drivers on factors such as speed and consistency, shifting the focus from results to performance in an effort to unearth the best all-round talents. It launched last year in Championnat de France FFSA GT, with Gaspard Simon emerging as the star performer.
It has expanded this year to include the 24 Hours of Spa seat in a Team Motopark-run Mercedes-AMG, as well as a third element in the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, where SRO GT Academy candidates are competing for a GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup berth with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. The team running this car will be announced at a later date.
MEDIA INFORMATION
SRO GT Academy Manager: Abi Hay | abi.hay@sro-motorsports.com
SRO MOTORSPORTS GROUP
With more than 30 years' experience at the forefront of a continuously evolving industry, SRO Motorsports Group is the established leader in global GT racing. The company has developed a diverse portfolio of international and domestic series spanning Europe, America, Asia and Australia, with categories catering for GT1, GT2, GT3, GT4 and touring car machinery. Since 2001 it has overseen stewardship of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, helping to return the event to a position of global significance. SRO also works with the FIA to organise and promote the FIA Motorsport Games, a multi-disciplinary concept in which drivers compete in the colours of their national flag. The company is led by its founder, Stéphane Ratel, with offices in London, Paris, Rome, Melbourne, Liège, Hong Kong and the United States.