TRG-AMR Planning GTD Return in 2016

Photo: IMSA

While today’s announcement of Aston Martin’s factory supported partnership for Pirelli World Challenge triggered questions over its involvement in IMSA, TRG-AMR has revealed plans of returning to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for next year as well.

Team principal Kevin Buckler confirmed to Sportscar365 that an agreement between Aston Martin and IMSA to become an official Automotive Partner — a requirement for participation in GT Daytona next year — is currently being finalized.

“I’m fairly sure we’re going to get our IMSA manufacturers agreement done,” Buckler told Sportscar365. “We’ve been having very positive meetings with Aston, us and IMSA over the last couple of days.

“We’ll try to follow up next week with our factory support program on the IMSA side.”

While having finished runner-up in the GTD championship this year with Christina Nielsen, the Silver-rated Dane is understood to be exploring other options for 2016, leaving Buckler with a seat to fill for WeatherTech Championship program.

However, he’s remained bullish on the possibilities for next year in GTD, which transforms to GT3-specification machinery.

“I’m fairly certain the IMSA program is going to happen,” Buckler said. “It’s just a matter of putting the drivers in and doing all of that stuff.

“The factory support program will be there and we’ll be at Daytona. As the silly season progresses, we’re working on our GTD plans for the rest of the year. We have some great possibilities.”

Buckler believes Aston Martin’s factory support program, which will include on-site engineering assistance, spare part support and other benefits, will help grow the brand’s customer base in North America.

“It’s a clever way to show our support for our customers and nobody else is doing it,” he said. “When we’re a small brand, you have to come up with a [different] approach.

“We’ve run the program in the U.S. and if any customers want to run an independent program, we want them to feel comfortable that they have the full force of the factory behind them.

“With everything going on [at Aston Martin] with new management and the new products coming, it’s perfect timing.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John