AMR Confirms Drivers for Three-Car WEC Program

Aston Martin Racing confirmed on Thursday it will once again field three V8 Vantage GTE cars across GTE-Pro and GTE-Am for the FIA World Endurance Championship season.

Defending WEC GT Drivers’ champions Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen will again co-drive the No. 95 GTE-Pro entry, while Brits Darren Turner and Jonny Adam will team up in the No. 97 car.

Two-time defending British GT champion Adam sees his role with the team increase having only competed three times in the WEC last season.

“Partnering with Darren is something I’m very much looking forward to,” Adam said.

“We’ve raced together on and off for the past couple of years, so it’s incredibly exciting to announce that I’ll be joining someone with that experience and speed on a full time basis.

“He’s a great ambassador on and off the track for Aston Martin and we work well together. We both drive in a similar style and get the best out of each other and the car and I think that will shape up to be a great partnership this year.

“Bahrain last year was promising after qualifying on pole and leading big parts of the race and I see no reason why we can’t carry that through to this season. To have Marco and Nicki who are at the top of their game in the sister car is fantastic too.”

Turner partnered with Richie Stanaway after a post-Le Mans driver reshuffle last year, but no word has been made yet on the Kiwi’s 2017 program, nor that of Fernando Rees.

Meanwhile, defending world champion Thiim said he is eager to get back to the track and defend his title.

“The winter break has been long and I can’t wait to get started again,” he said. For me, the best racing at the moment is in the GT championships where the cars are so close and well balanced.

“Our rivals have more motivation than ever to prove themselves against us and we’ll be right there doing our best to keep ourselves and Aston Martin at the front throughout the season.”

Alongside the WEC season, Thiim will also join TF Sport in the European Le Mans Series.

The No. 98 GTE-Am entry will be piloted by the familiar trio of Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy, and Mathias Lauda which won five times en route to a third-place result in the 2016 WEC GTE-Am team championship.

Third drivers for the GTE-Pro entries will be announced at a later date.

Jake Kilshaw contributed to this report.