High Class to Run Brabham GT2 Concept at Paul Ricard

High Class Racing will run the Brabham BT63 GT2 Concept in this weekend’s Fanatec GT2 European Series round at Paul Ricard for Brabham’s debut in the SRO-run formula.

Brabham Automotive sporting director and 2009 Le Mans winner David Brabham will team up with High Class Racing LMP2 regular Dennis Andersen for the pair of 50-minute races in southern France.

High Class Racing is the GT2 European Series points leader with its Audi R8 LMS GT2 driven by Anders Fjordbach and Mark Patterson, but it will also assist with the running of Brabham’s new BT63 racer which is targeted for a GT2 homologation next year.

Brabham tested its BT63 GT2 Concept at Queensland Raceway last week, with 2017 Bathurst 1000 winner Luke Youlden behind the wheel.

The Australian company says the 5.2-liter V8-powered car’s aero package is modeled on that of the Brabham BT62 R, but with a redesigned rear diffuser, front splitter and wing.

“This represents a significant milestone in the growth of Brabham Automotive, similar to the win-on-debut of the Brabham BT62 when I crossed the finish line at Brands Hatch in 2019,” commented Brabham.

“The Fanatec GT2 European Series run by SRO will pose a wonderful test against some serious competition, a challenge we look forward to.

“We look forward to working with High Class Racing, and I look forward to driving with Dennis Andersen at this historic event for Brabham Automotive.”

Andersen is set for his first appearance in GT machinery since taking part in the single-make Renault Sport Trophy five years ago.

In recent years the Bronze-rated Dane has focused on prototype racing with High Class in the European Le Mans Series and, currently, the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“I am very happy to share this experience with a legend like David,” said Andersen.

“It will be my return to GT, a category I last raced in 2016, and I’m really looking forward to it.

“This event will be very important, not only for Brabham, as they are making their official debut in this category with the aim of racing the full season in 2022, but also to my teammates and friends Anders and Mark, as they are fighting for the title.

“We will do our best to help them to achieve their goal. Personally, I’m hoping to get used to the car quickly so that I can enjoy every session, and we’ll try to achieve the best possible results.”

Largest GT2 Grid of Season for Final Round

Brabham and Andersen form one of 16 driver lineups on the entry list for the GT2 European season finale, which has attracted the largest grid of the inaugural campaign.

A dozen cars entered the first, second and fourth rounds of the season at Monza, Hockenheim and Spa, while 10 cars took part in round three at Misano.

The Paul Ricard field involves nine cars in the top Pro-Am class and seven entries in Am.

New arrivals in addition to the Brabham include two Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo GT2s from Auto Vitesse and a second for Target Racing, another PK Carsport Audi and an invitational Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo run by Scuderia Ravetto & Ruberti.

Jens Liebhauser and Stienes Longin will drive the second R8 from PK Carsport, which has won three races this year with its full-season pairing of Bert Longin and Peter Guelinckx.

Auto Vitesse is competing in both the Pro-Am and Am classes, with its two-car Lamborghini entry spearheaded by the car driven by Cedric Leimer and Julien Piguet.

Target Racing’s Am Lamborghinis, which are converted from Super Trofeo spec to GT2, will be driven by Mauro Casadei/Stefan Thor Larssen and Jaromir Jirik/Han Huilin.

One-time European Le Mans Series LMP3 competitor Luca Demarchi and British racer JM Littman will team up in the SR&R Ferrari, which is not GT2 homologated.

Other entries include a contingent of four KTM X-Bow GT2s, and two Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsports run by Speed Factory Racing and LP Racing respectively.

LP Racing also has an Audi R8 LMS GT2 for Luca Pirri and SRO Motorsports Group founder and CEO Stephane Ratel, who is contesting the full GT2 European season.