R-Motorsport Confirms Two-Car Effort for Kyalami 9H

Photo: R-Motorsport

R-Motorsport will take part in November’s Kyalami 9 Hour as a precursor to a likely full-season effort in Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli next year, according to team principal Dr. Florian Kamelger.

The Anglo-Swiss outfit, which currently competes full-time in the Blancpain GT Series, told reporters during last weekend’s Total 24 Hours of Spa that they are “100 percent” committed for a two-car Aston Martin Vantage GT3 program in this year’s IGTC season finale.

Kamelger, however, said he has nothing to add about the program at this moment, including the driver lineup.

Kyalami will mark the team’s third IGTC race of the season after finishing runner-up in the season-opening Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour with the previous-gen Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, as well as participating in the 24 Hours of Spa as part of its Blancpain GT campaign.

Kamelger revealed the team had also looked into contesting next month’s Suzuka 10 Hours, which was ultimately ruled out due to logistics.

“We investigated quite heavily on Suzuka,” he said. “But there you would go with a partner team because of the time in the year and the logistics and bringing cars backwards and forwards, etc, just fit.

“Of course you can air-freight everything but you need somebody to put money into the car.”

A full-season 2020 IGTC program, however, appears to be in the cards for the Jota/Arden-run operation.

“I would be eager to do that,” Kamelger said. “For a plan there is always the question of commercial tasks to be fulfilled.

“It’s such a worldwide program and as beautiful as it is, you have to find a way of financing that and we’re currently working on this and I think we will succeed. But we can’t 100 percent confirm right now.

“I think it’s a great concept for a [team] like us but also a great concept for a manufacturer.

“It’s great tracks, great periods of time. Kyalami fits very well, especially after the end of the European GT season. It makes sense, I think.”

Jake Kilshaw contributed to this report

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