R-Motorsport Reveals Kyalami Lineup; Ahmed to Debut

Photo: Patrick Hecq/SRO

Five of R-Motorsport’s Blancpain GT Series drivers will compete as part of its two-car entry in the Kyalami 9 Hours, along with sports car debutant Enaam Ahmed.

The Anglo-Swiss squad previously confirmed plans to return to Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli competition with a pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT3s.

It will be its third IGTC race of the season after a previous one-off entry in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour and running a trio of cars at the Total 24 Hours of Spa as an expansion of its regular Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup entry.

Marvin Kirchhoefer, Hugo de Sadeleer and Ricky Collard will share the No. 62 car in the November race while Maxime Martin and Jake Dennis will be joined in the No. 76 Aston Martin by Enaam Ahmed.

Ahmed, 19, won the British Formula 3 Autumn Trophy in 2016 and became British Formula 3 champion a year later after scoring 13 race wins. Since then he’s competed in European and Japanese F3 competition.

It will be his first sports car race after a career that has entirely focused on single-seaters so far.

“Once again, our squad of drivers will be made up of experienced crew members and young talents,” commented team principal Dr Florian Kamelger.

“We would like to extend a warm welcome to Enaam Ahmed, who is the youngest member of our team. We will be giving him an opportunity in Kyalami to demonstrate his skills in one of the world’s most demanding endurance events.

“The race on the outskirts of Johannesburg will place special demands on man and machine with high day-time temperatures and finish at night when it’s much cooler.

“We are really looking forward to the challenge and to our race debut in South Africa.”

R-Motorsport has been linked to a full-season IGTC program next year, subject to Aston Martin registering as a full-season manufacturer, but Sportscar365 understands that, while this is still a possibility, it has become less likely in recent months.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.