SunEnergy1 Planning Full-Season Effort in Pro-Am

Photo: Mercedes-AMG

SunEnergy1 Racing is set for a full-season Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli program with Kenny Habul targeting the inaugural GT3 Pro-Am class title.

The 2018 IGTC Bronze Cup champion has revealed to Sportscar365 plans to contest all five rounds of the global GT3 series, after being forced to run a reduced schedule last year largely due to business commitments.

Habul is joined by Dominik Baumann, Martin Konrad and David Reynolds in this weekend’s season-opening Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by MARC Cars Australia featuring support from Mercedes-AMG.

The U.S.-based Australian said it hasn’t yet been determined which teams will run his entry in the remainder of the season.

In 2018, Habul utilized technical and operational support from AKKA ASP, HTP Motorsport and Black Falcon that culminated with the Bronze title in the season-ending California 8 Hours.

“I wouldn’t have a clue right now,” Habul told Sportscar365 about team support. “We have to put it all together. But probably, this driver lineup will stay.

“Certainly me and Marty [Konrad]. You need to have two Bronzes for Pro-Am, supposedly, so it would be he and I.

“We raced together in Spa 2018 and were quick. Then Dominik [Baumann] will be one of my pros. He’s quick. Then I don’t know about about the fourth one for Spa.”

Habul confirmed he has purchased a brand-new Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, which will debut at Spa and be used for the remainder of the season.

He has praised SRO Motorsports Group’s decision to add a dedicated Pro-Am category to IGTC.

“They’re great,” Habul said of the SRO. “I don’t always understand the rules but they’re always willing to listen. They talk to you and they’re good people.

“Whereas I did in Europe, with [International] GT Open, it was complete garbage. It was horrible.”

Habul said it hasn’t been determined if he will contest additional GT3 races away from IGTC this year, although admitted it would be likely.

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