Alex Tagliani and Jean-Frederic Laberge will join Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS competition beginning with next month’s round at Sebring International Raceway, with Montreal Motorsport Group confirming a Porsche 911 GT3 R entry.
The ex open-wheel ace, who has previous sports car racing experience in LMPC and LMP3 competition, will team up with former Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada class champion in the Pro-Am class for an all-Quebec effort.
While MMG was on the initial entry list for this month’s season-opener at Sonoma Raceway prior to being withdrawn, the team’s official launch came last Friday in Montreal, having committed to Fanatec GT America.
“I’d like to thank Jean-Frederic for investing so many resources into putting this project together,” said Tagliani. “It should be a very good year.
“I’d also like to thank the sponsors who are supporting us on this adventure, without forgetting all the people behind the scenes who made it possible for Jean-Frederic to get his hands on the car, which was the first challenge.”
The effort will mark Laberge’s Porsche GT3 debut after previously contesting the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2016 with Tagliani in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 run by Zakspeed prior to the duo pulling out of an intended full season effort after a single round.
Laberge went on to contest several other series, including 24H Series competition, prior to making his racing comeback.
“This return to racing, and behind the wheel of a Porsche 992 GT3 R in GT World Challenge no less, is really exciting,” he said. “Starting this adventure with Alex is even better.”
Tagliani added: “It’s exciting, because we all have a career wish list, and with all the cars I’ve been fortunate enough to drive throughout career, I find this next chapter very exciting as we’re all Porsche enthusiasts.”