AAI Enters Blancpain GT Asia Opener, Considering More Rounds

Photo: Blancpain GT Series Asia

AAI Motorsports has revealed plans to enter a pair of BMW M6 GT3s in the opening round of the Blancpain GT Series Asia next month, with a view to adding extra rounds to its schedule.

The two cars will be run under the FIST – Team AAI banner for the inaugural round of the pan-Asian series at Sepang, on April 8-9.

Over the winter, the Taiwanese squad entered its M6 GT3s in the Asian Le Mans Series, building on previous success in the series running the BMW Z4 GT3 and McLaren 650S GT3.

The team also made two appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 and 2016, as well as several entries into the GT Asia Series.

AAI is understood to be evaluating entering more round of the Blancpain GT Asia series, which is set for another five events in Thailand, Japan and China following the Malaysian season-opener.

The team is the first to announce a BMW entry for the series, and it will join 15 other previously-announced GT3 entries on the grid at Sepang.

“Our first experience of the Blancpain GT Series in Europe back in 2012 with our McLaren MP4-12C GT3 and 55 cars on the starting grid proved to us, without doubt, what an amazing organisation the Blancpain GT Series is,” commented team owner Jun-San Chen.

“Now that the same successful platform has arrived to plant its roots here in Asia, and bringing such strong competition, we at FIST – Team AAI are excited to put our BMW M6 GT3s into the mix at Sepang.”

Adds series manager Benjamin Franassovici: “AAI Motorsports represent another fantastic addition to this year’s Blancpain GT Series Asia field.

“They are well known as one of the continent’s premier GT teams, but have also tested themselves against international competition.

“So although their busy schedule means this is a one-off entry for now, I have no doubt they will provide very tough opposition for our full-season GT3 teams. Hopefully we will see them again at some point during the year.”

AAI is expected to announce drivers for its two-car Sepang entry in due course.

Jake Kilshaw

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