Beechdean AMR Withdraws from Remaining Endurance Rounds

Beechdean AMR will not compete in the remaining rounds of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup as the result a refocusing of its motorsport efforts due to team owner Andrew Howard’s clashing business commitments.

The British squad had fielded a two-car Aston Martin Vantage GT3 effort in the Endurance Cup so far this year, including a factory-supported car in the Pro class.

However, the team has announced that it will be absent from both the upcoming race at Hockenheim as well the Barcelona finale.

Instead, it will make its return to the Intelligent Money British GT Championship, with its driver lineup and class of choice to be determined at a later date.

The team explained in a statement that the decision to withdraw from GTWC Europe competition was the result of ‘a refocusing of the team’s race efforts for the end of the year and into next.’

Additionally, team principal Andrew Howard indicated that his ongoing business commitments also played a role in the matter.

This carries similarities to the team’s last-minute lineup change ahead of the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa, when Howard and Valentin Hasse-Clot were replaced by David Pittard and Charlie Fagg, with the No. 97 being bumped up to Silver Cup as a result.

“Of course it’s disappointing to end our GT World Challenge Europe program early, but ultimately the work commitments that kept me from driving No. 97 at Spa are still in play, making it impossible for me to return to the seat, as planned,” said Howard.

“It didn’t seem prudent to continue as a one-car team for the final two races, so No. 95 will not race at Hockenheim or Barcelona either.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everybody involved in the program from Aston Martin, Prodrive, our commercial partners and our drivers, for the immense effort that’s gone into a season that has featured some pretty major challenges.

“We’re a team that’s always looking ahead and while we assess our options for 2023, it’s always good to get a head start on things.

“A return to British GT on a full-time basis is certainly one option we’re seriously looking at.”

The decision means that Aston Martin is set to go unrepresented for the final two Endurance Cup rounds of the season.