Jim Pla Makes GT3 Move in AKKA ASP Pro-Am Entry

Photo: Dirk Bogaerts/SRO

Jim Pla will make the full-time switch to GT3 competition this season as part of AKKA ASP’s Pro-Am entry for the full Blancpain GT Series.

The 26-year-old Frenchman finished runner-up in the French GT4 Cup last season, co-driving an AKKA ASP-run Mercedes-AMG GT4 with Jean-Luc Beaubelique.

Pla and Beaubelique competed in the FIA GT Nations Cup at Bahrain last season, and proved to be one of the strongest lineups in the field despite a retirement in the Main Race.

Beaubelique will also be part of the team’s Blancpain GT entry this year, along with Mauro Ricci.

Pla will compete in all of the Endurance Cup and GT World Challenge Europe rounds, joined by Ricci and Beaubelique for the Endurance races.

The two Bronze-rated drivers will divide the GT World Challenge Europe rounds between them, alternating as Pla’s teammate.

“I am very happy that these three drivers will be able to run together,” commented team principal Jerome Policand.

“Thanks to Jean-Luc and Mauro for giving Jim this opportunity in GT3; he was a real revelation for me in 2018.

“I am convinced that they will be competitive as all three of them are ready for the challenge ahead.”

It is the second of AKKA ASP’s lineups to be confirmed, after Saturday’s news that Vincent Abril would join Raffaele Marciello and Michael Meadows in a Pro entry.

Sportscar365 understands that the team is likely to run three or four cars in both the Endurance and GT World Challenge Europe series, with more lineups expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Jake Kilshaw

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