AMG joins Blancpain GT Series Asia as Official Safety Car Partner
11th September 2017
A new name will join the Blancpain GT Series Asia grids at Shanghai and Zhejiang later this season when AMG becomes the championship’s Official Safety Car Partner.
The final two rounds of the inaugural pan-continental campaign will see the Mercedes-AMG GT leading the championship’s 30-strong entry of GT3 and GT4 cars to the start line of all four Chinese races, as well as performing a Safety Car’s essential duties in the event of an accident.
The Mercedes-AMG GT is already entrusted with this task in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and will no doubt look equally at home at the front of Blancpain GT Series Asia’s supercar grid, which also boasts two of the car’s GT3-spec racing counterparts.
Its four-litre V8 biturbo engine produces 476hp and 630Nm of torque, which helps to propel the Mercedes-AMG GT from 0-100km/h in just four seconds and on to a top speed of 304km/h. That should be ample for keeping Blancpain GT Series Asia’s drivers in check!
The Mercedes-AMG GT is the production model of the German manufacturer’s GT3-spec racer, which claimed the Europe-based Blancpain GT Series Teams’ and Drivers’ titles in 2016. That success has continued in Asia this year with official AMG customer squad GruppeM Racing currently leading both championships. A GT4 version will also be available to customers for the first time in 2018.
AMG is the latest premium brand to align itself with Blancpain GT Series Asia and follows the likes of Blancpain (title sponsor and official timing partner) Motul (official lubricants partner), Pirelli (official tyre supplier), Dixcel (official brake partner), Panta (official fuel supplier) and TM Performance (official racing components partner).
Thomas Erb, Head of AMG Greater China: “We are glad to provide AMG GT as the Safety Car to the leading GT racing series in Asia. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is developed according to FIA GT3 regulations and is based on the Mercedes-AMG GT, which already has a high on-track performance level in its road-going version for both professional and gentleman drivers. In the near future, we will provide even more support to our customer racing teams in China such as engineering and technical support, and also continue to support racing activities to bring AMG customers and enthusiasts unforgettable experiences to enjoy the racing atmosphere. AMG – The Future of Driving Performance, born on the race track.”
Benjamin Franassovici, Blancpain GT Series Asia Championship Manager: “I’m delighted to welcome another premium partner like AMG onboard for this season’s final two weekends at Shanghai and Zhejiang. AMG’s production and motorsport products are respected around the world, and it’s that fusion of road and track capability that has also made them such a force in global GT3 racing. The Mercedes-AMG GT Safety Car certainly won’t look out of place at the front of our grid.”
Blancpain GT Series Asia’s Chinese double header begins at Shanghai International Circuit on September 23/24 before Zhejiang hosts the championship’s season finale on October 21/22.
Track Days / Test Days / MotorsportDays.com