AmDTuning.com is switching from BMW to Mercedes in 2017 after confirming it will run a new-generation AMG GT3 model in the British GT Championship next season.
The West Thurrock-based squad are embarking on their second season in the premier GT3 class with the all-new Mercedes, which is due to be delivered early in the new year ahead of pre-season testing.
Talks with potential drivers are ongoing, but a number of front-line pairings have already expressed an interest in the vacant seat.
The news comes hot on the heels of Team ABBA with Rollcentre Racing confirming it will also switch from the older-spec BMW Z4 to new-generation Mercedes machinery in 2017.
After taking over Triple Eight’s British GT entry at the start of 2016 AmDTuning.com surprised many with the performance of its ageing Z4 GT3, which - in the hands of Lee Mowle and Joe Osborne - claimed three podium finishes during the year en route to sixth in the drivers’ standings.
The much newer Mercedes-AMG proved its credentials by winning the Blancpain GT Series and Nurburgring 24 Hours in its maiden season this year, and the team expects more of the same when it lines up for the opening British GT round of 2017 at Oulton Park on April 15 & 17.
Indeed, with the right driver pairing, team boss Shaun Hollamby expects to be challenging for the title.
“We enjoyed our first season in GT3 last year and the plan was always to make the move to a new car for 2017,” he said. “We are delighted that we will be running the Mercedes-AMG GT3 next year as the car is already a proven winner, and one that we are confident is the right car to carry us to success.
“Certainly we feel we have unfinished business in the British GT Championship and there is no doubt that we want to be challenging for race wins and the title with the new car. We could, and arguably should, have won races last year despite the fact that the BMW was one of the oldest cars on the grid and we want to put that right with the Mercedes.
“There has been a lot of interest in the drives we have available, including one pairing who are proven winners in the series, and we should be in a position to announce drivers in the near future ahead of our pre-season testing programme.”
AmDTuning.com’s confirmation brings the total number of GT3 entries already announced to six. Champions TF Sport are returning with two Aston Martins, there will be a Ferrari 488 GT3 run by AF Corse, and only yesterday Rollcentre Racing confirmed it had purchased a new-generation Mercedes-AMG GT3. That came just an hour before Macmillan Racing announced its senior class graduation with an Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.
Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks.