Jetstream Motorsport will graduate to the British GT Championship’s GT3 ranks this season after entering an Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 for Graham Davidson and Maxime Martin.
The move sees reigning GT Cup champion Davidson switch from his and Jetstream’s trusty McLaren 12C GT3 to the proven Vantage, which has notched up three outright Drivers’ titles in the past five years.
Joining him is Martin, the fifth of Aston Martin Racing’s official FIA WEC drivers to also be contesting British GT this season. The 31-year-old Belgian, previously a mainstay of BMW’s GT and DTM squads and outright winner of 2016’s Total 24 Hours of Spa, also becomes the seventh factory driver to be confirmed in the championship’s GT3 class this season.
And it’s that level of opposition that convinced Davidson to take on the championship’s established Pro/Am order.
“The British GT Championship is not only a step up in terms of competitiveness, but from an exposure and profile-building point of view too,” said the 32-year-old Scot. “If you are to progress, you must compete on a professional platform that has a following, and it will be a privilege to race against exceptionally talented and successful teams and drivers who have prominent championship titles or even 24 Hours of Le Mans victories to their names.
“I’ve tried to give Jetstream Motorsport and myself the best chance of having a successful season, because doing well in British GT would put us in a very good light.
“For a new team, Jetstream Motorsport has a lot of experience and I think people will be quite impressed with what has been achieved thus far. There is a very skilled engineering team that knows the Aston Martin V12 Vantage well and a driver of Maxime Martin’s calibre will undoubtedly help to extract the maximum from the package; I think I’ll learn a huge amount from Maxime and I can’t ask for a better mentor for my first British GT season.
“The V12 Vantage was deemed the best option for many reasons, but Jetstream was particularly sold by Aston Martin Racing’s at-circuit support, the car’s championship-winning pedigree and its reputation for being built around the gentleman driver. Ultimately, I’m in the British GT Championship to win it and I’m delighted with who and what we’ve pulled together. Now it’s just up to us to take the car across the finish line and achieve some results.”
Needless to say Martin has already spoken to his fellow AMR drivers, including two-time British GT3 champion Jonny Adam, about what to expect this year.
“I’m really excited to be entering British GT with Jetstream Motorsport. I’ve never raced in the championship before and it’s great to be doing it during my first year with Aston Martin Racing,” he said.
“It’s a pleasure to be joining Graham Davidson and Jetstream and I will try to do something good, by hopefully winning races and the title. I’ve spoken to my fellow Aston Martin drivers, including Jonny Adam, and they have told me that the level of competition in British GT is high and it’s a difficult championship to win.
“I’ve been racing GTs for most of my career and I’ve competed in several different cars, with different teams and both Pro and Am team-mates. I’ll bring experience, having raced in lots of championships, and my job will be to try to optimise the package and make Graham the best driver he can be. To share the car is always special and it’s super nice to be in British GT with Aston Martin Racing, Jetstream Motorsport and Graham.”
Martin’s first opportunity to measure himself against AMR’s other FIA WEC drivers therefore comes during British GT’s opening round at Oulton Park over Easter Bank Holiday Weekend (March 31-April 2).
2018 BRITISH GT SCHEDULE
1 Oulton Park, March 31-April 2 >> TICKETS
2 Rockingham, April 28-29 >> TICKETS
3 Snetterton, May 26-27 >> TICKETS
4 Silverstone 500, June 9-10 >> TICKETS
5 Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), July 21-22 >> TICKETS (FREE ENTRY)
6 Brands Hatch, August 4-5 >> TICKETS
7 Donington Park, September 22-23 >> TICKETS