RAM Racing will return to British GT full-time in 2019 after confirming that Ian Loggie and Callum Macleod will race a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
It represents RAM’s first full-season British GT campaign since 2015 when the team entered Mercedes’ previous generation SLS AMG GT3, although it did also make a one-off appearance at Spa-Francorchamps earlier this year.
Long-time co-drivers Loggie and Macleod switch from Team Parker Racing after spending the previous two seasons aboard a Bentley Continental GT3. Their highlight of that tenure came in 2017 at Spa where together they both claimed maiden British GT victories.
That was also the venue for their first race together two years earlier when they sealed class honours at the Total 24 Hours of Spa.
Loggie enjoyed his time with Team Parker but believes now is the right time to move on.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to race with Team Parker Racing in the Bentley for the last three years, but I was keen to make sure my skill sets develop,” he said. “After testing the Mercedes-AMG GT3, I think there’s a lot I can learn from it. I also think it’s a car that will do well in British GT. RAM Racing are an incredibly impressive team – extremely professional and everything is well-prepared. I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my racing and can’t wait to get to Oulton Park in April.”
Macleod echoed his Am co-driver’s sentiments: “We’ve had three fantastic seasons in the Team Parker Racing Bentley Continental GT3 and I’m sure this isn’t the end of our relationship with the team or brand. But Ian is here to learn as a driver so it’s good to try different machinery. We tested the RAM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 and were impressed with the car and the team, so we decided to see what we can do together in 2019. Over the last two years in British GT I’d say we haven’t had the results we perhaps deserved so we’re looking forward to giving it another go! I’m delighted that we will still partner with Kraftwerk Tools in 2019.”
Meanwhile, team principal Dan Shufflebottom believes the Mercedes-AMG is the right car for British GT after studying last year’s performances.
“The British GT Championship is one of the world’s top national GT3 series and we’re delighted to be back on the grid in 2019,” he said. “It’s extremely competitive but Callum and Ian have shown race and championship-winning pace over the last few years and both did a great job at the test earlier this month.
“The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is a great car for the British circuits – it’s nimble and well-suited to the tight and twisty sections that we see at Oulton Park, for example, but able to stretch its legs at tracks such as Silverstone. Mercedes-AMG factory driver Yelmer Buurman, who raced with us in Barcelona 24 Hours, showed last season what the car is capable of and we’re excited to go and see what we can do.”
Oulton Park hosts the opening round of 2019’s British GT Championship on April 20 & 22.