DSC’s Daily Notebook (07/04/2023)

Garage 59 reveals Le Mans-inspired liveries

Garage 59’s pair of GT World Challenge Europe-bound McLaren 720S GT3s will sport McLaren F1 GT1 Longtail-inspired liveries this season.

The full reveal was made on the team’s social media channels.

LIVERY REVEAL!

Presenting our 2023 race livery, inspired by the McLaren F1 GTR Longtails racing at Le Mans in the late 1990s. #BritishGT #GTWorldChEu #FanatecGT #McLaren pic.twitter.com/1L8iqxuqMC

— Garage 59 (@Garage_59) April 6, 2023

Here’s one of the Longtails in-period that the Garage 59 is taking a nod to:

Jingzu and Cheng Congfu confirmed for World Challenge Asia

Two of GT World Challenge Asia’s most experienced drivers, Sun Jingzu and Franky Cheng Congfu, are returning to the series in 2023 with Absolute Racing and Audi Sport Asia.

Theirs is the first of two R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs entered by the Chinese team this year. Its second driver pairing will be confirmed at a later date.

Sun and Cheng contested the series’ maiden season together with Absolute in 2017 before racing separately a year later. Their partnership was then rekindled in 2019 before the global pandemic prevented them from racing internationally until now.

However, Cheng – whose decade within Audi Sport’s ranks has featured Le Mans and DTM appearances – was at least able to compete domestically last season when he won the China GT Championship title with an Absolute-prepared R8 LMS GT3.

His co-driver has been unable to compete since covid restrictions halted motorsport in China. Finally returning to the regional stage therefore represents a significant milestone.

Absolute will also run two new 992-spec Porsche 911 GT3 Rs this season. The first of those driver pairings, Bao Jinlong and Alex Imperatori, was announced in March.

The Chang International Circuit in Thailand hosts the opening round of the season on May 12-14.

AvD returns as NLS sponsor

The Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD) has re-signed as a sponsor of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (formerly VLN). The contract runs for an initial period of three years. Germany’s most traditional automobile club previously supported the Nordschleife racing series from 2008 to 2010. As part of the deal, the AvD logo will in future be present on all drivers’ overalls in the NLS.

“The AvD is deeply rooted in the Nürburgring,” says AvD Secretary General Lutz Leif Linden. “As early as 1927, we were significantly involved in bringing the Formula 1 to the Eifel. The passion for this unique race track has never been diminished. The partnership with the Nürburgring Endurance Series is an obvious choice for us, as it combines professional and grassroots sport.”

Haupt Racing Team joins GT Masters

Haupt Racing Team has joined the ADAC GT Masters series for 2023 and will field a single Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for Ralf Aron and Alain Valente.

This adds to HRT’s full season DTM programme, and has been formed to help the team develop young drivers.

“With the new driver concept in the ADAC GT Masters, it was a logical step for us to expand our portfolio to incorporate this racing series,” says Ulrich Fritz, managing director of Haupt Racing Team.

“Above all, we also see potential synergies with the DTM. The ADAC GT Masters starts at the same racetracks and on the same tyres as the DTM. This allows the young drivers to test themselves against colleagues from the DTM – indirectly, at least.

“Competing in both series also allows us to try out a few more things and then to implement what we learn. We see that as a big advantage and a chance to develop our talented young drivers in GT3 racing, perhaps for the DTM