Ben Eggleston takes Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3 in Vodka O Australian GT Championship
Monday, January 17, 2011
Fujitsu V8 Supercar driver and team owner Ben Eggleston is the newest addition to the ranks of the 2011 Vodka O Australian GT Championship and he is doing it in style, behind the wheel of his latest acquisition, an Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3.
Eggleston has acquired the Aston from Ross Lilley and will debut in the Vodka O Australian GT Championship commencing at Round 1 at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide (March 17-20).
‘I first saw the Aston at Eastern Creek in 2009. Ross Lilley did a “swap” with a Porsche for the car from Marc Cini. It was then I knew I wanted it’, Eggleston said today.
Eggleston’s decision to campaign the big British machine in the 2011 GT Championship swells the Aston Martin ranks to two, alongside the VIP Petfoods entry of Tony Quinn who has shown the competitiveness of the marque by taking victories in both GT races at Bathurst last year.
The GT3 Aston Martin DBRS9 is powered by a front mounted V-12, six litre engine producing some 360 kilowatts and utilizes a six speed transmission.
Eggleston formerly from Orange in NSW is now based in Melbourne and has an extensive motor sport background having competed in Motocross before winning the NSW Formula Ford State title in 2001. He has competed intermittently in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series for the past six years and this year will run the ex-Rick Kelly VE Commodore in addition to running cars for other drivers.
‘I am hoping to have my first test of the Aston early in February, and having never driven GT cars before it will be a great challenge. I am really looking forward to being a part of this excellent Championship, and particularly the longer format races which gives you plenty of track time to come to grips with the car.
For Round 1 at the Clipsal 500 I am aiming at the top five, and then we will see how the rest of the season unfolds’, Eggleston said.
The Eggleston Aston Martin will be presented in a brand new “‘very different” livery expected to be unveiled next month.
Photo: Aston Martin Racing
