Autosport International 2017

Team AMR was again well represented at this years Autosport International Show at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, a show that we were fortunate enough to visit last Thursday.

Displaying no fewer than four AMR Vantages from across its racing category and with GT cars from other manufacturers, this years show did its best to raise the profile of GT racing in general to a large and captive audience at both a national and international levels.

Featuring on pride of place within the Pirelli stand was last years British GT Championship winning TF Sport car of Derek Johnston and Jonny Adam. Both drivers had opportunities on the microphone to speak publicly (on various sponsor/supplier stands) about their season gone and for the expectations for the coming year. Adam for one was expecting a busier international year of commitment!


As promised late last year, Johnston met up with the guys and girls at the British Motorsport Marshal's Club stand to donate his crash helmet from least year as the club looks to raise funds for their members. Details on how you can enter into winning said crash helmet will be confirmed as soon as they are known either by public auction or sealed bids.

Whilst Johnston spoke on the Pirelli stand, Adam would have his turn over on the Sunoco stand as he and this years winners of the Sunoco Challenge, Max Bladon and Seb Morris spoke about their experiences at the Roar before the 24 and their hopes and expectations at their events at the Rolex24 later this month.


Other cars on display included a rather 'mixed and matched' AMR V8 Vantage GTE which sported the colour scheme and numbers of the 2016 World Endurance Championship team and driver winning car, although all was not quite as it should have been!

A version of that car was due to run in the live arena at the show this year with Darren Turner but that sadly failed to materialise some weeks before the show. Turner did make an appearance on stage to discuss his Base Performance simulator business.


Other cars of note included the new for 2017 Macmillan Racing V12 Vantage GT3 which Jack Mitchell and James Littlejohn will run in the British GT championship. Whilst Mitchell was out racing in the Dubai 24 it was left to newcomer Littlejohn to mix with the crowd. For some reason their car had resided itself within the VIP lounge area - not exactly your normal piece of lounge furniture but hay-ho!



That left the Beechdean GT3 and the GT4 raced by Aston Martin restoration expert Desmond Smail to pick up the pieces as display articles on component supplier stands.