Automatic's Invisible Glass Vantage takes on a new guise for Daytona

IMSA's entry list for next weekends Michelin Pilot Challenge opener from Daytona Motor Speedway confirms the return of a three driver line up to pilot the team's third car entry - their brand new 2019 Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage GT4.
Having all competed together with the team at the same event last year sees the young dirt track racer financier,  Brandon Kidd return to the track with the boss of Stoner Inc. Rob Ecklin Jnr and local Neurosurgeon Ramin Adbolvahabi aboard the all new #97 car for the four hours of the BMW Endurance Challenge.


The excited announcement from the team earlier this month of an additional car means a slight adjustment to the line up from who tested the the normally aspirated V8 Vantage #09 at the Roar before the 24 test two weeks ago - that car resorts to a two driver line up of Mikel Miller and Dale Katechis.

The teams other Stoner Car Care sponsored car remains with Kris Wilson and Gary Ferrera.


The running of the 2019 V8 turbo charged V8 Vantage represents the first competitive customer race for the new car after its inaugural race with a factory based crew at the Gulf 12hrs back in December. It is expected that this new GT4 will be the first of many for the team and for GT racing in the USA as a whole.

With no word regarding its state of homologation it is assumed that the car is racing with the 'blessing' of IMSA (as the series have done so before with new cars) before the car's formal homologation process date in early March.

Track action for the former Continental Tyre Sportscar Challenge Series starts on Thursday 24th January with the race for the provisional 49 GS and TCR car entry later on Friday afternoon.

Photo credits - IMSA / Automatic Racing / AMR / Livery - Andy Blackmore Spotters Guide