R-Motorsport will enter the DTM in 2019. The running of the Aston Martin DTM silhouette cars under license will be organized and controlled by AF Racing AG from its headquarters in Niederwil near St. Gallen. With their team R-Motorsport the Swiss motor racing company is already successfully running Aston Martin Vantage GT3 race cars in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup.
For the medium term the entry of up to four DTM race cars based on the silhouette of the new Aston Martin Vantage is planned. The racing team and the drivers will be announced at a later stage. The DTM project will be run together with the Joint Venture partner with HWA being responsible for the development and the construction of the DTM cars.
One pre-condition of the R-Motorsport DTM engagement is the reorientation in terms of an extended internationalization of the series initiated and further developed by the ITR. An important building stone is the “Class 1” regulation for 2019 which has been jointly developed with the GTA, the umbrella organization of the Japanese Super GT. Herewith the foundation has been laid for R-Motorsport to campaign Aston Martin DTM silhouette cars in a number of new markets outside of Germany and Japan.
“The DTM entry of R-Motorsport under a design license from Aston Martin is a milestone of the development of our company”, revealed Dr. Florian Kamelger, co-owner of AF Racing AG and Team Principal of R-Motorsport. “We are proud to have the opportunity in the intensively competitive international top race series. The DTM is one of the recognized international championships for touring and GT segment cars and the initiated extended internationalization creates great perspectives. The DTM offers first class sport and is close to the fans and is the ideal presentation stage for us.”
Dr Andy Palmer, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Aston Martin Lagonda commented: “We are pleased to welcome the engagement in DTM of AF Racing AG, an enduring partner of our company. This project shows the increasing interest in the Aston Martin brand from leading private teams such as R-Motorsport. Alongside our factory investment with Aston Martin Racing into the World Endurance Championship with the Vantage GTE, and our Aston Martin Racing commitments to customers and official partner teams in GT3 and GT4 the DTM entry of R-Motorsport provides an important extension to our other motor sport program. As new entrants into DTM, we wish R-Motorsport every success as they prepare for the 2019 season.
About AF Racing AG:
R-Motorsport is the racing brand of AF Racing AG, one of three strategic partners – together with Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. and Red Bull Technologies – of the Aston Martin Valkyrie hyper sportscar project. R-Motorsport is also the racing division of Aston Martin St. Gallen, the only exclusive Aston Martin dealer in Switzerland. R-Motorsport is part of the group of companies owned by Dr. Andreas Baenziger and Dr. Florian Kamelger, the latter is also the Team Principal. “Emotion, Passion, Vision” describe AF Racing AG’s business and sporting philosophy. Until today R-Motorsport was predominantly involved in international GT sport where the team runs Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3 cars, above all in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. The still young motor sport entity has gained attention with its overall win in the Silverstone three-hour event in only its second race. It also achieved three pole positions in a row, which is a record in the highly competitive GT series.
About joint venture company between AF Racing AG and HWA AG:
The joint venture is a company which will be established by AF Racing AG and HWA AG in 2018. The company with its headquarters in Germany combines the expertise of both partners with AF Racing AG’s excellent access to the market and respective customers and HWA AG being specialized on the development, testing and production of racing cars and small series productions with the adequate support and after sales. Both partners have in their respective fields the necessary experience to combine their expertise with the aim to be competitive in DTM. Main target of the joint venture, however is the establishment of a strategic innovation partnership for development projects in motor sport and also in the automotive sector. (Joint venture) will be responsible for development, production of racing cars, foremost the DTM cars, and small series production road going high performance vehicles.