Jessica Hawkins will join forces with Beechdean AMR in the upcoming British GT Championship. Departing from her role as Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Driver Ambassador, Hawkins embraces a new challenge alongside seasoned driver Andrew Howard, marking her British GT debut.
Hawkins, the first woman since 2018 to test a contemporary grand prix car, now ventures into GT racing with Aston Martin’s latest Vantage GT3. This transition is poised to infuse fresh energy into the British GT scene as the new Vantage GT3 gears up for its inaugural competitive appearance at Oulton Park during the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.
Hawkins journey to this pivotal moment encompasses a diverse array of achievements. From clinching the British Open Championship in go-karting to making waves in car racing with a remarkable second-place finish in her debut race, she has consistently shattered barriers. Her exploits extend beyond traditional racing circuits; she has showcased her skills as a stunt driver in blockbuster films like ‘No Time to Die’ and ‘Fast and Furious Live’. Notably, Hawkins secured her place in motorsport history by claiming victory as the first female race winner in TCR UK and achieving a podium finish in the W Series at the FIA Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the forthcoming season, Hawkins remarked, “I’m so excited to have the opportunity to race in British GT this year with Beechdean AMR and Aston Martin,” said Hawkins. “British GT is a series I’ve seen close-up while racing in other series in this paddock and it’s made me want to get involved with GT racing on a regular basis.”
“To be able to do it with a championship-winning team like Beechdean AMR and to be able to combine it with my Aston Martin F1 role means it’s going to be a very busy season.
“British GT has grown in stature over the past couple of years with increased visibility and so many factory drivers in GT3 so it’s very exciting to be a part of that and we’ll certainly be targeting good results from the get-go at Oulton Park.”
Alongside Hawkins stands Andrew Howard, one of the championship’s most seasoned drivers, poised to mentor and collaborate with the newcomer. Howard’s extensive experience in GT racing, coupled with Hawkins’ prodigious talent, sets the stage for a compelling partnership.
Reflecting on the upcoming season, Beechdean AMR’s team principal emphasized the heightened competitiveness of the 2024 British GT Championship. Anticipating a challenging yet promising campaign, the team aims to leverage the potential of the Vantage GT3 to secure notable achievements.
“The 2024 British GT Championship looks like it’s going to be on another level even compared to last year, with both Pro-Am and Silver-Am looking ultra-competitive,” he said. “We enjoyed our comeback season in 2023 so much that it reinforced my opinion that this is the best national series in the world for an Am driver like me.
“It’s great to bring Jessica – somebody that’s such an important part of the Aston Martin family – into the team this season. This is a programme that has the potential to grow and grow over the next couple of years as we aim first to help her learn GT racing – which she’s totally new to – and then challenge for bigger and bigger results not just in Silver-Am, but overall too.
“The Vantage GT3 is the newest GT3 car on the planet and in what we’ve seen of it so far is an upgrade on the old car in every area, so I’m confident we’ll have a very good piece of kit underneath us with which to challenge for Silver-Am success. It all begins here.”
The unveiling of the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 adds further anticipation to the season, promising cutting-edge performance with its advanced features and pedigree. As the countdown to the season opener at Oulton Park begins, anticipation mounts for the unveiling of British GT’s full-season entry list, signaling the dawn of a new era in motorsport excellence.
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