Sunday, December 22, 2024

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The winning Aston Martin team at Spa 24 goals to enter the DTM

Comtoyou Racing, which won the 24 Hours of Spa this yr in an Aston Martin, is seriously considering an attack on the DTM in 2025.

The Belgian squad is in talks with each Aston Martin Racing and DTM promoter ADAC to participate in next yr's Vantage GT3 championship.

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“We want to take part in this series,” Comtoyou team manager Francois Verbist told Motorsport.com's sister title Motorsport-Total.com. “The situation is definitely better than last year, there was an inquiry from a client. For now, at least one car has been seized.”

The client in query is a gentleman driver who will help finance the project. Comtoyou also intends to field a second automotive within the DTM for an expert driver from the Aston Martin factory squad.

“Our wish is to hire a professional Aston Martin driver,” Verbist said. “There is no point in competing in the DTM if we cannot show our ambition.”

Verbist attended the ultimate round of the 2024 DTM season at Hockenheim in October to check with ADAC about potentially entering the series.

Moreover, he was also present finally month's GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup final in Jeddah to carry talks with Aston's racing department.

#7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO: Mattia Drudi, Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen

#7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO: Mattia Drudi, Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen

Photo: Emanuele Clivati ​​| Photo AG

Having switched from Audi to Aston machinery a yr ago, Comtoyou is confident in its ability to compete in high-end GT3 championships akin to the DTM.

“The challenge is doable for us because we have used four cars in the sprint and endurance series for a year and competed in the GT Open series,” said Verbist.

“We understand the automotive a lot better now than we did a yr ago. I'm giving myself until January 15 to take a look at each aspect intimately.

“We have sponsors who are interested in joining the team. Now that the GT World Challenge is over, that's my focus. The next two or three weeks before Christmas will be stressful, but I've been working on it for two months now. We're doing everything we can to make it work!”

Asked to evaluate the team's probabilities of entering into the 2025 grid, he said: “It's a difficult query, but I'd say 75%.

Comtoyou's situation is made tougher by the proven fact that Aston Martin has fewer GT3 cars in circulation than other manufacturers. Moreover, the British manufacturer is known to only offer basic technical support to partner teams, leaving them to seek out the crucial financing. Spare parts for the Vantage GT3 are also particularly expensive.

However, the Belgian squad is serious about DTM and needs to commit to the championship for the long run.

#7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO: Mattia Drudi, Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen

#7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO: Mattia Drudi, Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen

Photo: Eric Le Galliot

“We definitely want to be involved because we are huge fans of the show,” Verbist explained.

“But we don't wish to do it half-heartedly and only stay there for a yr. If we do that – and this also applies to everyone I check with – it can be a commitment of at the least three years. Because I feel like, “If we don't do it this way, it won't work.”

If Comtoyou's entry actually materializes, the logical alternative for works driver could be Nicki Thiim.

Thiim received Aston's blessing to participate on this yr's DTM in a Lamborghini SSR Performance and has all the time been keen to represent his employer within the German series.

Moreover, the Danish driver has raced for Comtoyou in other categories this yr and was a part of the winning line-up within the Spa endurance classic together with Marco Sorensen and Mattia Drudi.

“Nicki competed for us all season long. He's friend of mine,” Verbist said.

“It seems easy and obvious that we’ll follow this path. However, if you find yourself searching for partners and sponsors, sometimes additionally it is related to drivers and different markets. This will ultimately be the deciding factor.

“If I ask myself whether it’s a wish or a necessity, it’s more of a wish. We'll try.”

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