GT sport: Curtain up for Emil Frey Lexus Racing
GT-SPORT The 2017 International GT Open kicks off this weekend in Portugal, with Emil Frey Racing using the Iberian racing series to field its brand-new Lexus GT3 driven by Philipp Frommenwiler and Alberto Costa (E). Mauro Calamia will also be making his debut there. In 2009, Marcel Fässler won the International GT Open together with Joel Camathias in a [...]
In 2009, Marcel Fässler won his first international championship title in the International GT Open together with Joel Camathias in a Ferrari. The championship, which is organized by Spaniards, has been a welcome alternative or additional starting opportunity with GT3 cars for many teams and drivers for years.
Emil Frey Lexus Racing is also using this racing series to develop its new Lexus RC F GT3 under competitive conditions. The Swiss company gained its first experience of this in the 2016 VLN, but is now moving from the Nordschleife to racetracks throughout Europe.
Philipp Frommenwiler is taking another step in his career with the Safenwiler team. After years of racing in the Porsche GT3 Cup (Germany and Supercup), the driver from Thurgau is now competing in GT3 races for the first time in a works-supported team. His partner is Spaniard Albert Costa, who also drives for Emil Frey Jaguar Racing and whose track knowledge on Iberian circuits should be an additional advantage.
"It's a great opportunity for me to be involved in a development program like this," says Frommenwiler happily. "The team is making a huge effort. I'm excited to see how our results turn out."
The season will start on the former GP circuit of Estoril in Portugal. Emil Frey Racing has high hopes for the premiere: "Toyota Racing Development tested the Lexus RC F GT3 on a track layout in Japan that is very similar to that of Estoril. So that should suit us," hopes team coordinator Hannes Gautschi. The team was also able to test in Estoril on Monday and Tuesday of this week, where Frommenwiler also got to know his new work machine.
"This is the first time that we have entered the Lexus at such a high, competitive level," points out Team Principal Lorenz Frey. "Our main objective is to observe our competitors and analyze the strengths of our car. We are convinced of the performance of our car."
It is quite possible that Frey will take a seat in the Lexus himself at one race or another. In return, Frommenwiler should also get to drive the Emil Frey G3 Jaguar in the Blancpain Endurance Cup.
Mauro Calamia is not afraid of big names
The International GT Open is also new territory for Mauro Calamia. The man from the Zurich Oberland region, European and World Cup winner in the Maserati Trofeo three years ago, is switching to an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 from the Italian Solaris Motorsport team for this purpose. Team boss is his racing partner Francesco Sini.
"Some of the 24 GT3 cars from ten different brands have very strong drivers with experience from Formula 1, the DTM or Formula E," says Calamia. "But I'm not intimidated by such names, on the contrary. I am delighted to be able to take part in this top-class series and would like to thank all my sponsors for making this possible."
