Kent racing driver Raoul Owens opens a new chapter of his motorsport career this coming Saturday, when he lines up on the grid at the world’s most fearsome and demanding circuit, Germany’s Nurburgring-Nordschleife, for the first round of the VLN endurance series.

The 22-year-old, from Pembury in Kent, makes the move into the uber-popular VLN category after a highly successful maiden season in GT-style competition last year in the RS01 Renault Sport Trophy, a support category to the European Le Mans Series.

Becoming a Pro Class race winner, he was also a multiple podium finisher in the Endurance Class and concluded his rookie season in GT racing at the wheel of a 500bhp RS01 car seventh in the eventual title standings.

Prior to his move away from ‘open wheel’ racing last year, Owens completed four seasons in the ranks of Formula Renault – two in the UK and two in Europe – before travelling across the Atlantic to contest the Pro Mazda Championship in the USA.

Now, the London-based driver is setting out on a new path in VLN where he has signed a deal with leading BMW team Walkenhorst Motorsport to pilot a BMW 235i as part of a remarkable grid which is set to feature close to 190 entries!

Owens will once again be backed by Bright Spark Ventures with additional support from team sponsor Purple Dot.

“I’m really looking forward to racing at the Nordschleife for the first time, it’s a very special place and it’s going to be fantastic to get that on my CV”, said Owens, “After last year we looked at what to do, the Renault Sport Trophy finished at the end of 2016 so we had to do something different, so we took some advice, weighed-up the options, and this is the best choice at this point of my career.

“Racing in VLN is something completely different for me with the main challenge being the track, there’s nowhere else like it in the world. The car is less powerful than what I’ve been used to but that’s not a bad thing, it’s the sensible thing when you’re having to learn such a long lap and get adjusted to the increase in concentration it requires. Then you can move up to the bigger stuff.”

Initially starting out in VLN with the BMW 235i, as Owens attains the required experience at the immense 24-kilometre Nurburgring-Nordschleife he will ultimately be eligible for the race permit required to compete there in headline events, such as the annual 24-hour race, in a fully-fledged GT3 sportscar. The Briton very much sees his future in global endurance racing.

“We’re playing things by ear at the moment”, he added, “I have to race in the lower class first while I gain the experience of the track, but when I qualify for the permit to race in GT3 we’ll obviously be looking to make the step-up. Manufacturers view VLN very favourably, so becoming involved in the series will hopefully help set us up for the future.”

Round one of the VLN series takes place this Saturday, 25th March, with live online streaming at www.vln.de and through the championship Facebook page.

For the first time in the category’s history, English language commentary will be provided through the highly respected Radio Le Mans team of Jonny Palmer and John Hindhaugh.