Tonbridge based racing driver Adrian Quaife-Hobbs is embarking on a new challenge for the 2015 season.
He will be making the move to race in the Blancpain Endurance Series in a McLaren 650S GT3 for Von Ryan Racing.
He will have some top quality teammates for the season with Rob Bell, Kevin Estre, Alvaro Parente, Shane van Gisbergen and Bruno Senna who have all confirmed they will return to the team.
Quaife-Hobbs is a racer winner in GP2 and has significant experience in single seater racing. He dominated the 2012 AutoGP World Series to become the first driver in the series history to take five race wins in one season, three consecutive pole positions and three successive race wins.
His move into sportscar racing follows a successful career during which he also competed in Formula BMW, Formula Renault, and Formula 3, before moving into International competition in GP3 and more recently GP2. The talented Kent race ace now turns his attention on the world of endurance racing, with arguably one of the highest profile names in motorsport.
The 24-year-old has already experienced his new 3.8 litre McLaren having tested it at Silverstone and then followed that up with a two day test at Snetterton recently.
Speaking about his new challenge, Adrian said: “I’m extremely excited to be embarking on a new adventure in sportscar racing with VonRyanRacing and the McLaren 650S, which I believe will be a front-runner from the first race.
“We enjoyed a very successful test programme at Silverstone and Snetterton, which continues with two days at Paul Ricard this week, and I’m really looking forward to getting into the car for the first round”.
The Von Ryan Racing team, led by Dave Ryan, has been a McLaren GT customer team since its formation in 2011 and during the winter has worked closely with McLaren GT on an intensive testing programme ahead of the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series. The 650S GT3 made its competitive debut last year at the 2014 Gulf 12 Hours securing a podium finish.
Dave Ryan, Team Manager for Von Ryan Racing is delighted to have Quaife-Hobbs on board, “Adrian is a very exciting talent, who has shown himself to be one of the most promising young stars in some of the most competitive single-seater championships”, he said.
“With these six drivers we have put ourselves in a very strong position for the season, and we are confident of 2015 being another exciting year.”