Optimum Motorsport has announced that it will compete in the 2018 British GT Championship’s GT3 class with an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for AMR factory driver Jonny Adam and team regular Flick Haigh.

This comes after the team took a year off from GT3 racing in British GT, running solely in the GT4 class in 2017. The last time Optimum raced for overall wins was in 2016 with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 for Will Moore and Ryan Ratcliffe.

Haigh has plenty of experience racing with Optimum Motorsport, competing with the team in the 24H Series multiple times, and this season in the Michelin Le Mans Cup.

“I’m really excited about this and I’m very much looking forward to getting back behind the wheel,” Haigh began. “It’s like starting again, we have the right car, the right teammate and we’ll be flat out to make the best of this amazing opportunity.

“I’ve already met with Jonny and he’ll be a pleasure to work with. He’s very down to earth and we know his track record in the Aston is sensational. It’s a while since I have raced in the UK; but the new challenge will be very exciting and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

“To have Aston Martin Racing turn around and offer me their number one guy is amazing. This is a great opportunity and I’ll grab it with both hands.”

Adam meanwhile is no stranger to success in the Aston Martin, claiming title honours on British soil in 2015 and 2016 with two different Aston Martin Racing customer teams (Beechdeam AMR and TF Sport) and won GTE Pro class at Le Mans in a factory-entered Vantage.

“It’s great to be joining Optimum Motorsport,” Adam began. “It’s a new team for me and for Aston Martin Racing, so it’s fantastic that they have a new customer in Optimum Motorsport and in Flick.

“She’s done a lot of racing and her times are good, as is her consistency, so we’ll be pushing hard in what is a really important season ahead. Optimum Motorsport are winners in the 24H Series and in British GT, so I’m very upbeat about the season ahead. We know it’s never easy, but the aim is to work with Flick to put together what we believe will be a strong championship challenge.

“The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has had a lot success in the UK and Europe over the last few seasons because it’s a driver friendly car, so I’ll spend time with Flick as she adapts to this new equipment and we’ll do a lot of pre-season work, including some prep in the simulator. To be successful in this championship, both drivers have to be able to get the very best from the package and I’m looking forward to this new challenge.”

Team principal Shaun Goff is looking forward to returning to the GT3 class after running in only GT4 last season.

“It’s shaping up to be another great year for Optimum Motorsport,” stated Goff. “We’re thrilled to be putting this package together with Flick, Jonny and Aston Martin Racing as we return to the GT3 level in the championship.

“Jonny has already begun to assist both my team and Flick in sharing his knowledge about the car, so we have a good idea as to what to expect. We take delivery of the car from Prodrive at the end of January and from there we’re into the test programme where we expect to be quickly up to speed.

“We’re confident we’ll be strong and all of Optimum Motorsport are very excited about this all-new project for 2018!”