The Malaysian driver will race for the HTP Motorsport team that led a Vincent Abril/Maxi Buhk pairing to the Blancpain Sprint Series title last year.

While that title was achieved with a Bentley Continental GT3, HTP has since split with the manufacturer - and Jaafar, as such, is instead set to race a Mercedes SLS AMG GT3.

Jaafar, who has long enjoyed backing from Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas, completed his third season in the Formula Renault 3.5 series in 2015.

A noted Monaco specialist, he took a maiden FR3.5 win on the streets of the Principality and led the points early on, but would eventually fall to eighth in the standings.