GruppeM Racing will make a full time return to competitive action in 2017 after confirming its place on the Blancpain GT Series Asia grid with a trio of new Mercedes-AMG GT3s.

With 2004 title victory in the British GT Championship (below) and a dominant GT2 championship winning campaign in FIA GT in 2005 on the team’s racing cv, GruppeM is now eyeing a title challenge in Blancpain Asia in its maiden season as an AMG Customer Sports Team.

GruppeM plan to field an extremely strong ‘Pro’ line-up with vastly experienced British racer Tim Sugden, a former British GT and Porsche Carrera Cup Champion, the first confirmed driver.

“We’re all very excited GruppeM Racing is back full-time and the choice to race with Mercedes-AMG is absolutely fantastic”, said a delighted Sugden, “We’re intending to hit the ground running from the first round, we’ve got big aspirations for the team and we’re talking to a number of very quick, top professional drivers. The aim is to be winning races and to challenge for the championship.”

GruppeM Racing team principal Kenny Chen: “I am proud to announce that after our successful victories over the years and winning FIA GT outright with Porsche Motorsport, GruppeM Racing is officially back in Blancpain Asia with Mercedes-AMG as the first AMG Customer Sports Team in the series. We are looking forward to a successful partnership.”

Beginning over the weekend 8th/9th April at Sepang in Malaysia, Blancpain GT Series Asia will then visit Thailand’s Chang International Circuit in May, Suzuka and Fuji in Japan, during June and August respectively, and then Shanghai International Circuit in China in September. The finale will take place on 21st/22nd October at Zhejiang Circuit in China.

Stephane Ratel, Founder and CEO of SRO Motorsport: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome Kenny Chen, Tim Sugden and their GruppeM team as the first confirmed entries in the inaugural Blancpain GT Series Asia – a welcome back in an SRO promoted series since GruppeM competed in the FIA GT Championship, winning the GT2 team and driver titles for Porsche in 2005. We wish them similar success with their all new Mercedes AMG car line up in 2017.”