Academy Motorsport has announced that Silver Cup pairing Ben Hurst and Micah Stanley will join forces aboard its new Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 this season.

The team signalled its intent at Donington Park in September when it originally confirmed its AMR partnership would continue into 2019. That has resulted in two British GT4 entries, one of which can now be fully revealed.

Hurst returns to the British GT package for a second year after spending 2018 contesting BRDC British F3. That was the 21-year-old’s first season outside of his native Canada where he won the domestic Formula Ford title in 2017.

Meanwhile, Stanley arrives in British GT with some existing GT racing experience courtesy of several GT4 European Series outings in 2017 and ’18. However, this will be the 18-year-old Monegasque’s first full-season in cars since switching from karts at the end of 2016.

Both are hoping to join Aston Martin Racing’s Young Driver Academy, a platform designed to unearth the manufacturer’s next factory star.

“We’re thrilled to be able to confirm Ben and Micah ahead of the coming season,” said Academy Motorsport’s Managing Director Matt Nicoll-Jones. “Both drivers have a degree of experience behind them which should help them work well together.”

A seat remains available in Academy’s second Aston Martin for the forthcoming season. Anyone interested in discussing the opportunity should contact the team.

Donington hosts the championship’s pre-season media day on March 5 before the 2019 campaign begins at Oulton Park on April 20 & 22. Fans can attend media day for free, while tickets for Oulton’s Easter Bank Holiday curtain raiser are available here.

NB: The overwhelming interest from teams has now prompted championship organisers to start a reserve list for potential new entries. Anyone eager to compete in 2019 is advised to contact SRO asap.