Vincent Abril has joined AKKA ASP for the full Blancpain GT Series season, teaming up with reigning champion Raffaele Marciello in the No. 88 Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The former Bentley driver announced his departure from the brand on Friday and will join the French Mercedes squad for both the Endurance Cup and Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe rounds.

Marciello and Abril will drive together for the Blancpain GT Europe rounds, with the Italian defending his title after winning alongside Michael Meadows last season.

Meadows remains part of the squad, and will join the duo as the third driver for the Endurance Cup races.

In addition to Marciello’s 2018 Sprint Cup title, Abril won the championship in 2015 driving for Bentley Team HTP alongside Maxi Buhk.

The trio will lead AKKA ASP’s Blancpain GT program, with additional cars set to be confirmed closer to the start of the season.

The Jerome Policand-led squad is expected to run three or four cars in both championships this year.

“I am delighted to welcome Vincent to our team and I have always kept an eye on his career since the French GT Championship, and I was able to follow his brilliant climb to Blancpain, welcome aboard Vincent!” said Policand.