“We have an extensive program. In addition to our entries in the ADAC GT4 Germany and the GT4 European Series, we will also have a strong presence on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, which ensures a full schedule for us,” says team boss Chris Esser with a laugh. At the Nürburgring Endurance Series rounds, the team will compete with various Aston Martin models, but will also use the Porsche Cayman “permit driving school cars” in the V5 class.
In doing so, PROsport Racing will be the first team to field the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for the entire Nürburgring Endurance Series season. The British GT3 car will be driven by three Belgians. Maxime Dumarey and Jean Glorieux will contest the races in the Vantage GT3. Veteran Nico Verdonck, who also competes for the team in the GT4 European Series, will also take a seat at the wheel of the car for testing and coaching purposes. The primary goal is to gain experience with the car on the Nordschleife and to keep improving over the course of the season.
On an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Alexander Walker and Guido Dumarey, who already started for PROsport Racing on the Nordschleife in 2021, will start in the SP10 class. The driver duo will be supported by Yevgen Sokolovskiy, a Ukrainian living in Düsseldorf. Sokolovskiy will also compete for the team in the ADAC GT4 Germany.
In addition, the team will occasionally field a second Aston Martin Vantage GT4. Guillaume Dumarey, who like Maxime Dumarey is a son of Guido Dumarey, will share the car with Simon Balcaen. “These are all good and experienced amateur drivers who want to gain experience on the Nordschleife in 2022,” Esser said. PROsport Racing’s goal is for the two Belgians to compete in the Nürburgring Endurance Series in 2023 with the second Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
PROsport Racing will eventually be represented at the first rounds of the Nürburgring Endurance Series season, as well as the qualifying race for the 24h race, in the V5 class with the well-known Porsche Cayman, which are known as “permit driving school cars”.
One of the drivers who will turn the wheel of the Cayman is Norwegian Emil Heyerdahl, who became champion in the TCR class of the 24H Series in 2021 and won the title in Formula STCC Nordic in 2018. Once the permit is achieved, Heyerdahl, along with other talented young drivers, will pilot the second Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in selected races. “With this car we want to have a say in the awarding of the podium places!”, says Esser.
Last but not least, PROsport Racing will also participate in various youngtimer races, which are primarily held on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, such as the 24h Classic as part of the supporting program of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. “Maybe we will be able to spoil things a bit for the perennial winners Porsche, it won’t fail because of the appropriate drivers and equipment. I don’t want to reveal anything more at the moment,” team owner Chris Esser concludes with a grin on his face.
