British outfit Strakka Racing has confirmed 14 drivers for its debut season in the Blancpain GT Series.
The Silverstone-based team switched from the World Endurance Championship during the winter, taking on a new four-car programme with the factory McLaren GT squad.
Strakka Racing founder Nick Leventis and WEC driver Lewis Williamson will team in a McLaren 650S GT3 for all five rounds of the Sprint Cup, with Craig Fleming completing the crew for the Endurance rounds.
Team veteran Jonny Kane is also back, and will share a car with McLaren Academy driver Loris Hezemans in the Sprint series.
Joining Kane for the Endurance events will be former British Touring Car race winner Sam Tordoff and Academy prospect David Furmanelli.
“For some time I’ve longed to expand my racing outside of the UK,” said Tordoff, who has made sporadic GT apperances in Europe but is yet to take on a full-season programme.
“I haven’t ever been to Monza so 2017 is going to be an amazing adventure for me. Being able to do that in a McLaren with Strakka, a team I know very well, is a fantastic way to fulfil those aspirations.”
Alvaro Parente, who was recently signed to Clearwater Racing's Le Mans effort, will be part of the Strakka organisation in 2017 in line with his McLaren factory commitments.
The Portuguese driver is set to share a car with European F3 race winner Ben Barnicoat in the Sprints, along with either Rob Bell and Come Ledogar in the Endurance Cup. Bell will also compete in the Sprint Cup, aided by Acadmey driver Andrew Watson.
Watson will be joined by former F2 champion and Indy Lights competitor Dean Stoneman for the three-hour Endurance Cup races, plus GT3 regular Jazeman Jafaar.
“We are delighted to have secured such a formidable and impressive line-up of successful and talented drivers for Strakka’s debut in what is arguably the most competitive GT series in the world,” commented Leventis.
“Running four cars is a significant step up but the entire team together with McLaren GT have worked superbly to get all the cars prepared and racking up testing miles ahead of the season start.
“We’ve enjoyed getting to grips with our move to GTs but now’s the time to get racing and deliver on our aim to continue McLaren’s success in the category.”
Strakka Racing Blancpain GT Sprint lineups
Nick Leventis/Lewis Williamson
Jonny Kane/Loris Hezemans
Alvaro Parente/Ben Barnicoat
Rob Bell/Andrew Watson
Strakka Racing Blancpain GT Endurance lineups
Leventis/Williamson/Craig Fleming
Kane/David Fumanelli/Sam Tordoff
Parente/Barnicoat/Come Ledogar or Rob Bell
Watson/Dean Stoneman/Jazeman Jafaar
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