Leading Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS Pro-Am combination Brenton and Stephen Grove will return to international competition with the support of 2 Seas Motorsport for the Gulf 12 Hours.
Scheduled to take place on December 15, the Groves will cap off a strong season of competition for the fifth time at Yas Marina in a Grove-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, with three-time Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour winner Jules Gounon completing the team.
The Groves are vastly experienced in worldwide GT endurance racing having competed at the 24 Hours of Portimao earlier this season alongside previous appearances at the Crowdstrike 24 Hours Spa, Dubai 24 Hours in addition to local Fanatec GT Australia events.
"Yas Marina Circuit is one of my favourite tracks, and returning for the Gulf 12 Hours, in the premier GT race, is an incredible way to close out the year,” said Stephen Grove.
“The Mercedes-AMG has been fantastic, and we've learned a lot about how to maximise its performance this season.
“I’m excited to utilise all that knowledge to forge a strong result at the Gulf 12 Hours. Beginning our partnership with 2 Seas Motorsport is another thrilling aspect, and their meticulous preparation of the car has been impressive.
“It’s also a privilege to team up with a driver of Jules' calibre, and I'm eager to learn as much as possible from him. He's an incredible professional and there will be high value in observing his preparation, as well as his technique and outright speed throughout the weekend.”
The younger Grove has been competitive against many seasoned racers this season and is eager to end the year on a high.
"Finishing our racing season in the Gulf 12 Hours is incredibly exciting,” Brenton added.
“It’s a fantastic event in a great location, with intense racing. This will be our third time competing, but our first attempt at the overall win.
“With a full season in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 under our belt, we’re confident in achieving a strong result. 2 Seas Motorsport has an impressive track record at this event, having won twice before, and we’re thrilled to join forces with such a successful team.
“Jules has been a friend for a while, and we’ve wanted to team up with him since switching to Mercedes-AMG. Having him with us for the weekend will be invaluable to learning even more about the Mercedes-AMG package, and we know that he will be a great driver to work with."
Gounon is arguably the leading GT driver in the world and returns to 2 Seas Motorsport after sealing last year’s Intercontinental GT Challenge crown.
“I am very happy to be back with the guys at 2 Seas Motorsport,” said Gounon.
“We came together and did a great job last year in Abu Dhabi, securing the Intercontinental GT Challenge title, so it’s a pleasure to be back. I’m also really pleased to join the Grove family for this event – we have been working hard for some time make it possible to race together, so I am delighted that we have been able to make this all come together for the Gulf 12 Hours. Really looking forward to a fun weekend with everyone and hoping we can bring some silverware home to sign off the year.”
This year’s Gulf 12 Hour will be unique in the race will be split into two sections featuring an eight-hour opening event and four-hour sprint finale to close out the event.