After a watershed year that netted his team the Bathurst 12 Hour, the Australian GT Championship title and the Australian Endurance Championship crown – all in GT4 – M-Motorsport team-boss Justin McMillan has revealed that he is looking for a return to GT3 in season 2020, but that he would still be campaigning two GT4 cars in this year’s championship.
“I’ve loved my time in the KTM, it has proven to be a very competitive race car and it has given me some great opportunities all over the world, but after a year that saw us land the three biggest titles available for the category in Australia, I think it’s time to return to a GT3 car,” McMillan explained.
Whilst very tight lipped about what he would campaign given his long-time association with Reiter Engineering built products (Reiter Engineering don’t currently build a current-spec FIA GT3 car), McMillan made no secret of the fact that the M-Motorsport team would still be fielding a pair of GT4 cars in the 2020 Australian GT Championship.
“David Crampton will return with his Vantage Freight entry determined to take the 2020 title, whilst there have been a number of other drivers interested in one-off drives in our championship winning X-Bow,” McMillan confirmed.
“Our preference though is to have one team in the car for the season, that’s the way you put a championship together, and with a comprehensive calendar on some great circuits including Bathurst twice, I don’t think we’re going to have any problem finding someone to take it on – and if they elect to go it alone, or take on one of the drivers who have flagged with us doing a round or two in the car, then that’s up to them.
“The car is also suitable for the Australian Endurance Championship – we didn’t enter them in the opening round at Bathurst because our focus is on the ‘sprint’ championship, but we showed last year with a one-two finish for the season, and with victory in the 12 Hour that the cars are just as comfortable in the long distance events, so if someone wants to run them there, then that’s not a big issue for us, we’re geared up for that too.”
Since his debut alongside Steven Richards in a Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 back in 2013, McMillan has always been a colourful addition to the field, his menacing matte black B-double transporter always a big feature in any race paddock, but whilst the team are serious about winning, they have arguably the best time of any operation in the championship.
“We’re there to win, of that there’s no question,” recently crowned AUS#2 David Crampton admitted. “But we have so much fun doing it, even the setbacks are taken in good humour, it’s such a fantastic team that is intent on supporting anyone that comes along to play.”
The 2020 Australian GT Championship kicks off with the opening Endurance Championship round with the Bathurst 12 Hour, where McMillan – as reigning GT4 champion – will sit out for the first time since 2013, the team focussing their efforts this year on the Sprint championship.
For anyone interested in contesting the 2020 Australian GT Championship (or the two Phillip Island endurance rounds) in a title-winning MY19 KTM X-Bow GT4, they can contact Justin McMillan directly via justin@mmotorsport.com.au
2020 Australian GT Championship (GT4);
Rnd#1 – 20-22 March, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC [GT Sportscar Festival]
Rnd#2 – 10-12 April, Bathurst, NSW
Rnd#3 – 15-17 May, Barbagallo, WA [Supercars]
Rnd#4 – 14-16 August, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC [GT Sportscar Encore]
Rnd#5 – 18-20 September, The Bend Motorsport Park, SA [Supercars]
Rnd#6 – 8-11 October, Bathurst, NSW [Supercars]
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