Serra to make WEC debut with Aston Martin

Aston Martin Racing has revealed that Dunlop development driver Daniel Serra will race alongside Darren Turner and Jonny Adam in the #97 Vantage GTE in the opening three rounds of the 2017 World Endurance Championship season. The deal therefore includes a debut appearance for the Brazilian in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Serra has completed multiple seasons in Stock Car Brasil in the past, but this year moves into the GTE field for the first time following his work developing the Aston Martin factory team's WEC tires over the past season.

"I'm really happy with the opportunity to race in a strong and competitive championship like WEC this year," Serra told RACER. "The race format is completely different from what I'm used to when I'm racing in Stock Car Brasil but pre-season preparation is going well and I have a great team helping me with that.

"It's good to know the tires and understand how they work," he continued when asked about a possible advantage handed to AMR, racing with a tire development driver. "Of course everybody else in the grid is out testing so it's difficult to say how much of this is a tangible advantage.

"Tire management will be really important this year with the rules though," he added. "Dunlop know about that, have very durable tires and did a great job during the winter."

When asked about this drive launching a potential career in GTE, Serra concluded that a full-season racing in the WEC is something he aspires to in the future.

The team has also confirmed that New Zealander Richie Stanaway will rejoin it again for the same three races, but this time in the #95 "Danetrain" with 2016 FIA WEC GTE Pro drivers champions Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen.

"It's great to be back at WEC this weekend and to be back with the team for this season," Stanaway said. "Obviously it's going to be a little different driving with the Danes this year, but having worked with these guys over the past few years, we already understand each other really well.

"Both Marco and Nicki are ultra-quick and I'm hoping we can be challenging for victories straight away at Silverstone, Spa and then for the big one at Le Mans."

The two Vantage GTEs will also be sporting a revised livery this season to compliment the new AMR road car range which the automotive arm of Aston Martin launched this year at the Geneva Motor Show.