Christian Krognes blir Norges andre fabrikkfører i racing sammen med Dennis Olsen, nå som han har signert en fabrikkontrakt med Aston Martin. Les mer i denne pressemeldingen fra Aston Martin på engelsk.
Aston Martin Racing’s works line-up of champion drivers now includes Norwegian Christian Krognes from 2025 onwards. The 2018 Spa 24 Hours winner will contest the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS (GTWC Europe) in the Endurance Cup, alongside new works teammates David Pittard (GBR) and Henrique Chaves (POR), in Walkenhorst Motorsport’s Pro class #34 Vantage GT3.
Krognes, 34, whose pedigree includes the overall Nordschleife-based Nürburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS) title in 2012, is the official GT3 lap record holder on the fearsome circuit’s NLS layout since 2022. A long-serving driver for Walkenhorst Motorsport, he will also participate in the team’s SP9 Pro class assault on the Nürburgring 24 Hours in June.
“Christian’s performances over the years at the Nürburgring have ensured he has long been someone we’ve kept an eye on, and when the opportunity arose for us to bring him into the AMR family officially, it seemed like an obvious decision to make,” said Aston Martin Racing Director of Performance Gus Beteli. “He is super-fast, gives precise and consistent feedback, works well in a team environment and is a safe pair of hands behind the wheel; all key attributes when competing in the highest levels of endurance racing.”
Krognes, who since switching from karts to car racing has built his career mainly around Nürburgring-based endurance events, described becoming part of the AMR works driver line-up as the “realisation of dream”.
“Joining Aston Martin was always a childhood dream for me,” said Krognes. “Now I’m looking forward to taking on the challenges ahead with my great teammates at Walkenhorst Motorsport behind the wheel of the spectacular Aston Martin Vantage GT3. I’ve always admired the brand’s heritage and I’m very proud to represent such an iconic manufacturer. I also want to take this opportunity to thank AMR for putting its faith in me as well as all the people who have supported me so far on this journey. I can’t wait for the season to start.”
Krognes joins arguably the strongest ever AMR works line-up, one full to the brim with stellar talent. Former FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) GT champions Marco Sørensen (DEN) and Thiim both return with multiple programmes, while Spa 24 Hours winner Mattia Drudi (ITA) will compete in WEC, GTWC Europe and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA). Chaves, the 2021 GTWC Europe Pro-Am champion and 2020 International GT Open title-winner, and Pittard – winner of the 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours – contest the GTWC Europe. 2023 Le Mans Cup champion and 2020 AMR Academy winner Valentin Hasse Clot (FRA) will participate in programmes in WEC, IMSA and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS). Jonny Adam (GBR), the most successful British GT Championship driver of all-time, will go for a record-breaking fifth title with Blackthorn, while Darren Turner – AMR’s longest-serving works driver – begins his 21st season wearing the famous wings competing with The Heart of Racing (THOR) in the GT World Challenge America.
That’s not all. Ross Gunn (GBR), Aston Martin Racing’s first Driver Academy winner (2014) joins the Aston Martin THOR Team works Valkyrie programme in WEC and IMSA alongside Sørensen, WEC and IMSA GT race winner Alex Riberas (ESP), 2021 AMR Academy winner and 2022 IMSA GTD champion Roman De Angelis (CDN), 2018 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Tom Gamble (GBR) and former 24 Hours of Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring class winner Harry Tincknell (GBR) to complete a total roster of 14 works drivers.
Fanatec GT World Challenge
Round 4 // Endurance Cup – June 25th – 30th, 2024
Photo: Drew Gibson