Fujitsu V8 Supercar driver and team owner Ben Eggleston is the newest addition to the Australian GT ranks after he purchased an Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3 to compete in this year’s Vodka O Australian GT Championship.

Eggleston has acquired the Aston from Ross Lilley and will make his debut in the championship at Round 1 at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide (March 17-20).

Egglestone will continue to campaign his ex-Walkinshaw Racing VZ in the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series for himself and various drivers during the season.

The Victorian-based New South Welshman is looking forward to his first drive of a GT race car.

“I first saw the Aston at Eastern Creek in 2009. Ross Lilley did a swap with a Porsche for the car from Marc Cini. It was then I knew I wanted it,” Eggleston said.

Eggleston’s decision to campaign the British machine in the 2011 GT Championship brings the Aston Martin ranks to two, alongside the VIP Petfoods entry of Tony Quinn who has shown the competitiveness of the marque by taking victories in both GT races at Bathurst last year.

The GT3 Aston Martin DBRS9 is powered by a front mounted V12, six litre engine producing 360 kilowatts.

Eggleston will get his first taste of his Aston Martin next month ahead of the opening round of the championship in March.

“I am hoping to have my first test of the Aston early in February, and having never driven GT cars before it will be a great challenge,” he said.

“I am really looking forward to being a part of this excellent Championship, and particularly the longer format races which gives you plenty of track time to come to grips with the car.

For Round 1 at the Clipsal 500 I am aiming at the top five, and then we will see how the rest of the season unfolds.”

The Eggleston Aston Martin will be presented in a brand-new livery, said to be “‘very different.” The car will be unveiled next month.