Erebus Motorsport will be absent from the Australian GT grid for the first time in two years this weekend as it plots a move into the Asian Le Mans Series.
Erebus first flagged its intention to race its pair of Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT3s off-shore following its stunning victory in February’s Bathurst 12 Hour.
While the Sepang 12 Hour was slated as an initial target, appearances in the reborn Asian Le Mans Series later in the year are understood to be the team’s current focus.
Erebus campaigned both of its cars at Bathurst and at the second round of the 2013 AGTC season in Adelaide, before scaling back to one car for the most recent two events.
The team’s rising star Jack Le Brocq dominated during both of his appearances in the championship and will likely form a part of the squad’s international plans.
Although currently offering no firm details, Erebus CEO Ryan Maddison confirmed that his team is on the brink of committing to sending its cars overseas.
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“GT3 is extremely strong in Europe and in Asia and we’re well down the path of making a decision on whether it makes sense to take our program offshore,” he told Speedcafe.com.
“We’ve seen obviously what the category is capable of here over the last few years in bringing some big names to the sport.
“Unfortunately the way the category has gone in recent times in Australia hasn’t been too pleasing for us, hence the reason we stepped back from two cars to one.
“It’s more about making sure that we want to take our investment and our program to the next level.”
Despite the withdrawal of Erebus, a healthy 17 car field has entered this weekend’s fifth round of the AGTC at Queensland Raceway.
The list includes a return of Greg Murphy to the category as co-driver to Corvette runner Jim Manolios.
Reigning champion Klark Quinn currently leads the points standings heading to Ipswich, with the Porsche driver 64 points clear of the absent Le Brocq.
Current third-placed man Tony Quinn is set to take over as his son’s biggest title threat and will once again be behind the wheel of his Aston Martin.
This weekend’s Shannons Nationals event marks the AGTC’s first visit to Queensland Raceway in six years.
