Experienced GT3 racer Jono Lester will lead a newly acquired Ferrari 458 GT3 at the Highlands 101 and Australian GT finale at Cromwell from November 7-9.
The Ferrari stands as only the second FIA GT3-spec machine to land in New Zealand after the Inky Tulloch Chevrolet Camaro which will be co-driven by Craig Lowndes.
Lester will be joined by the GT3 debutant Graeme Smyth at the Highlands Park meeting.
The Trass Family Motorsport acquired AF Corse Ferrari will use practice as the shakedown for the charge at Highlands as it prepares for the GT3-laden Bathurst 12 Hour next February.
Lester has been confirmed for his maiden Bathurst start however his two co-drivers are yet to be disclosed.
The team only took delivery of the Ferrari this week and face a scramble to prepare the car in time for the signature 101 meeting.
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The inaugural Highlands endurance race was taken out by the circuit’s owner Tony Quinn who will be back in the 6-litre V12 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 he will share with Garth Tander as previously reported.
Quinn and Tander combined to win the 101 format event at Phillip Island earlier this year.
The TFM Ferrari will run as an offshoot to the Melbourne-based Maranello operation which will assist if required.
“We are running our own show unless we need help,” Lester told Speedcafe.com
“I guess next weekend at Highlands will dictate a lot to what we do in the future.
“We’ve got good people within our team and there is no issue with the engineering capacity but you really want to hit the ground running when you rock up and learning a car at an event.
“So that little bit of extra help with set up and tyre data and things like this will go a long way, also to how we structure the plan for the weekend.”
“I’m pumped to get back behind the wheel of a GT3 car and have my first taste of the gorgeous 458 Italia,” Lester said.
Organisers of the Bathurst 12 Hour saw the entry list climb to more than 50 with confirmation of the Craft-Bamboo Aston Martins as the previously declared restriction of a 55-car grid capacity has been relaxed.
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