Arise Racing GT has announced motorsports stars Chaz Mostert and Jaxon Evans for the 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia (GTWCA) Powered by AWS.
The exciting signings form part of Arise Racing GT’s unveiling today of a stellar driver lineup for 2024, with the two professionals joined by high-regarded bronze drivers Elliott Schutte and Liam Talbot – the latter having won the 2023 GT World Challenge Australia Championship.
The news follows hot on the heels of the team’s announcement in January that it would be competing in the 2024 GTWCA, supported by entrepreneur Laurence Escalante’s Lance East and Perth-based Arise Racing, and the enticing revelation it would be racing Ferrari 296 GT3 cars.
Evans and Mostert are both also running full Supercars campaigns, with the 2024 GT World Challenge Australia schedule avoiding any calendar clashes between the two series.
Mostert, a renowned Supercars winner who has previously also enjoyed success in the GT3 category, said he was excited to be joining Arise Racing GT, the new Ferrari 296 and acting as Talbot’s team-mate.
“I’ve driven with Liam a few times and it’s awesome to be teaming up again, and hopefully we can put a good championship together,” said Mostert.
Likewise, Evans said he was thrilled to be partnering with Arise Racing GT and the other drivers, including Schutte, who has a strong track record of success in Radical competition.
“(It’s) an exciting project with all the right ingredients, fuels my excitement for the season ahead,” Evans said.
“I’m pretty pumped to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari 296 GT3 car, at some of the best circuits in the country. The car is a work of art that has already accomplished big results in European, US competition.
“Everybody’s a Ferrari fan, even if they say they’re not!”
Talbot said he was “more motivated than ever to be part of this exciting journey with Arise Racing GT” after last year’s Championship win, and excited about the new team.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead with a new car debut in Australia but have full faith in the very strong team assembled,” Talbot said.
Schutte, a former Radical driver, is looking forward to the new challenge with Evans and the team.
“A big thank you to Lance East group and the entire team involved at Arise Racing GT.” Schutte said:
“I’m incredibly excited to team up with Lance East, Jaxon Evans and Arise Racing for 2024.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in that we’ll be racing Ferrari GT3 cars this year – it wasn’t too long ago that I was sim racing in my bedroom. I can’t thank Laurence enough for the support he’s given me and the entire team and to the Arise Racing driver development program – together they’ve genuinely made a dream come true.”
As part of a broader partnership with Ferrari, Arise Racing GT will bring a level of factory support to the category for the first time in Australia. The new group will also facilitate the sale of Ferrari GT race cars to Australian customers, and Arise Racing GT is in the process of finalising an exclusive distribution agreement to supply Ferrari GT parts in Australia, leveraging the group’s experience, expertise and networks across the industry.
Arise Racing GT will be Western Australia’s only team in the GTWCA, and Mr Escalante’s Lance East will also be the marquee sponsor of the team.
The opening round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS will be held at Phillip Island on April 12-14.
