Leading GT Trophy contender Brett Hobson will step up to the Pro-Am Class for the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS season in a GWR Australia Mercedes-AMG GT3.
This will be the third GT3 manufacturer for Hobson after regularly driving a Nissan GT-R GT3 in GT Trophy and last year making his debut in Pro-Am piloting the popular KMB Motorsport Bentley Continental GT3 with Michael Bailey.
Hobson’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 is the former RAM Motorsport example used during the opening rounds of last year’s season before a testing incident prior to the Bathurst 12 Hour required the team to source another chassis quickly. It successfully did so as Hobson joined regular drivers Michael Sheargold and Garth Walden at the event marking his Mercedes-AMG debut.
Now re-shelled and prepared for the season by GWR Australia, Hobson hit the track this week to sample the Mercedes-AMG ahead of a more in-depth test next week.
“We tested last Wednesday just gone, well it was basically a shakedown,” Hobson explained.
“The car is the original Mercedes-AMG GT3 from RAM Motorsport that was crashed the week before last year’s Bathurst 12 Hour and it’s been re-shelled.
“GWR Australia has done an amazing job to get it turned around and re-shelled, so Wednesday was a shakedown for not only my Mercedes-AMG, but the RAM Motorsport example ahead of a test day set to occur soon.
“We had a couple of little issues at the start of the day, but the GWR Australia guys know these Mercs inside out, so we had a couple of sessions in the afternoon and it ran faultlessly after that.
“I was really impressed with the way the team has put it together and how the car feels, it is amazing.
“I’m excited for the next test when we’ll bolt on some new rubber and see how quick we are.”
Having now driven three different takes on a fast GT3 model, Hobson revealed his findings.
From Nissan to the Bentley to the Mercedes, all three are completely different,” he revealed.
“The biggest thing with the Mercedes is the way you sit in the car because you are placed close to the rear axle, so it feels a lot different. Once you get your head around that, it’s a great car to drive.
As a Silver rated driver Hobson will be the Pro in the line-up and discussions are taking place surrounding a suitable partner to share the duties with.
Also during the off-season, Hobson has contested speedway events in New South Wales and Victoria for a bit of fun, which has the added bonus of sharpening up his driving skills during the off-season.
“It’s good for keeping your reflexes up, but the main thing is reading the track, the modulation through throttle and braking because in speedway you’re having to feel the track change,” he said.
Hobson and RAM Motorsport will complete a test next week as season 2023 kicks off at the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour on April 6-9.