This year’s Blancpain GT Series Asia grid continues to gather strength following the news that X-ONE Racing will enter a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 with support from Lamborghini Squadra Corse.
The championship’s inaugural season already features several high-profile names thanks to the recent announcements of FFF Racing Team, Phoenix Racing Asia and Clearwater Racing, but X-ONE Racing’s commitment also proves that SRO’s new series is equally appealing to GT racing newcomers.
Founded in late 2016, X-ONE Racing is the brainchild of Swiss entrepreneur and team owner Benjamin J. Fischer, and former Italian F1 driver turned team principal Domenico ‘Mimmo’ Schiattarella. Together they will manage and race a single Huracan GT3 in Blancpain GT Series Asia and take advantage of the championship’s close allegiance with Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia by also entering the one-make support category.
Indeed, that strategy is linked to the Swiss-based outfit’s plan to develop its gentleman driver racing activities all the way up to long-distance events.
X-ONE Racing Team Owner/Driver Benjamin J. Fischer: “The new Blancpain GT Series Asia platform will be highly competitive and attract spectators, media coverage and sponsors. We, at X-ONE Racing, are proud to be there from the very beginning and play a major part in another success story, giving the racing world plenty of thrilling moments.”
X-ONE Racing Team Principal/Driver Domenico ‘Mimmo’ Schiattarella: “I am very happy to begin this new adventure. Becoming team principal of a new outfit is definitely a matter of pride and, in this new role, I want to be as competitive as I was on the race track. I will help X-ONE’s drivers by offering as much guidance as I can from all my years of racing. I must also give special thanks to our team owner Benjamin [Fischer] for this great opportunity. Finally, to have the support of Lamborghini is a dream come true and I hope to repay their commitment with professionalism and results. We will compete in both Blancpain GT Series Asia and Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, so it will be an intense season but I cannot wait to get started.”
Championship Manager Benjamin Franassovici: “X-ONE Racing is a great example of a newly established team taking advantage of the benefits Blancpain GT Series Asia can offer. Yes, it’s important to attract the established outfits, but we’ve also worked hard to provide drivers and teams with more value-for-money racing. With X-ONE targeting the gentleman driver market, it makes sense for them to compete in a championship where there’s clear progression with the same manufacturer, as we have with Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia.”
