New in ELMS: Ross Gunn (Beechdean AMR n°99)

Q: Welcome to the ELMS.  How did your deal with Beechdean AMR come about?

Thank you very much. Having driven for Beechdean AMR since 2015 and successfully graduated to GT3 last year, ELMS was always the target for 2017. I shadowed the team and took in as much information as possible last year, which I feel has put me in an even better position heading into this season.

Q: Are you looking forward to racing alongside Darren Turner and Andrew Howard this season?

Absolutely! Both have a massive amount of experience that obviously has benefits to myself and the team. Darren has raced at a very high level for the past 15+ years, he been through it all. Being with these guys will be invaluable to my on and off track development.

Q: You are racing for the 2016 Champions, is this going to put any extra pressure on you as a driver?

Of course, there will be pressure on me. Looking at the 2017 ELMS GTE line up, there are plenty of strong and hungry drivers and teams that want to win this illustrious championship, so as a team we need to work hard and effectively to retain the championship. The pressure is on, but how I deal with it is what matters now.

Q: You won the AMR Evolution Academy in a shootout in Bahrain at the end of the 2015 season.  How did that help your career as a racing driver?

Winning the AMR Evolution Academy was unbelievable at the end of 2015. Not only have I now got a critical foot into a manufacturer but they also give me plenty of seat time in their cars. I am either completing shakedowns or testing on a weekly basis. For someone of my experience level, seat time is so important and I am also building relationships. Whilst my current focus is with the Beechdean AMR team, my ambition is to drive for the works team at some point in the future.

Q: Of the six circuits on the 2017 ELMS calendar, which ones have you raced at and which one are you looking forward to the most?

Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps are the only two, so there is a lot to learn. Andrew has his own in house simulator (from Darren’s company - Base Performance Simulators) that we work on regularly to learn circuits. So far it has been an effective tool.