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Bathurst local commits to full Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS campaign
Brad Schumacher will contest his first full national championship in 2021, driving his Audi R8 LMS in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS.
Schumacher officially launched his 2021 campaign by revealing the livery of his R8 at his ‘home’ circuit, with his car featuring support from Kelso Electrical, Kelso Heating and Cooling, Accumen, Sched Pty Ltd, Rexel, Kennards Hire and i-SIM Motion Simulators.
He also confirmed that Supercars star driver Tim Slade will team up with him for the three-hour endurance race at Mount Panorama later this year as part of the Bathurst International. Slade will provide ongoing assistance to his privately-run team, ‘Schumacher Motorsport’.
Schumacher has steadily made his way through state-based GT racing, including winning the New South Wales Production Sports Championship in 2019.
This year marks his first full national racing campaign and says he is looking forward to the challenge.
“My racing has progressed at a gradual rate, and we felt that Australian GT was the perfect series to progress our team,” he said.
“These are the cars that interest me. GT based cars are really the only cars that I’ve driven, and having stepped up from state racing to the national level, we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against the best drivers and teams that this country has to offer.”
Schumacher says that it will be a huge advantage for him and his team to have the guidance of Slade in his camp.
“He’ll be assisting me at every test day and any round that don’t clash with his V8 schedule, acting as driver coach and engineer, and co-driving with me in the end of year endure at Bathurst,” he confirmed.
“Tim and I met through a mutual friend Chad Parish originally. Chad recommended that we catch up and from their formed a friendship. One thing lead to another and we decided to work together to help progress my racing career, as I’ve previously never had any driver coaching as such”.
“Sladey was initially impressed with my progression as an amateur driver, and thought I could use some advice to reach the next level. For me, having a guy like Tim in my corner is a massive confidence boost especially based off his experience in GT cars both Nationally and Internationally”.
The opening round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS will be held at Phillip Island in two weeks time, and fresh off a test at the Island venue, Schumacher is champing at the bit to get into race mode.
“I’ve raced at Phillip Island many times before, and we’ve had good results down there in the past,” he said.
“I felt I was able to get our Audi up to a comfortable pace during the pre-season test. It’s the perfect circuit for the car – great aerodynamics and brilliant brakes plus high speed sections requiring commitment. It should be a good combination.”
The Phillip Island event will be held from February 19-21.