De Pasquale to race Porsche in Dubai
Anton De Pasquale will race a Porsche 911 GT3 R at the 2023 Dubai 24 Hour.
The Shell V-Power Racing Team driver has been named as part of a Grove Racing/Earl Bamber Motorsport-backed effort.
The race will be held at the Dubai Autodrome on January 13-15.
De Pasquale joins experienced endurance driver Bamber and Grove duo Stephen and Brenton.
The Ford driver raced with the Groves in Dubai earlier this year.
The entry finished sixth outright in the race last January.
De Pasquale, Bamber and the Groves form a Pro-Am line-up.
The 27-year-old is the latest driver to confirm off-season starts away from Supercars.
De Pasquale last January in Dubai
Cam Waters is back on the speedway circuit, with Shane van Gisbergen also sizing up a speedway swing.
"It’s awesome to be heading to Dubai 24 again with the Groves and Earl,” De Pasquale said.
“We have the experience from this year and can hopefully use that to put us in good stead.
“It’s a pretty cool race through the night and to be teaming up with a great bunch of people makes it an unreal week.
“Looking forward to heading over there and getting stuck in.”
Bamber, who raced in the 2018 Bathurst 1000 with Shane van Gisbergen, was keen for the challenge.
The two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner is also expected to run an entry in the forthcoming LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour.
“Obviously, as a team, to continue working with the Grove Group, Brenton and Steve, it’s fantastic,” Bamber said.
De Pasquale finished fourth overall in 2022
“We’re hoping for a good run in Dubai, to lead in with some success to the Bathurst 12 Hour.”
Brenton Grove added: “We’re itching to get back to Dubai.
“We had quite a good run this year, however we’re definitely looking to go one step further.
“It’s an incredibly difficult race with the traffic and so many cars, so it’s mainly about surviving the first 18 hours.
“However, with Earl and Anton we’re excited to see where they can take us at the end of the race.
“We’re all really good mates so it will be quite cool to share a car for the first time.
“We’ve all driven with each other individually but this will be the first time together.
“Hopefully it’s part of a bigger programme for 2023.”
The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle next March.
Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.
