NEW AUSTRALIAN GT CATEGORY MANAGER APPOINTED

Australian GT appoint David Vervaart as category manager – Photo: Supplied

Australian GT management has announced that Tasmanian-born David Vervaart will take over from Ken Collier as category manager.

As previously reported by Auto Action, Collier announced his resignation just prior to the championship’s opening round at the Australian Grand Prix, signalling that this was to be his final event in the role.

His replacement has more than 30-years experience in the sports industry worldwide, with his motorsport background extensive. He was a commercial manager at the then Ford Performance Racing, but has also served as circuit manager, team manager and driver manager.

Vervaart is delighted to be in the role and sees much potential in the class as it goes through a significant period of change.

“Having been a part of almost every angle you can approach the sport from – I can honestly say I am better prepared than ever to assist with the growth of Australian GT, and excited by the prospect of what’s to come,” Vervaart said.

“Having been involved with the SRO organisation over a 20-year span, and having seen the way the category has both evolved and recently re-energised, gives me the comfort of knowing there is nothing wrong with the model, and that GT3 still remains one of the most vibrant and successful categories of motorsport worldwide.

“I have already spoken with some of the stakeholders, and over the coming weeks will make direct contact with all of them to get a better picture of what we need to do to get the championship flourishing again, and I have no doubt that it will do just that over the coming seasons with the right ideas and the right kind of communication.”

For Australian GT category owner Jim Manolios, it signals a new era for the class started when the ownership changed hands last year.

“Looking forward from the foundations that were laid over the last seven years, it was important to take the next step in the development of Australian GT with an experienced hand at the helm,” Manolios admitted.

“CAMS shared my view in that, and were keen to meet and endorse David in the role, as we all look to re-establishing Australian GT as one of the premier categories in Australian motorsport.

“We have some big plans for the coming seasons, but we also need to work more closely with the stakeholders of Australian GT to ensure we achieve the best result that we can moving forward. The motorsport landscape is changing constantly but also becoming very splintered with the growing number of new categories emerging, however GT3 competition worldwide is on a resurgence, and with quite a number of cars already on the ground in Australia, our aim is to get them out of garages and back on track.

“For us, this new appointment signals the start of the next chapter in Australian GT, and we’re very excited about what’s ahead.”

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