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Aschenbach rejoins Gaples in Blackdog Camaros

Blackdog Speed Shop has confirmed it will run two Chevrolet Camaros Z/28.Rs in the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge GTS class, as former champ Lawson Aschenbach returns.

Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R

Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R

Blackdog Speed Shop

#1 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro: Lawson Aschenbach
#1 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro: Lawson Aschenbach
#9 Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R: Lawson Aschenbach, Matt Bell
#11 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Z28: Tony Gaples
#6 Stevenson Motorsports Audi R8 LMS GT3: Andrew Davis, Robin Liddell, Lawson Aschenbach, Matt Bell
#11 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Z28: Tony Gaples

Team owner Tony Gaples and four-time World Challenge Driver’s champion Lawson Aschenbach will drive the team’s familiar pair of flat-black Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.Rs in the new-look GTS class.

Blackdog Speed Shop has won the last three GTS driver titles, with Aschenbach in 2013 and ’14, and Michael Cooper in 2015.

For 2016, Cooper has replaced Andy Pilgrim alongside Johnny O’Connell in Cadillac Racing’s GT team. Aschenbach spent last season in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar team, campaigning a Camaro for Stevenson Motorsports. They ultimately took fourth in the championship.

“The 2015 season was another excellent one for Blackdog Speed Shop with another GTS championship,” said Gaples. “We are ready to build on those successes by welcoming back Lawson to our team. It's great to get the band back together. Lawson is a great driver and we look forward another great season in challenging for our fourth consecutive title in the Pirelli World Challenge GTS class.”

Gaples is confident his team has what it takes to make it four straight championships.

"The landscape in GTS is going to look different in 2016 with several new makes coming into the series” he said. “I'm excited to get back on the track and compete against the new hardware. Our Blackdog Speed Shop team knows the kind of effort it takes to be winners at this level, so we will be fully ready for this massive challenge.”

Aschenbach, who will also continue to race for Stevenson Motorsports which now campaigns the Audi R8 LMS, has 19 World Challenge race wins to his credit, and says he’s “thrilled” to return to Blackdog.

“I knew we created something special back in 2013,” he said, “and it was great to see the team continue the success last season. It will be exciting to strap back into a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R… a racecar that I know very well. It has good braking and power – an all-around well-balanced hot rod.”

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