Strakka to run Mercedes factory duo Buhk, Gotz in Blancpain Endurance

Buhk and Gotz will be joined by Alvaro Parente, who raced a Strakka McLaren in last year's BGTS Sprint Cup, in four of the five enduros in the British team's pro class Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The trio have already teamed up for Strakka in the Bathurst 12 Hours in February, the opening round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge for which the team is the Mercedes factory representative.

Former British Formula 3 champion Parente will miss the Silverstone round in May courtesy of a clashing commitment with the K-PAX/Flying Lizards Bentley team in the Pirelli World Challenge in North America.

He will be replaced by David Fumanelli, another veteran of Strakka's 2017 BGTS campaign with McLaren, for the British Endurance Cup race.

Fumanelli will also race Strakka's pro-am class entry at the Spa 24 Hours BGTS round in July.

The Italian will share with regular drivers Lewis Williamson, Chris Buncombe and team owner Nick Leventis.

Strakka director Jay Davenport said: "We are delighted to have secured such a formidable line-up of talented and successful drivers for Strakka's debut year with the Mercedes-AMG GT3s.

"I think we've got all the ingredients for a successful season in both the BGTS and IGTC."