Aston Martin WEC team recalls Jonny Adam in GTE AM title bid

Aston Martin test and reserve driver Adam, who helped Andrew Howard to this year's British GT title, will again replace car owner Roald Goethe in the #96 Aston Vantage GTE alongside class points leaders Jamie Campbell-Walter and Stuart Hall at Shanghai.

Aston Martin Racing boss John Gaw explained that Adam's presence in the team for the second consecutive race reflected Goethe's desire to win the championship.

"Roald is a car collector and it would nice for him to have a car in his collection that has won a championship," Gaw said.

"He is also exceptionally busy, so his absence is down to a combination of reasons."

Campbell-Walter said: "It is great to have Jonny back in the car. He's proven this year in the British GT Championship that he is ready for the next challenge."

Adam came into the AMR line-up last month at Fuji as a result of a rule-change that forced GTE Am teams to run three drivers.

It followed class victories for Campbell-Walter and Hall at the Interlagos and Austin WEC rounds as a duo following Goethe's withdrawal for business reasons.

Gaw would not be drawn on whether Adam would be in the car for the WEC finale in Bahrain at the end of November.

"No decision has been made. As you get down to the end of the championship, the events of one weekend shape the next," he said.

Campbell-Walter and Hall lead the GTE Am title race by 18 points from Imsa Performance Porsche drivers Jean-Karl Vernay and Raymond Narac.

AMR also leads the teams' championship in the class.

The #99 GTE Pro Aston will be shared in Shanghai by Richie Stanaway, Pedro Lamy and Bruno Senna.

Senna returns to the Pro ranks after standing in for Nicki Thiim in the #95 GTE Am Aston at Fuji.