DXDT Racing Enters a Pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s For GTWC America

DXDT Racing has confirmed its lineups for the 2022 Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, with a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the Pro-Am cup category. Team owner David Askew will be joined by Dirk Müller in the number 63 car sponsored by USALCO, while Scott Smithson and Bryan Sellers form a new combination in the Qelo Capital-sponsored number 08 car.

In 2021, DXDT had a strong season fielding three cars in GT World Challenge America; their trio of cars combined for three wins, nine podiums, and 18 top-five finishes.

“I’m really looking forward to this season. It seems a long time since we last raced at the Indy 8 Hour, but we’ve been busy ever since,” Askew said in the team’s press release. “DXDT continues to grow and evolve, and I spend more and more of my time working on the team.”

“People are any team’s greatest asset, and I really enjoy the team-building part. It’s been extremely challenging for me being new and coming into the sport without a big Rolodex, but I keep chipping away at it. Slowly but surely, we are building a great team!”

It will be Askew’s sixth consecutive season competing in GTWC America, who scored two podiums last season alongside Ryan Dalziel.

This year, he’ll drive alongside Multimatic works driver Müller – who has racked up a number of accolades over a career spanning parts of four decades. Müller won the 2004 Nürburgring 24 Hours as a BMW factory driver, and the GTE Pro class at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ford. Most recently, Müller finished fifth in the GTD class at this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“I’ve had a really warm welcome to DXDT Racing, and this is a great start to 2022,” said Müller. “It’s good guys, a good team, and I feel happy to support them. I can’t wait to get the season going.”

Smithson returns to DXDT Racing on a full-time basis after a one-year hiatus from GTWC America. In 2020, Smithson competed for DXDT in the TC America series – finishing third in the TCR class standings with three wins and six podiums. He joined Askew and Dalziel in a one-off entry at last year’s Indianapolis 8 Hours, finishing fourth in the Pro-Am category.

His team mate Sellers is an established name in American sports car racing: He won the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship GTD Championship title, and he has taken class victories at all four of IMSA’s crown jewel endurance races – Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. He has also been mentoring Smithson as a driver-coach in recent years.

“It’ll be great to return to SRO,” said Sellers. “It’ll be my first time back since 2017 and it’s quite a bit different than it was then, so I’m looking forward to learning the rules and seeing the progression of the series.”

“I’m looking forward to being back with Scott as my co-driver. I’ve been able to work with him for a couple of years, watching him progress through the TCR ranks. I can’t wait to see what’s capable of in a GT3 car. He’s been incredibly quick, and it seems like he’s a very good student of the sport. I’m excited for all the pieces to come into place and see what the season holds.”

Another key personnel change is the addition of Simon Morley as Operations Manager of DXDT, bringing with him experience in Formula 1, GT and Prototype racing.

DXDT has already completed two preliminary tests at Sebring International Raceway, and both Askew and Smithson will also get extra track time when they compete on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida in the first round of the all-Bronze GT America sprint series.