TEAM NEWS: Blackthorn Partners with Ecurie Ecosse
Partnership to Mark Ecurie Ecosse&rsquos 70th anniversary of winning the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans
British-based race team Blackthorn have today announced a partnership with the legendary Ecurie Ecosse brand to enter an Aston Martin GT3 EVO into the 2025/2026 Asian Le Mans Series [ALMS].
While Ecurie Ecosse made occasional appearances in the Formula One World Championship, it was in sportscar racing that the iconic Edinburgh-based race team earned international acclaim.
Next year will mark Ecurie Ecosse’s 70th anniversary of winning the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Jaguar D-Type and it seems only fitting that the brand marks this occasion with a return to the top echelons of endurance racing.
Indeed, the ALMS entry is just the start, with the partnership eager to continue the Le Mans journey begun by Ecurie Ecosse in the 1950s. The team is determined to demonstrate to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest [ACO] and Le Mans Endurance Management [LMEM] that they will deliver its best drivers and crew with the ultimate aim of returning to the world’s most famous enduro: the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn entry will also adorn Race Against Dementia logos on the car’s livery – a global charity founded by former Ecurie Ecosse driver Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, to fund pioneering research into prevention, treatments and cures of dementia.
Blackthorn, an Aston Martin Racing Partner Team, runs three of its own Aston Martin GT3 EVOs in various championships and has been making great strides in the British GT Championship with the team recently dominating the fifth round at Spa-Francorchamps. Blackthorn claimed its maiden race win from pole position as Scotland’s Jonny Adam took his 20th British GT Championship race win alongside Italy’s Giacomo Petrobelli, elevating the team to championship contention.
Adam – a four-time British GT Champion and two-time Le Mans category winner – will partner Petrobelli in the Aston Martin GT3 EVO for the team’s Asian Le Mans campaign. The pairing will be joined in the cockpit by GT World Challenge driver Kobe Pauwels from Belgium who is part of Aston Martin Racing’s official driver academy.
Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn will be first seen on track as a dual partnership at the opening round of the 2025/2026 ALMS season at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia from 13-14 December 2025. Two races in Dubai will follow at the end of January 2026, with the season-finale set to be held at Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi from 7-8 February.
It will not just be championship glory that Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn will be fighting for, there will also be invitations to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2026 on the line. The champions of the LMP2 and GT classes will both be awarded an invitation to race at the iconic event.
Alasdair McCaig, Ecurie Ecosse team Director, commented: “It’s a tremendous privilege to lead a team with such a storied heritage. We’re proud of our recent accomplishments and excited to embark on this new chapter—honouring the legacy while embracing fresh opportunities in modern motorsport. Ecurie Ecosse remains deeply committed to excellence, and we’re thrilled to join forces with Blackthorn to bring our vision to life on the 70th anniversary of the Le Mans victory."
Claude Bovet, Blackthorn founder and owner, commented: “We are very excited to partner with Ecurie Ecosse – an iconic brand with a rich racing history. With two 24 Hours of Le Mans victories to its name, it is an honour to continue this legacy with the aim of returning the legendary Scottish name to where it belongs – at Circuit de la Sarthe. First, however, we have Asian Le Mans Series in our sights where we’re aiming for the championship title with one of our Aston Martin GT3 EVOs.”
