The Northern Irishman final competed in a UK championship in 2019, when he went on to turn into that 12 months’s Porsche Carrera Cup champion with JTR, whereas additionally being the German marque’s official Junior driver.
The 22-year-old will now make his debut in British GT having spent the previous few years racing with BMW within the Nurburgring Endurance Collection and GT World Problem.
“This would be the first time in British GT for myself and I’m actually wanting ahead to it,” stated Harper, who will type a Professional-Am partnership with Leung in a BMW M4 GT3.
“For me will probably be the prospect to get again on the UK tracks since Carrera Cup in 2019, so I’m very excited.
“It’s new for me to work with an Am driver moderately than a Professional, and with my lack of expertise it’s nonetheless an enormous step. However the group has put a number of belief in me, and I’m glad and grateful for giving me the prospect. They [Century] know what they’re doing, they’re a really sturdy group.”
Leung took victory on his British GT debut with Century on the Donington Park finale final 12 months, sharing an M4 GT3 with Formulation E race winner, and present Cadillac LMDh driver, Alexander Sims.
Harper drove alongside Leung for the primary time earlier this 12 months on the Gulf 12 Hours and believes the previous Ginetta GT4 Supercup driver will proceed to seek out extra consistency and velocity through the course of the season.
“He’s so motivated to be taught and go faster, the quantity of depth and energy he’s placing in is spectacular for an Am,” stated Harper.
“Darren has actually good velocity straight out of the field so with extra testing and extra assist he’ll solely get higher with extra expertise and time within the automotive. We hope to be contending for the championship on the finish of the season.”
Century group boss Nathan Freke added: “It is so good to be returning this 12 months with the BMW M4 GT3 and it feels solely proper to be returning with Darren after the victory at Donington final 12 months.
“Darren, though within the very early phases of his racing profession, clearly has an ideal pure expertise and could be very thorough and analytical along with his driving and prep.
“We competed within the Gulf 12 Hours over the winter, and we had the chance to work with BMW manufacturing unit driver, Dan Harper. His maturity, velocity and work ethic have been a really nice shock. It was a simple choice to proceed the partnership into British GT.”