Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Jonathan Cocker will return to Europe this season, having inked a deal to compete with Aston Martin factory-supported Barwell Motorsport in the new FIA GT3 Championship.

Despite suggesting that he would return to the Far East to defend his crown, the 19-year old, who first rose to prominence when he clinched the 2004 British GT title, will campaign one of the new Aston Martin DBRS9s especially designed for the junior sportscar class. He will share the car with Leo Machitsky, who competed in Britcar and the Dutch Supercar championship in 2005.

”This is a new championship and, up to now, there are around 50 cars on the grid, which is amazing,” Cocker said, "To start with, I expect I'll be racing against my team-mates, Tiff Needell and Tom Alexander, which will be hard enough - but there are some incredible cars involved, including Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, TVR and the new Ascari KZ1 GT3. It's going to be very competitive, but the DBRS9 is amazing and we're definitely in it to win the championship."

The season kicks off with the first two one-hour races handing Cocker and the Barwell team 'home field advantage' at Silverstone on 7 May, where the GT3 series supports the senior FIA GT Championship. After that, it will take the field to four other well-known circuits - Spa-Francorchamps, Magny-Cours, Imola and Oschersleben - which will mean a learning curve for the young Briton.

"I know Silverstone well, and I've raced at Spa before, but Imola, Magny-Cours and Oschersleben are new to me," Cocker confirmed.

Cocker and Machitsky may also find time to contest a number of British GT rounds with the Aston, but admit that they could provide as stiff a test as the international competition.

"The DBRS9 is too quick for the GT Cup class in British GTs, so we'll be up against the GT2 class cars!" Cocker revealed, "The car is just awesome, though, and it's going to be a fantastic season."