Bamboo Engineering partners with Aston Martin Racing for the FIA World Endurance Championship
Friday, February 28, 2014
Bamboo Engineering will make its move into the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2014 as it partners with Aston Martin Racing in the #99 GTE Pro works team entry at each of the eight rounds, including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The #99 Bamboo Engineering Vantage GTE will run in the GTE Pro class with the latest signings to the Aston Martin Racing works team; Daryl O’Young (CH) - known for his exploits in the Craft Racing Vantage GT3 - and Alex MacDowall (GB), who both follow Bamboo Engineering from the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), and experienced WEC driver Fernando Rees (BR).
All three drivers put the V8 Vantage GTE through its paces at Aston Martin Racing’s official winter test session in Portimao, Portugal last week (21-22 February) and newcomer to the team, Rees, was impressed: “The test went really well in Portimao, and we have another test planned soon, the team are working really hard and I am really happy to continue in the WEC and be part of the Aston Martin family.”
The WEC comprises seven six-hour races, two of which will take place in darkness this year, and the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. The championship starts at Silverstone on 19-20 April and then visits some of the most iconic circuits in the world including Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Interlagos in Brazil, as well as some of the most modern facilities in motorsport such as the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, USA.
"This is a really prestigious programme for the company, a great engineering challenge that we all will relish,” comments Richard Coleman, CEO Bamboo-Engineering. “I am delighted to work with Alex and Darryl again, and we are looking forward to racing with Fernando. Last week’s test was really positive and we covered a lot of miles; the drivers even got some good night running which is vital practice for Le Mans."
Bamboo Engineering is no stranger to racing at world championship level having won races on its way to third overall in the 2013 FIA WTCC and in the Formula One support GP3 Series. Bamboo also retains and extends support from long-term partner INTERUSH, which enters its third year with the squad.
Marty Matthews, CEO and Chairman Interush said: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Bamboo Aston Martin Racing. We look forward to supporting them for the season and I am sure our fans will be out in force in Japan and China. The WEC is great exposure for the INTERUSH brand and I am sure we will have a great season on track”.
The FIA WEC starts with the Six Hours of Silverstone in the UK on 19-20 April.