Mok Weng Sun: “The WEC is the Pinnacle of My Career”

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Mok Weng Sun has revealed that he was on the verge of retirement prior to making the decision to commit to a full-season effort in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship with his Clearwater Racing team. (En Français)

The Singaporean gentleman driver will join longtime co-drivers Matt Griffin and Keita Sawa at the wheel of an AF Corse-prepared Ferrari 488 GTE car in the GTE-Am class, in what will mark the first full-time Southeast Asian team to take on the globe-trotting championship.

“The WEC is the pinnacle of my career,” Sun told Endurance-Info. “I hope to retire on a world title. Racing in a full FIA WEC campaign is a dream for the team and myself.”

Sun’s decision to continue at the wheel for one more year was influenced by the team’s recent success, most notably in the Asian Le Mans Series, where it claimed the 2015-2016 GT title, which propelled them to last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It was there where Bell put the car on GTE-Am class pole, with the trio finishing fourth in class in its race debut.

“For me, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 remains a great memory and I hope to have the opportunity to develop this into a full program,” said Sun.

“When you go to Le Mans once, the only thing you want is to come back. Before meeting the challenge of the WEC, it’s necessary to raise the necessary funds because it requires a lot of resources.

“I hope that we can shine and that there will be six or seven cars in GTE-Am.”

While the team awaits final confirmation of its WEC entry from the Selection Committee, with the entry lists for the WEC and Le Mans set to be announced on Feb. 2, Sun is already beginning preparations for season ahead.

He said they will utilize the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE chassis that was driven by Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado last year, in a class that is expected to feature at least two of the turbocharged Prancing Horses.

Despite having plans to sell its Ferrari 488 GT3 car that’s currently being campaigned in Asian LMS, Sun said Clearwater will continue in the sports car racing scene even when he hangs up the helmet.

“Clearwater Racing will be able to continue in the future without me behind the wheel,” he said. “If we have the customers, a long-term commitment to the WEC should not be excluded.

“What is certain is that I will retire as a driver at the end of this year.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John