Connect with us

Intercontinental GT Challenge

Craft-Bamboo Confirms Factory Porsche for Suzuka 10H

Craft-Bamboo confirms factory-driven Porsche GT3 for Suzuka 10H…

Photo: SRO

Craft-Bamboo Racing has become the latest team to commit to the Suzuka 10 Hours, announcing on Thursday that it will field an all-factory Porsche lineup in the August race.

The team will enter at least one Porsche 911 GT3 R at Suzuka, which replaces the Sepang 12 Hours as the Asian round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge this season.

The Hong Kong-based operation currently competes in the Blancpain GT Series Asia but also fielded a factory Porsche at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour which opened the IGTC season in February.

Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Earl Bamber shared driving duties in the car en route to a fifth-place finish.

The team is yet to announce the driver lineup for its Suzuka entry.

“I am very pleased we were able to finalize the partnership with Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific to compete in the upcoming Suzuka 10 Hours with a full factory line-up,” said team director Darryl O’Young.

“Our first Intercontinental GT Challenge race was the Bathurst 12 Hour earlier this year, where we had a shot for the win up to the final 20 minutes.

“It was a bittersweet end for us there, but it only motivated us more to go for the win in Suzuka.

“We have seen good performance from the Porsche 911 GT3 R in past races at Suzuka, so we have high expectations to compete at the front of the field again.

“There’s a very competitive entry list, so for us the race starts now as we prepare for the big event.”

Craft-Bamboo could also enter a second car in either the Pro or Pro-Am category, which would bring the total number of Porsche GT3s in the race up to seven.

More than 30 cars are now confirmed for the race, which will include a variety of FIA GT3, Super GT GT300 and JAF GT-spec machinery and will take place on Aug. 24-26.

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.

Click to comment
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More in Intercontinental GT Challenge