KCMG Set for Expansion in 2014

Photo: John Dagys

After dipping its toe in the water this season, KCMG will compete full-time in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2014, while also eyeing an additional LMP2 program for the European Le Mans Series.

Team owner Paul Ip confirmed to Sportscar365 that his Asian-based squad is set for an expansion on to the global stage, with one driver already in place for its planned single-car Morgan-Nissan program in the WEC.

With intentions of retuning to the Asian Le Mans Series, while also evaluating a potential effort in the ELMS, KCMG could be present in three of the four ACO-blessed sports car championships next year.

“We have our ladder [system] in Asia,” Ip told Sportscar365. “The [first] decision was to focus on the single-seater series such as Formula Masters, Formula 3, Super Formula. Now the next step is either Formula One or WEC because I want to go global.

“We think WEC will be better because of the LMP2 category. That’s why we’ve entered WEC and we want to [expand] out of Asia. Basically, there’s no more things we can do in Asia!”

The team contested three rounds of the WEC this year, which included a sixth place finish in its debut with the OnRoak Automotive-built prototype at Silverstone.

Since then, KCMG took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Six Hours of Fuji and the entire Asian LMS, finishing runner-up in the LMP2 championship with two victories.

Ip said prior to Sunday’s Three Hours of Sepang that they’ll likely remain with Morgan prototypes, with the team having options to purchase new and used chassis from the French constructor.

As for the logistics behind the team’s expanded effort, a satellite operation will be established in Europe.

“We will have to have a team based in Europe, especially for the first three rounds, with some European mechanics at the moment,” Ip said. “The rest of the team will be from Asia. We’re looking at two locations at the moment, one in the U.K. and one in Holland.”

KCMG is the fourth LMP2 team to commit to the WEC next year, joining the returning Delta-ADR and G-Drive outfits and Russian-backed SMP Racing, which plans to field a pair of Oreca 03 Nissans.

Newly crowned class champions OAK Racing has yet to decide on their exact 2014 plans but have previously stated that it would not race against its customers in the WEC.

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