Plowman, Cheng Complete BAR1 Lineup for Watkins Glen

Photo: IMSA

BAR1 Motorsports will have a familiar face returning to the wheel, while also welcoming a new driver for this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.

The Ohio-based squad announced Tuesday that Martin Plowman and David Cheng will join season-long pilot Doug Bielefeld in the No. 88 Oreca FLM09 for the third round of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup.

Plowman, who is fresh off competing in the Indy 500 with A.J. Foyt Racing, makes his second TUDOR United SportsCar Championship start of the season with the Brian Alder-led organization, while Chinese-born Cheng is set for his BAR1 debut.

“Martin did a great job at Sebring, as lead driver in our primary car, and was running some of the fastest lap times of all the PC cars toward the end of the race,” Alder said. “We are anxious to show what we can do here at the Glen.

“David is a great driver and his experience in endurance racing will definitely play a role in helping us stand on the podium at weekend’s end. He is a great guy and I’m glad we have a chance to work together. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a long term relationship.”

Cheng started the TUDOR Championship season with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports at Daytona before switching to Starworks Motorsport for the Twelve Hours of Sebring, where he scored a podium finish.

Having been part of the first all-Chinese driver lineup at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24-year-old is set to also defend his title in the Asian Le Mans Series, which kicks off next month.

“From the start of the season I’ve been aiming to do the NAEC alongside my confirmed program of Asian Le Mans Series, LM24 and my home round in Shanghai of the WEC,” Cheng said.

“We we’re able to put together Daytona and Sebring earlier this year with a good 4th and 3rd place finish respectively, but until last week we thought that was it for the North American races.”

Plowman added:  “I feel we have all of the ingredients for a good weekend and I’m looking forward to continuing with co-driver Doug Bielefield. “I’m also looking forward to teaming up with David Cheng who I know from my days of driving for OAK Racing in the World Endurance Championship.”

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