Hardpoint, EBM Join Forces for Carrera Cup Program

Team Hardpoint and Earl Bamber Motorsport have entered a partnership that will see the two sports car outfits combine for a Porsche Carrera Cup North America program next year.

Rob Ferriol’s Hardpoint squad, which currently runs an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GT Daytona category, is joining forces with Carrera Cup race-winning team EBM for the newly-launched 2021 venture.

It is set to become a “multi-car” customer operation in the new Porsche Carrera Cup North America series, which was announced last month.

Hardpoint and EBM’s program will operate out of the former team’s new facility based in the Motorsports Technology Park at Virginia International Raceway.

The two teams are set to combine resources while Hardpoint will call upon the Porsche single-make experience of EBM, which is co-managed by New Zealand’s racing brothers Earl and Will Bamber.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to combine resources in a first-class way,” said Team Hardpoint principal Rob Ferriol.

“Not only has Earl Bamber Motorsport proven itself as a regular contender in Carrera Cup Asia, but the philosophy we share on motorsport, business, and how to deliver real value to drivers is what makes this a truly powerful combination.

“IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge was instrumental in my start as a driver, and the new Porsche Carrera Cup North America is going to elevate the single-make series to an even higher standard.

“This is a natural fit for both our organizations and a great way for us to enter the championship.”

EBM is known for its work running Porsche Carrera Cup and GT3 race cars in the Asian market.

The Malaysia-based team won the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour with a Porsche 911 GT3 R in 2019 while it has fielded entries in the last two seasons of Carrera Cup Asia.

EBM was due to step up to a full-time GT3 campaign this year in GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS before the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The team is now set for its North American debut racing in the fledgling Porsche series that supported by IMSA and Michelin.

“It’s a great day and huge new step for our team to venture into North American racing,” said EBM team co-principal and Porsche factory driver Earl Bamber.

“Porsche provides one of the best single-make platforms for teams and drivers and being able to take our business around the world shows that.

“To join forces with Rob in North America is a perfect alliance to hit the ground running in the 2021 Carrera Cup Series in North America.”