Barker Returns to Gulf Racing; Davison Tipped for Final Seat

Ben Barker will continue with Gulf Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for the 2018-19 season.

The 26-year-old Brit has been confirmed for a third season with the outfit, which is running the new Porsche 911 RSR in the GTE-Am category.

Barker will share with team patron Mike Wainwright, who was confirmed on the provisional entry list, and an as-yet-unnamed third driver.

Armed with the mid-engined Porsche, which is now available to GTE-Am customers after a factory-only campaign in GTE-Pro last year, Barker says the team has a greater chance of challenging for race victories.

“I’m really excited to be leading the team again, and hope that I can help to put the No. 86 car back on the podium, and, hopefully, on the top step this time,” he said.

“With that said, it is exciting to know that Gulf Racing will be getting its hands on the latest 911 RSR, which will hopefully make us an even more competitive prospect against the likes of Aston Martin and Ferrari at every circuit.

“The new car certainly proved its potential in the Pro class last season and I can’t wait to see what it can do when we finally get it out on track in the coming weeks.”

Barker first raced for the Gulf operation in the 2014 European Le Mans Series, before rejoining the outfit for its 2016 WEC debut as a Silver driver.

He continued with the team following his promotion to Gold rating ahead of the 2017 season, claiming two podiums alongside Wainwright and Nick Foster.

Most recently, he secured Class B honors in last month’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Davison Tipped for Third Seat

Australian ace Alex Davison is understood to be in line for the final seat.

The 39-year-old brother of Virgin Australia Supercars regular Will Davison is listed on the entry list for the official Prologue test on April 6-7.

Davison has not raced in the WEC, although he did drive a GT2 class Porsche at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans entered by Felbermayr-Proton.

In recent years Davison has made sporadic Supercars appearances and has also appeared at the Bathurst 12 Hour, claiming a class podium this year with the Competition Motorsports Porsche squad. 

He was recently downgraded from Gold to Silver rating by the FIA, a requirement needed for Gulf’s Pro-Am lineup.