Ex-KCMG Star Bradley Joins Manor

Photo: Manor WEC

Richard Bradley, one of the standout drivers from last year’s FIA World Endurance Championship, has been confirmed with the new Manor WEC squad, the British team announced Monday.

The reigning 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class winner will join Silver-rated Matt Rao at the wheel of the team’s second Oreca 05 Nissan, after spending two seasons with KCMG, which has shifted its focus to the GTE-Am class for 2016.

“It is a project I thought was very interesting when I first heard about it and I am really excited to be working with John [Booth], Graeme [Lowdon] and all the Manor team,” Bradley said.

“Whilst Manor are a new team to endurance racing I believe, with the people and package we have, we should be aiming for race wins from the start and I can’t wait for our home race at Silverstone.”

Team principal John Booth believes the 24-year-old Englishman will be a valuable asset to the team this year.

“Richard brings with him substantial experience of endurance racing including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” Booth said.

“He understands WEC very well having been in the series for the last few seasons and we are looking forward to racing with him in 2016.”

James Jakes, Will Stevens and Tor Graves will drive the team’s season-long entry in LMP2, with Bradley’s car not officially registered for Le Mans, due to its late commitment.

However, Manor is understood to be acquiring an ex-KCMG Oreca Nissan, which could point them to utilizing KCMG’s confirmed automatic entry for the French endurance classic, particularly with Bradley now confirmed in the lineup.

The team will only enter one car for this month’s Prologue pre-season test at Paul Ricard.

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