K-PAX to Support Expanded M-Sport Bentley 24H Spa Effort

Photo: Bob Chapman/Autosport Image

Members of K-PAX Racing will support Bentley Team M-Sport’s efforts in the Total 24 Hours of Spa, as the British manufacturer ramps up to a four-car factory effort for the first time.

The California-based squad, which gave the new-gen Bentley Continental GT3 its first victory earlier this year in Blancpain GT World Challenge America competition, will lend three of its key staff to the M-Sport operation, with program manager Darren Law, team strategist Thomas Blam and engineer Sebastien Constans all set to play roles within the expanded effort.

It comes in addition to K-PAX regular Rodrigo Baptista having been drafted in as part of Bentley’s lineup for the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli centerpiece race.

According to Law, the opportunity with M-Sport and Bentley had been in discussion for the last few months and finalized in recent weeks.

“We’re very honored,” Law told Sportscar365. “This is a big opportunity for us and shows the level of trust and ability with our team and program and what we’ve done for Bentley.

“To have someone from each key area of our team: management, engineering and strategy, is really important.”

It’s expected all three will be working on the No. 109 Bentley alongside Baptista and British GT regulars Callum Macleod and Seb Morris, which is one of four works Continental GT3s entered for the Belgian endurance classic.

Law said their previous experience working with M-Sport in last year’s California 8 Hours at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where K-PAX took delivery of the new Bentleys shortly after the race, will pay dividends in their integration for the Spa race.

“We shared information and supplied a transporter and supported them as well,” Law said of the California 8 Hours effort. “We actually embedded Sebastien with their team, from the engineering side, for the whole event. Even though we were running our own car, he was working with their engineers.

“It was great because we met all of the management and their crew and actually sat down and had a team meeting between our group and their group. It helped build a great relationship.”

Law: “Amazing” to See Baptista’s Progression

Law said he’s been proud to see Baptista’s “amazing” progression as a driver, as the young Brazilian is set for his first factory drive later this month.

Baptista, who has two overall wins in Blancpain GT America competition so far this season, is also coming off his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut earlier this year.

“I’m so proud of him,” Law said. “It’s been really amazing for him to come in and join us, originally with the GT4 program at the start [in 2017], just to learn the tracks and the system in the U.S.

“We knew he was something special that very first year he showed up.

“To see him progress, last year in a GT3 and have an opportunity for the factory ride… It’s a dream for the drivers but I’m really proud to have watched him grow and get this opportunity.”

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