The Road to Le Mans!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
REPORT AND PHOTOS READY
A race report and photographs from Zhuhai are now available on this site. Choose 2005 from the menu and then item 11. For downloading high-resolution pictures choose Resources and item 16.
Monday, October 24, 2005
FOURTH PLACE AT ZHUHAI - Now the focus is Le Mans
Hong Kong duo Matthew Marsh and Darryl O’Young are hopeful they have done enough to merit an invitation to next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours after an encouraging performance in their final race of 2005 at Zhuhai today (Sunday).
The Noble Group-GruppeM Racing co-drivers finished fourth in their class – and 10th overall – in the FIA GT Championship at the southern China track.
“We have shown we are competitive and that is an important part of the Le Mans equation,” said Marsh. “The other key point is that we would be the first ever entry from Hong Kong – in fact, the first entry from Asia apart from Japanese teams – so we would certainly bring something different to the party.
“These factors will be taken into account when the Le Mans organisers begin sending out invitations in January. We think we’ve got a good chance.”
With cars for Sunday’s race divided into GT1 and GT2, the Hong Kong pair qualified fifth in the GT2 class to start 15th overall on the grid in their bauhinia-emblazoned Porsche GT3 RSR.
After Marsh completed the first 80 minutes, O’Young took over behind the wheel for the remainder of the 500km (three hours) race. The team waged a race-long battle for third place with a similar Porsche run by the Italian Ebimotors team. At the half-way mark the Hong Kong duo had the upper hand but lost the position in the final pitstops.
O’Young then experienced a dramatic moment on the penultimate lap when his brakes failed, causing him to career off into the gravel trap. He was towed out and completed the race at cruising speed, secure in the knowledge that the mishap had made no difference to the team’s fourth placing.
“We’re a bit disappointed not to be on the podium in what is effectively our home race,” said O’Young. “We were within 10 seconds of the third-placed car for much of the race.
“But we’ve got to be positive. It was a good performance by the team and the experience will serve us well in the future.”
Sunday’s race was Noble Group-GruppeM Racing’s fourth outing this year but their first in Asia.
After a high profile launch in June, they competed in three 1,000km races in Europe as part of the Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES).
After bad luck dogged their first two outings at Monza and Silverstone, causing early retirements, they scored Hong Kong’s first ever LMES point when finishing eighth in their GT2 class at Nurburgring on September 4.
Sunday’s event saw Marsh and O’Young switching competition from the LMES to the FIA GT Championship, an 11-race series that takes place throughout Europe and Asia.
Anthony Kumpen, Bert Longin and Mike Hezemans, driving a GT1-class Corvette C5R, won Sunday’s race. Marc Lieb and Mike Rockenfeller in a Porsche 996 were first home in the GT2 category and seventh overall.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
HK TEAM RACING AT ZHUHAI THIS WEEKEND
Hong Kong Le Mans hopefuls Matthew Marsh and Darryl O’Young are looking forward to racing in front of their “home” fans in Zhuhai this weekend.
After competing in Europe during the summer, the Noble Group-GruppeM Racing co-drivers will give their bauhinia-emblazoned Porsche GT3 RSR its first ever Asian outing in Sunday’s FIA GT Championship at the southern China track.
“We’re really excited about the race,” says Marsh. “The Hong Kong team has been very well received in the media across Asia. Everyone is behind this first effort from a Hong Kong team to race in top-level international sports car racing.
“Now that we are, if you like, coming home, the reaction is bound to be fantastic. Perhaps some people were a bit surprised by how competitive we were in Europe. We'll certainly be shooting for a podium finish in Zhuhai.”
Noble Group-GruppeM Racing are attempting to become the first Hong Kong team to be invited to take part in the world’s greatest sports car race, the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Since a high profile launch in June, they have competed in three 1,000km races in Europe as part of the Le Mans Endurance Series (LMES). Bad luck dogged their first two outings – a 260 km/h tyre blowout ended their race at Monza while gearbox failure ruined their chances at Silverstone – but they scored Hong Kong’s first ever LMES point when finishing eighth in their GT2 class at Nurburgring on September 4.
The team expect to find out later this year whether they have secured an entry to Le Mans in June 2006.
This weekend sees Marsh and O’Young switching competition from the LMES to the FIA GT Championship. Sunday’s 500km race is the ninth stop in an 11-race series that takes place throughout Europe and Asia.
Marsh took part in last year’s race at Zhuhai, when he partnered Hong Kong motorsport legend Charles Kwan to fourth place in the GT2 class in a Ferrari 360.
“That successful effort proved that the concept of a Hong Kong endurance racing team was sound and Noble Group have since come on board as title sponsor for our Le Mans programme,” says Marsh.
“They've been sending us off to our LMES races with much enthusiasm and now they'll be able to watch us at home, which is great.
“Sadly, Charles is in retirement now, but he has been ably replaced by Darryl, who has driven very well so far. Hopefully Charles will come to Zhuhai to cheer us on.”
-- ENDS --
Released by Two Up Front, the official media relations partner of Noble Group-GruppeM Racing.
For further information, please contact:
Niall Donnelly Bonnie Lam
Tel: (852) 2854 2136 / 6052 3330 Tel: (852) 2110 5890
Fax: (852) 3579 5955 Fax: (852) 3579 5955
Email: niall@tuf.com.hk Email: bonnie@tuf.com.hk
