When the teams and drivers compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Round 6 of the 2014 season, they will be racing with one eye on the various titles and one eye on the top step of the podium. For two teams racing in Shanghai on Sunday 2 November the race has extra significance because they will be competing at home in China.
In its first full season of racing on the world stage Hong Kong based team KCMG has excelled in the highly competitive LMP2 class. In the first five races the team has finished on the podium four times, second in the UK, Belgium and Japan, with the highlight of the season so far being the win at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas last month. However a win in Shanghai in front of Chinese fans would certainly go one better and this is the aim for the three drivers Richard Bradley, Matt Howson and Alexandre Imperatori.
2013 LMP2 Champion Oak Racing is making another race-by-race appearance in the FIA WEC, entering a Morgan-Judd in the class for Chinese drivers Ho-Pin Tung and David Cheng, who will be joined by American Mark Patterson.
We caught up with KCMG’s Matt Howson and Oak Racing’s Ho-Pin Tung to find out how they feel about racing in China.
Matt Howson – no47 KCMG Oreca03R Nissan
Q: What does it mean for a Chinese team to be racing in Shanghai?
MH: For KCMG to make its first appearance in a World Championship race in China is hugely significant. I myself began with the team back in 2007 when it set out in Asian Formula 3, and Alexandre was part of the Japanese F3 expansion in 2008 so to see how far a Chinese run team has come is very satisfying for everybody involved, it’s a massive team effort and a true story of loyalty and commitment. KCMG is demonstrating just how serious China and Hong Kong are about top-level motorsport, and that can be seen in the professionalism of the junior formulae in Asia today.
Q: In five races you have finished on the podium four times, including winning for the first time in Texas. How did it feel to stand on the top step of the World Endurance Championship podium? And can you do it again in front of the Chinese fans next weekend?
MH: It was incredible to take the win in Texas, especially as it was an eventful race with challenging weather and a constant shuffling of strategy, so we could never really relax! It was also a win based on merit where nobody gave it to us. The G-Drive Ligier showed just how strong it is in Fuji so we're under no illusions that they are even tougher to beat than in the old Morgan. However we only lost in Fuji by 5 seconds and we will be stronger in Shanghai after our post-race analysis from Japan, so expect another 6-hour cliff-hanger in LMP2.
Q: There are seven cars racing in Shanghai this weekend with the addition of the two Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD Hondas from the USA and 2013 LMP2 champions Oak Racing with a Morgan-Judd. Do you welcome the extra challenge from these race by race entries?
MH: Absolutely we welcome the challenge, the one thing I've learned about endurance racing is the healthy fighting spirit between the teams and drivers. It's every bit as sharp-edged as formula racing, but more mature somehow! The great thing about LMP2 is it's a fairly even field, and different driver/chassis/tyre combinations and teams' strategies have varied strengths and weaknesses. Therefore it's great to have more variety in a range of conditions, it's excellent entertainment for the fans, and it’s what all of us involved in racing live for. Bring it on!
Ho-Pin Tung – no35 Oak Racing Morgan Judd
Q: What does it mean to you as a Chinese driver to be racing in Shanghai?
HPT: It's always very special to race in front of our home crowd. I have done many races in China and the support of the fans and media has always been amazing. To be racing in Shanghai in what is the biggest endurance race of the year makes it even more special for me.
Q: What is the goal for yourself and the team this weekend?
HPT: To enter in the middle of the championship like this won't be easy for sure. It's extremely competitive but Oak Racing is a proven, winning combination in whatever race they enter in and I hope we will be able to surprise and give a good show for our home crowd.
Q: There are seven LMP2 cars racing in Shanghai this weekend. Do you welcome the chance to test yourself against some of the best LMP2 teams on the world stage at home in Shanghai?
HPT: Absolutely. Bar Le Mans, this is the largest LMP2 field in WEC this year. I know all of the teams, either from Le Mans or from my races with Oak Racing in the Tudor United Sportscar Championship. Each of them is capable to at least finish on the podium so it will definitely be a tough battle but a challenge I am really looking forward to.
The 6 Hours of Shanghai will take place on Sunday 2 November with Practice and Qualifying on Friday 31 October and 1 November respectively. For more information on Round 6 of the FIA World Endurance Championship visit the official website at www.fiawec.com
Jeff Carter
