TSRT to switch to Mercedes
The fire-damaged #66 TSRT Racing Audi R8 LMS proved to have an engine beyond immediate repair, the team’s efforts to source a replacement in China falling short of because the team is unable to get one delivered in time to take part in the meeting.
DSC understands however, that the team is currently in the throws of arranging a replacement car, in this case, a Mercedes AMG GT3. The car hasn’t arrived at the circuit as of the time of writing.
(UPDATE: The Mercedes arrived after Free Practice 1, the team aiming to get it out for Qualifying)
The car will be one of the AMG GT3s campaigned by a partner team Anstone Racing in Blancpain GT Series Asia, team manager Ron Reichert confirming the car is en route from its Zhuhai operating base, a 1000 miles away from Shanghai.
Ligier JS P3 change over
The Jackie Chan DC Racing crew have been up against it so far this weekend, having to deal with a late shipment of two of its cars, and therefore, plenty of work to do in a short time.
One of the tasks was preparing its #37 Ligier JS P3, which arrived in bare carbon with no livery applied. That’s because it’s a chassis used in the FRD LMP3 series, David Cheng explaining to DSC that in order to make it compliant for ACO rules racing, the team has had to complete a lot of work on the electronics and GPS systems.
JCDC’s full line-up confirmed
On the subject of Jackie Chan DC Racing’s LMP3 effort, it’s line-up for the weekend has now been finalised.
In the #37 Neric Wei and Hugo De Sadeleer will share the wheel, and in the #38 Neale Muston, Doyun Hwang and Yoshi Mori, whose name is still on the car, though DSC understands that he will not drive (commerical issues).
Mowlem talks Asian LMS and Grimes’ development
With Ivor Dunbar unable to make the trip to china, Johnny Mowlem is racing with Bonamy Grimes as a two-drive line-up in the Red River Sport-backed TF Sport Aston Martin this weekend.
For Grimes (and Dunbar) this programme is a way for him to keep fresh over the winter and gain some experience racing in a new series, on new tracks. And, for Mowlem, despite his experience racing at the highest level of sportscar racing for much of his career, it will be a learning experience too.
“This weekend is going to be really interesting,” Mowlem told DSC. “It’s strange, as it’s not often that I have to learn new circuits, but I’ve never raced here before. I’ve also never raced the Vantage before, I don’t know what makes this car tick, so we’re not in the sweet spot yet.
“It’s a really tough circuit, as there’s so many long, tighening corners, and it’s going to be hard to find grip towards the end of a stint. The Aston isn’t naturally suited to this kind of circuit.
“But this is what we want, this is all about learning, and taking Bon out of his comfort zone will help him a lot. He’s doing a superb job, this series is just one big learning curve, so we’re glad to be able to do it with TF Sport. He’s making big steps, going from a challenge car, to a GT3, to an LMP3 and now here.
“There’s two reasons to do this, cool tracks, Bon and Ivor want to go to iconic places, and also there’s a chance to support this series. That’s why we’re here in GT, we want to support this, we want to help Cyrille (Taesch Wahlen) and the ACO out, and hopefully be in a position of trust when we eventually put in a Le Mans entry for Ivor and Bon.
“This is a great championship. There’s great drivers in our class, world-class pros and ams that are a good benchmark for Ivor and Bon. This will be a really good four months, this what Red River Sport is about, taking guys like Ivor, Bon and our other clients and maximising their potential.”
West dipping his toe in LMP2 with eye on Le Mans
Alexander West is making his LMP2 debut here in Shanghai, the Swede, who will race alongside Pipo Derani and regular GT Open teammate Come Ledogar this season in Spirit of Race’s Ligier, says he has his eye on competing at Le Mans in the foreseeable future and would prefer to do it in the prototype ranks.
This, despite spending years honing his racing skills in GT3, recently competing with Garage 59 in GT Open and the Blancpain Endurance Cup. To this point he’s only ever raced a prototype once, at the ELMS finale this year in LMP3.
“One of the ultimate things on anyone’s bucket list is to do Le Mans, and you can do it in GTE,” he said to DSC. “But I decided that if I want to do it, I want to do it in the prototype. We were supposed to do this last year, but I had a bit of an off, so I am doing it this year instead.
“I want experience, it’s a very different car to what I normally drive. It’s fun driving new things, and this feels more like a proper race car. I just miss the fact that normally I’m in a McLaren or Ferrari, and chasing down a Lamborghini. These cars are all the same, really but I guess we don’t have to worry about BoP issues.
“I want to do this beacuse I want to push myself.”
A full interview with Alex West will go live on DSC in due course…
