Team NZ Motorsport wrapped up its double race date in the Asian Le Mans Series 2016/17 season by taking a second trip to the podium – capably following up its GT Cup win a fortnight ago in Buriram, Thailand, with the runners up spot in last Sunday’s 4 Hours of Sepang, Malaysia.
For this race regulars Graeme Dowsett and John Curran were joined in the cockpit by Will Bamber.
A late decision was taken to join the closing two rounds of the Asian Le Mans 2016/17 season, both of which took place this month, so it was a very early start to the new year on track and our participation in the Buriram and Sepang endurance races sets us up nicely for the season ahead.
The team started Sunday’s race well placed on the front row in the GT Cup class after a brake issue during qualifying. Incidents on the opening lap amongst the LMP and GT3 classes in front saw Curran takingavoiding action that cost track position.
At the end of the opening stint Curran was forced to run off the track and through a gravel trap as he avoided a faster LMP class car that cut in ahead while lapping the #77 car but then promptly slowed; the prototype machine’s superior braking window compared to the GT Cup class Porsche meant the Irishman had no choice but to take evasive action.
That cost the team almost a minute and immediately putting them on the back foot. Superb driving though from all three drivers – Dowsett took the second stint before Bamber went in for the third. Curran wrapped matters up with a shorter final dash to the flag, but the excursion proved costly and in the end the team had to settle for second place.
However up against rivals in a new-generation Porsche 991 GT3 Cup with a higher ranked driver roster the team was pleased to have fought all race for the top spot. The #77 Team NZ Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in the end completed 101 laps of a hot and dry Sepang circuit during the 4-hour race, also setting the fastest lap in GT Cup, in 2:12.186.
The 4 Hours of Sepang wrapped up our somewhat late in the day Asian Le Mans Series two race programme and the team will announce plans for the 2017 season shortly.
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