Chinese LMP2 team KCMG enters this weekend’s Shanghai round of the FIA World Endurance Championship with the clear plan of re-taking the lead in the class standings.
The #47 ORECA 05 Nissan retired from October’s 6 Hours of Fuji after a controversial incident with the #28 G-Drive Racing Ligier, allowing the #26 G-Drive car to move ahead in the championship chase.
Richard Bradley and Matt Howson both drove for KCMG at the Shanghai event last year, but a first-lap incident cost the team a chance of claiming a victory on home soil. This season, with Nick Tandy added to the lineup and the new ORECA 05 demonstrating its race winning pace, the drivers are confident of making amends for last year’s disappointing result.
“I’m looking forward to Shanghai,” said Bradley. “After the incident at Fuji, we’re going to have an interesting mission to be coming from behind in the points for the first time since Le Mans. We have the driver lineup, the package and team to get back the championship lead and have a successful result.”
“The team has done a commendable job preparing the ORECA 05 in time for the Shanghai round,” added FIA WEC team manager Erich Kolb. “We are ready and heading to this weekend’s race with renewed confidence and a solid goal to once again finish on top of the podium.”
This weekend marks the penultimate round of the eight-race championship, with a November date in Bahrain still to go. Currently KCMG is still in contention to win the LMP2 title, but a victory for the #26 G-Drive crew would make the final round an uphill struggle.
However, a pole position and a win for KCMG at Shanghai will require the #26 car to finish third at least in order to maintain its lead in the standings. Bradley, Howson and Tandy will also be monitoring the progress of the #28 G-Drive entry, which scored its sixth consecutive podium finish at Fuji and is now three points behind in the championship.
For full times and information about the 6 Hours of Shanghai, view our feature length preview here.
