Ho Pin Tung will replace Jim Ka To at KC Motorgroup Ltd (KCMG) for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ho Pin Tung missed the opening round of the World Endurance Championship at Silverstone due to prior commitments, competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup in Shanghai. Jim Ka To will now continue to focus on his US campaign.
The 30-year-old Ho Pin Tung has made a name for himself in a range of motorsport disciplines, in 2011 he became the first Chinese driver to qualify and compete in the Indy 500 and has also tested for the Williams and Renault Formula 1 teams while competing in GP2 for several seasons.
“I am thrilled having been invited to join KCMG and compete in the worlds’ most appealing racing event.” said the Chinese driver, who joins Alex Imperatori and Matt Howson at KCMG, the first Chinese team to compete at the prestigious event. “Only the name itself ‘24 hours of Le Mans’ is already spectacular and exciting. KCMG will be the first Chinese team ever to join the Le Mans 24 Hours race and I consider being part of this history in making, this June, as a great honour.
“I have raced in the streets of Monaco and at Indianapolis. To complete the magic three is the dream of every racing driver. In the forthcoming weeks I will be preparing and testing for Le Mans, although my current involvements in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and the Asian Le Mans Series will be continued as scheduled. I can hardly wait to go to the old and famous Circuit de la Sarthe with the team and I will give everything to score an impressive result with them.”
Team Owner and Managing Director, Paul Ip, added “The team’s anticipation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans is overwhelming. We haven’t stopped working since the last event at Silverstone. Currently, we are in the process of strategizing to ensure that our Le Mans outing will be impeccable. I am looking forward to see the team in action again and I’m pleased to have Ho Pin on board. He has proven himself dexterous in different areas of motorsport and has emerged as one of Asia’s most talented drivers. I believe that he will be a great addition to the team.”
