Gulf Racing has announced that they will race in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans after stepping up from the European Le Mans Championship.
Driver and Team Principal Mike Wainwright will race in nine-race championship in the GTE AM class in a Porsche 991 RSR, which begins at Silverstone in April, believing the WEC is where the team need to be.
“The pinnacle of Endurance Motor Racing… Driving a Porsche and in iconic Gulf colours – what more to say?!” revealed Wainwright. “The team has worked very hard for this over the last few years and we now hope to demonstrate our ambition in what will be a very competitive championship.
“I thank Gulf Oil International for helping to create this opportunity”
The move into WEC means the legendary Gulf colours will return to the premiere endurance championship in 2016, with Frank Rutten, the Vice President of Gulf Oil International Group welcoming the move up from ELMS.
“Endurance is one of Gulf’s core values, so it is both pleasing and fitting that Gulf is flying its colours in the World Endurance Championship,” said Rutten.
“This of course, will see the brand competing once again to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, for the world’s greatest endurance race – something we are proud to be able to do.
“Gulf Racing showed that they were capable of being winners last year in ELMS and we are looking for them to make the step up to the world stage, to give both Gulf and the Porsche team continued success in the cut and thrust of the GT arena.”
