Team NZ Ready for Asian Le Mans Finale

Team NZ Ready for Asian Le Mans Finale

Team NZ is geared up and ready for the final round of Asian Le Mans Series 2017/18, the 4 Hours of Sepang, which will take place at Sepang International Circuit this coming Sundayafternoon (4 Feb).

It’s now just under three weeks since we joined the second half of Asian Le Mans Series 2017/18 season by contesting the 6 Hours of Buriram, held at Chang International Circuit, Thailand. That endurance race kicked off our year in superb style as we netted victory in the GT Cup class, a trip to the top step of the podium coming for the second consecutive year. Regular drivers Graeme Dowsett and John Curran being joined on this occasion by Will Bamber in the #77 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup.

Now it’s onto Sepang and we finished runner up in this race last year – so we really want to go one better and win it this time.

John has prior business commitments that unfortunately means he is unable to drive so cockpit duties will be shared out between Graeme and Will – so Team NZ will field an ‘all New Zealand’ driver line up for the first time.

Team NZ Motorsport will be supported in Sepang by Completion Products, MG Insulation & Marine Services, Asia Pacific Spiral, Motosure, Pioneer Consultants and Nam Aik.

This weekend in Sepang though will be extra special as new team partner MG Insulation & Marine Services will be bringing VIP guests from across the globe over the weekend in support our activities.

That will include providing ‘hot laps’ on race morning in the #77 Porsche to allow a real up-close feel of what it’s like to be out on track in an Asian Le Mans Series race.

MG Insulation and Marine Services Pte Ltd is Asia’s premier provider of marine cryogenic insulation repair services. The company repairs and renews all types of liquefied gas insulation – on cargo tanks, pipelines, cargo domes, compressor rooms, mist separators, drain pots and so on. These services are provided for LNG, LPG and Ethylene carriers in shipyards, on anchorages and on voyage repair, worldwide. MG Insulation also specialises in providing these services for FSRU and FSU conversions, upgrades and maintenance.

The Asian Le Mans Series weekend programme kicks off with Free Practice spread over Friday (2 Feb) afternoon and Saturday (3 Feb) morning with final qualifying coming up later that afternoon. Then it will be quickly onto race day and the Asian Le Mans 4 Hours of Sepang will go to green lights on Sunday (4 Feb) at 1300. The chequered flag is scheduled to be waved at 1700.

Graeme Dowsett: “I’m really looking forward to the 4 Hours of Sepang race. Unfortunately, John can’t make it, so Will and I will be doing the race together. It will be very challenging if the weather proves to be hot, which is certainly usually the case at Sepang. We’ve going to have a strong turnout from MG Insulation & Marine Series with lots of support, we’re really pleased to have them with us for the weekend and hopefully we can do them proud. I hope we can have a lot of fun and deliver a good result.”

Will Bamber: “I had a great time with the team in Buriram so I’m stoked to be back again for the final round of the season. Massive shame that JC cannot make the last one, so that will present a new challenge with our first two driver line-up for the race. But we’re ready for it!”

Greg Gilberg, Director, MG Insulation & Marine Series: “We are thrilled to partner with Team NZ Motorsport for this Asian Le Mans Series event at Sepang. Team NZ's tradition of success through teamwork and solidarity mirrors MG's approach to working with our customers. It is an attitude which is at the heart of our methodology. The passion and energy generated from this collaboration are things which we hope to build and expand upon as we move forward as pre-eminent teams in our respective arenas – in Asia and worldwide. We are all looking forward to a great day of racing on Sunday – go Team NZ!"

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