Craft-Bamboo Racing is proud to announce two former GT Asia Series drivers’ champions, Darryl O’Young (2015) and Peter Li Zhi Cong (2013) as their lineup for the #99 VLT Porsche 911 GT3 R. With sponsorship by Vita Lemon Tea (VLT) and Fishers Village, O’Young from Hong Kong and Li from China, both have their eyes set on claiming another GT title in Asia and will take their fight to the 2017 Blancpain GT Series Asia on April 7-9 in Sepang.
This marks the first time that the two drivers will share a car together; producing what should be one of the most exciting pairings on the 2017 grid. Li makes his return to GT cars after a big accident in European Formula 3 saw him ruled out for the rest of the 2016 season. Working hard through the winter, Li has made a full recovery and the #99 driver is hungry to get back on track behind the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R. With the young GT driver’s speed and enthusiasm, paired with O’Young’s years of top-level motorsport experience, the two will make for a potent combination of youth and experience.
The #99 Porsche 911 GT3 R debuts with a brand new livery for 2017, offering a fresh and dramatic take on the famous VLT livery that has become an iconic and recognizable figure in Asia. New for this season is a striking a-symmetrical design that uses a solid yellow base overlaid with a geometric green ‘camouflage’. The angular patterns accentuate the lines of the Porsche to create an aggressive and modern statement that will ensure the #99 VLT Porsche proudly stands out when it first takes to the track in just over a week’s time.
Darryl O’Young is a three-time Macau Grand Prix victor in a Porsche, two-time winner of the Bathurst 12 Hour, and a double Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion. In 2015 he won the GT Asia Series drivers’ championship, before contesting the 2016 GT Asia Series in the brand new Porsche 911 GT3 R. With the team working hard to develop the car over the past season, O’Young is confident that big strides will be made with the car’s performance and he is eager to push the #99 VLT Porsche to its limits in search of another championship victory.
Li embarked on his motorsport career in 2006 when he joined the Chinese Karting Championship before rising through the ranks of sports cars and Formula cars. After gaining significant experience in open wheelers, Li made the move to GT cars in 2012 where he found immediate success in the GT Asia Series. The Chinese driver continued to impress in 2013 and took both the GT Asia Series and AAMC GT Cup championship titles before making the move to Europe. There he competed in the highly competitive British Formula 3 championship before moving up to the FIA European Formula 3 Championship where he gained tremendous experience fighting against the world’s top junior drivers.
Li now returns to GT cars and joins O’Young in the hunt for Blancpain GT Series Asia glory in the #99 VLT Porsche 911 GT3 R. The former GT Asia champions both have considerable time behind the wheel of a Porsche and with their extensive knowledge and experience at Asia’s most famous circuits; the #99 will be the one to watch when the season kicks off in Malaysia next weekend.
Quotes
Richard Coleman, CEO of Craft-Bamboo Racing
“It is great to have the support of VLT once again for this year’s Blancpain GT Series Asia, and we welcome new sponsor Fishers Village that join us through the support of Peter Li Zhi Cong. I believe that the pairing of O’Young and Li will be strong and give us a good shot at the drivers’ championship title. Both drivers come from a strong GT background in Porsches and are familiar with the circuits on the calendar, which should help to give the team an edge in performance.”
Darryl O’Young, Driver #99 Porsche 911 GT3 R
“I am really pleased that VLT has continued their partnership with the team. They have been very supportive over the past few years and having achieved the championship in 2015 we are looking to bounce back from a tough season and go for the championship again this year. Craft-Bamboo Racing has delivered a strong car and we believe that we have made a lot of progress with development since last year. Peter Li is a driver I have known for many years and he is a past champion in GT Asia, so we know he has the ability to drive well. With his experience over the last few years in Europe, I am sure he has gained a lot of confidence and I look forward to working with him. Having two Chinese drivers together is something special and we will be trying hard to achieve good results for Hong Kong and China.”
Peter Li Zhi Cong, Driver #99 VLT Porsche 911 GT3 R
“I feel confident making my return to racing with Craft-Bamboo Racing and Porsche. I will be aiming to build up my speed again and will work hard to learn as much as possible early in the season. I have a very good feeling that the Porsche 911 GT3 R will be a strong competitor this season, so combined with the experience of the team, I can really put my focus on driving. I know that Craft-Bamboo Racing is a professional outfit and a perfect partner to make my return to GT racing in Asia. It’s going to be an exciting year and it’s a bonus to be able to partner up with an experienced and successful teammate like Darryl O’Young.”
The #99 VLT Porsche 911 GT3 R’s pursuit of the 2017 Blancpain GT Series Asia title would not have been possible without VLT, Fishers Village, HYT, Gravity, POAD, Orangebus and Stand 21.
