With the podium last time out at Ningbo still fresh in the team’s mind, Craft-Bamboo Racing is looking to capitalise on the good form and challenge for a victory in the upcoming round of the 2018 FRD LMP3 China Endurance Series at the Zhuhai International Circuit, on the 15-16 September 2018. Both cars have shown their capabilities throughout the year, giving the drivers opportunities to fight at the front of the pack.
The team has also adjusted its driver line-up due to the team’s newest signing, Jake Parsons. Parsons’, a 23 year old single-seater maestro from Australia, will be racing alongside 2017 champion James Winslow in the #95 Craft-Bamboo Racing Ligier JS P3 entry in the FRD LMP3 China Endurance Series. The sister #96 Ligier will be steered by Neale Muston; an experienced GT and Prototype driver and Nathan Kumar, who has been making rapid progress in the Ligier JS P3 with Craft-Bamboo Racing in 2018.
#95
Last time out in Ningbo, the #95 Ligier JS P3 showed good pace from the outset, qualifying 2nd and fighting near the front for both races, finishing on the podium in Race 1 and fighting through the field in Race 2. Reigning 2017 FRD LMP3 China Endurance Series champion James Winslow returns to the #95 car, and he will be looking for a good weekend after last year’s strong showing at this circuit. He will be partnered by the team’s latest signing, Jake Parsons.
Parsons boasts an impressive international prototype and junior formula career having raced in Super GT in Japan and LMP2 in the Asia Le Mans Series. Most notably, he finished 2nd overall in the 2015 Formula Masters China Series. Parson’s jump to a new category should be easier given Craft-Bamboo Racing’s experience as well as having the 2017 champion to help ease Parsons into a new series. Winslow and Parsons will be a strong pairing given their past successes, and both will be looking to push each other on track, as well as off-track with the engineers to improve the setup of the car that would enable them to achieve victory.
#96
With two race weekends in LMP3 under his belt in 2018, Nathan Kumar returns to the seat of the #96 Ligier. Building on his prior Australian F3 experience, Kumar has shown potential for a strong result and he will be keen to score a top 3 result before the end of the season. Kumar has proven that he doesn’t lack race craft, and he has his sights set on a podium finish in Zhuhai.
Joining Kumar will be Neale Muston, a highly experienced prototype driver who has raced with Craft-Bamboo Racing earlier in the year when he partnered with James Winslow. Having recently taken 2 wins in the 24h Proto Series in the LMP2 class this year, Muston looks to continue his strong performance in Zhuhai with another solid result. With Muston’s vast experience in sports car racing in combination with Kumar’s fresh approach and high ambition, the #96 car has the potential for a strong result.
With more than half of the races in the 2018 FRD LMP3 series now complete, as well as circuit experience of the Zhuhai International Circuit, Craft-Bamboo Racing is confident that the exciting new driver pairings will have the opportunity to fight for wins this weekend. On-track action begins on Friday with the Free Practice sessions starting at 1140hrs, Qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday at 0830hrs and the Main Race on Sunday at 1410. (All times in CST)
