Three Absolute Racing drivers will join forces for the very first time to tackle the new SIC888 endurance event at Shanghai International Circuit on October 7.
Yuan Bo, Bao Jinlong and Martin Rump will take the wheel of an Absolute Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 for the six plus hour event, with Rump spear-heading the team off the back of a stunning run at the Blancpain GT Series Asia round at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix venue just over a week ago.
An experienced race winning campaigner in multiple GT championships, Rump – alongside Blancpain GT Series Asia team-mate Franky Cheng – qualified on the front row of the grid for the opening 60-minute race, but the young Estonian was forced to drive back through the field after Cheng was turned around in the opening corner whilst leading the 32-strong field.
For Bao Jinlong and Yuan Bo – two experienced Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers – they will be making their debut behind the wheel of the thunderous second-generation V10 R8 LMS GT3, the Chinese pair though having extensive experience at the 5.45-kilometre, 16-turn Shanghai circuit, and as multiple class winners in PCCA, they can be expected to put their past experiences to good use.
Aside from his titles with Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Carrera Cup Asia, Yuan Bo has also turned laps in prototype machinery in past seasons, campaigning an LMP2 in the Asian Le Mans Series, so is one of China’s most adaptable young drivers, whilst Bao Jinlong has emerged as the man to beat in the Pro-Am class of PCCA this year, adding to his GT3 credentials from season 2017 driving for the FAW-VW HubAuto team in a Type 991 GT3-R.
