Race winner Jeffrey Lee joins Mercedes-AMG driver Maxi Goetz in the first of Craft-Bamboo Racing’s two Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS entries.
The Hong Kong squad is returning to its regional series in 2023 after racing internationally throughout the pandemic.
And it does so with 2021 DTM champion Goetz, who joins his factory colleague Luca Stolz on this year’s Fanatec GT Asia entry list. The German has been a mainstay of Mercedes-AMG’s roster for the last decade during which he clinched the Fanatec GT Europe Sprint and ADAC GT Masters titles.
Success has also been achieved in Asia where the now 37-year-old won on his Fanatec GT Asia debut in 2017 at Suzuka. He returned a year later to finish second at the Suzuka 10 Hours – then a round of Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli – before partnering his new full-season co-driver Lee at Yeongam in 2019.
That round was also Goetz’s first appearance with Craft-Bamboo for whom he then lined up at the subsequent Suzuka 10 Hours.
“I am looking forward to driving again with Craft-Bamboo Racing,” he said. “We have done some races in the past together and it was great, including a couple in Fanatec GT Asia. I know the team quite well and I know Jeffrey as we have raced as team-mates previously.
“We have a strong line-up. Of course, it’s never easy to win races but that is our target. This championship is growing and features some big names so the competition will be high. With my expertise, I will try to help Jeffrey and the team to improve and put our best foot forward to score the most points over the season so we can go for the championship.
“My aim is to always win no matter which championship I race in, and I want to be on the podium as much as I can. The tracks are really cool and unique so it will be fun and I am looking forward to getting into it.”
Lee, like Craft-Bamboo, hasn’t contested a Fanatec GT Asia round since 2019 when he, the team and Mercedes-AMG won twice overall en route to fifth in the Pro-Am standings. He finished third in the same classification two years earlier, albeit at the wheel of an Audi.
“It has been a few years since we last raced in Fanatec GT Asia, so to be finally returning to a full season in this championship is amazing,” he said. “I am excited and ready to go racing once again across Asia as J-Fly Racing partners up with Craft-Bamboo Racing once again.
“Max is a strong driver and he will be a great asset to our team as we hopefully go for the overall win this year. Overall, we have a very strong team and it will be our aim to maximise results each weekend.”
The global pandemic prevented SRO Motorsports Group from staging its Asian series in 2020 or ’21, while last season was too early for the likes of Craft-Bamboo to commit. However, the team has kept itself busy by racing internationally in the likes of IGTC where it claimed Indianapolis 8 Hour victory and finished second at Bathurst last season.
“I am extremely delighted to finally be back on track in Asia,” said team director Darryl O’Young. “It has been a process to rebuild our team after the region opened up again this season. Things are looking positive and I believe the hardest times are behind us now. We are very focused to bring our drivers an organised infrastructure and good car preparation, all key points to delivering consistent performances and race wins. For sure it won’t be easy with a lot of strong teams and drivers, so we will look to our experience and teamwork to bring us results. We look forward to the challenge ahead this season.”
Craft-Bamboo’s second driver line-up will be confirmed prior to the season opener on May 12-14 at Chang International Circuit.
Source. SRO Motorsports Group
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