K-PAX Racing will not have to look far to continue its season centered around endurance racing, setting its sights Midwest to “The Racing Capital of the World” for the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) Indianapolis 8 Hour October 2-4 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team will enter one Bentley-Works driver line-up for its fourth IGTC appearance in the last five seasons.
“We have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to race in Europe this season with our two-car Bentley effort, but we are missing racing here in the USA, so this is a welcome opportunity for us,” K-PAX Racing Program Manager Darren Law said. “We have raced this event for the past three years, but teams do not have data yet with a GT3 car at Indy, so it will be very important to get up to speed quickly. This season has had its challenges for everyone, but Bentley has been such a great partner for K-PAX Racing. So, to be able to compete at this level against some of the best teams and drivers in the world at Indy will be special.”
Starring in the No. 8 K-PAX Racing Bentley Continental GT3 will be Jules Gounon, Maxime Soulet and Jordan Pepper – all who double as Bentley Factory Drivers and simultaneously compete under the team banner in the GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup. The three drivers, competing alongside Bentley Team M-Sport, achieved glory in the opening round of IGTC action earlier this year, climbing the top-step after a phenomenal performance at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour from 11th position on the grid – the lowest starting position for any winner since the event’s first edition in 1991.
“K-PAX Racing have adjusted to competing in Europe well, but it also feels right for them to contest the USA round of the series,” Bentley Director of Motorsport Paul Williams said. “Our works drivers deserve to continue their championship-title bid so we are grateful that they agreed to take all three rather than field their own squad.”
The announcement not only gives the star-studded trio the opportunity to build on its lead in the IGTC Drivers’ Championship, but also the team to add to its strong resume within the endurance series. K-PAX Racing has made three consecutive appearances in the series since 2016 (Sepang 12 Hours, 2016; California 8 Hours, 2017-2018). The team has collected three Top-10 finishes, with a podium finish in 2017 when it was one of three cars to finish on the lead lap at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
“K-PAX Racing is very proud to have the opportunity to continue the Championship fight for Bentley drivers Maxime Soulet, Jules Gounon and Jordan Pepper,” Law said. “With the limited number of races this year in the SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge, teams have to execute every race perfectly if they want to win this Championship. Having our U.S. car available and being able to use all of the same team members that we are using for our European Endurance program just makes sense.”
DRIVER QUOTES
Jules Gounon – No. 8 Bentley Continental GT3 – “I’m so pumped to do the Indy 8 Hour with K-PAX Racing. The beginning of the season has been amazing. We brought the first victory to Bentley since their introduction into the Intercontinental GT Challenge in 2016, so I felt massively proud of Jordan [Pepper], Max [Soulet] and the Bentley crew – all who did a fantastic job. We feel like a phoenix – resurrected by K-PAX Racing and Bentley to make it happen. To be in contention for this championship and at such a famous place, it’s truly amazing, especially with the weekend being with IndyCar. It makes this all even more of a dream. I’m really looking forward to the fight and to give it my all, and I’m sure Jordan and Max will do the same.”
Maxime Soulet – No. 8 Bentley Continental GT3 – “After our unforgettable Bathurst win, I’m ready happy that we can continue our IGTC adventure. Jordan [Pepper], Jules [Gounon] and I are in a winning spirit and would like to keep that momentum true to Indy and to do it with K-PAX Racing in the U.S. is going to be even more special. I’ve personally been racing in the states with K-PAX Racing the last two years and it’s only good memories. Bring it on, Indy.”
Jordan Pepper – No. 8 Bentley Continental GT3 – “A big thank you to Jim [Haughey] and K-PAX Racing for making this deal happen with Bentley. We’re leading the championship off of Bathurst, and although the championship has been different – the races being so spread out due to COVID-19 – it’s good that we’re not missing any rounds. Indy is super important, followed by Spa, so we’re excited that we can all make this happen. It was a race that I’ve really looked forward to going to this year, and I’m really excited that me, Jules [Gounon] and Max [Soulet] are really motivated to do a great job for the team and push for the win on their home soil. I think we’ll have a bit of a home-field advantage with the team’s load of experience in America. I really have loved working with them, and I think it’ll be a big buzz leading the championship into this next event. As a thank you, we’d like to reward the team with the best result possible, and there is no better way than to push for the win. It’s not going to be easy, but I feel we have the total package to do it.”
Source. K-PAX Racing
Comments
