Two-time Australian Drivers Champion [Englishman] James Winslow, returns to the Asian Le Mans Series in Japan this weekend to defend his title lead in the hotly contested LMP2 category. Rejoining Chinese team KCMG in their Morgan-Nissan LMP2, Winslow will once again be joined by support from within Australia, this time, in the guise of Equity-One’s Dean Koutsoumidis.
“I’ve been a big fan of James since he became involved with the various Audi teams this year in Australian GT,” Koutsoumidis explained. “Sadly for me, it was always with him as an opponent (with both Rod Salmon and Peter Conroy), but I have been impressed with his friendly approach, especially as a driving coach, something I fortunately had personal experience with. James is one of those fantastic young guys who has immense talent, but a shortage of corporate support. He sent me a note not too long back asking if I’d be able to help, and I jumped at the chance.”
Winslow will line up at Fuji Speedway this weekend as the LMP2 points leader, but he will be without opening round team-mates Akash Nandy and Gary Thompson, instead he will be joined by Japanese Formula 3 driver Hiroshi Koizumi and KCMG Formula Nippon driver, and fellow Brit, Richard Bradley.
“I don’t know Hiroshi, but I’m aware of his efforts in National Class in Japanese F3, but I have been keeping an eye on Richard,” Winslow explained. “Like me he’s spent a fair bit of time in Asia, and won races in Japanese F3 so he will be quick. Oak Racing though return with an unchanged lineup, so they should be up to speed pretty quickly, but I’m pretty confident that we can repeat out performance from Inje.
“KCMG are a great team, I first meet them back in my championship winning 2006 Formula 3 days in Asia. Paul Ip – the owner of KCMG – was a new team owner in F3 and John O’Hare (now team manager) was my F3 team mate! Since then they have gone on to great things, competing in 10 different series around the world including a full time and successful Formula Nippon team, and they also led this years Le Mans 24 Hour in LMP2.
“In 2014 KCMG Motorsport are looking to compete in the full FIA WEC, and the Le Mans 24 Hour race. They already have one entry for the big race and with the 2014 Asian Le Mans Champions winning an automatic entry, we hope to be heading to Le Mans next June with a two car team with a firm plan for me to be driving one of those entries to Le Mans LMP2 victory!”
So what’s it like to drive a purpose built Le Mans Prototype?
“The LMP2 sportscar is a truly great experience, it drives very similar to the A1GP car I drove in the world cup of Motorsport but with more ground effects,. It’s great fun and a serious piece of kit, but it also drives similar to the Audi R8 LMS that you can see in the very capable hands of Dean Koutsoumidis and Rod Salmon in the Australia GT Series, albeit with a little more downforce from the floor, although the power feels very similar.”
Whilst Winslow is contesting the 3-Hours of Fuji, back in Australia, Equity-One’s Dean Koutsoumidis will be enjoying his own endurance event, having been drafted back into a Radical SR3 for two 50-minute races at the famed Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.
“Two years ago I had a run in a Radical at Phillip Island, and really enjoyed it,” he admitted. “I’ve been mates with Rob Baird for a number of years, and when he rang me to ask me if I’d like to join him for the two endurance races this weekend, I jumped at the chance.
“Last time around I was a bit awed by the performance of the Radical and the whole open cockpit style of racing, so I left feeling I hadn’t done the job as well as I would have liked. Now, with both Formula Ford miles and more time in the Equity-One Audi R8, I think I’ll be better able to adapt – I can also pretend I’m competing for a drive at Le Mans as well..!”
“Look, I’ll be keeping one eye on the timing monitors at Phillip Island, and the other on my phone for updates from Fuji. I wish James well, and am looking forward to seeing him deliver another strong result.
“This is a real toe-in-the-water exercise for me, because it’s something I’m passionate about, and I would like to compete myself in events like Sepang in future, events that James has great knowledge of. I also have a selfish reason for being involved.. I told him that if he wins a chance to race with the KCMG team at Le Mans next year, I want to be part of that and enjoy the experience from the inside the pits, rather than from the stands..”
“I’m overjoyed to have Equity-One on board for Fuji,” Winslow admitted. “Dean Koutsoumidis is the driving force behind this great company and his support was critical for the team and I to continue our championship campaign.
“The Equity-One brand has adorned some very successful racing cars in 2013 and I’m very happy to be driving one of those cars this season, and I hope we can deliver Dean and the Equity-One team victory at Fuji – I’ll certainly be doing everything in my power to make sure that happens, and like Dean, I’ll be keeping one eye on my phone for results from Phillip Island.
“Apart from a keen interest in how he goes, I would have been on the grid myself right alongside Dean in my role as a driver coach and racer with the factory Radical team – I wish them all luck, although to be honest, this weekend I’ll be cheering for the Equity-One team!”