Winner of the 2015 24-hour of Le Mans Earl Bamber announced he will be back on the track with the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia as a guest driver in the final two races of the 2016 season at the Shanghai International Circuit on November 5th.
As one of the Porsche China Junior Programme’s four star coaches, Bamber’s primary role during the weekend will be to continue giving Porsche China Junior Team’s Andrew Tang expert guidance as the young driver makes a bold dash for glory to fight for the 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion. Having first coached Tang during the official test days in March, this will be an opportunity for Bamber to continue developing his student.
But when the light turns green, Bamber will join his pupil as a friendly competitor, racing in the No.911 car supported by Team Carrera Cup Asia as a guest driver adding a bonus challenge as the spotlight shines on the Championship fight for the Overall Class’ Top 5 contenders.
Bamber’s rise through the Porsche Carrera Cup Series exemplifies the opportunities and support that await promising young drivers participating in Porsche Motorsports around the world. First proving himself in Porsche Motorsport by winning the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2013 championship at the age of 23, the New Zealand native was honored with the chance of a lifetime entry into the Porsche Motorsport International Cup Scholarship, where outperformed seven other promising juniors from around the world to gain a 200,000 Euro scholarship to enter into the 2014 Porsche Supercup.
In 2014, he won the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup while also achieving his second consecutive Porsche Carrera Cup Asia victory the same year. He was signed on as a Porsche factory driver early in 2015, where he went on to help earn Porsche’s 17th victory in the 24-hour of Le Mans LMP 1 category – one of the most brutal endurance competitions in motorsport – alongside No.19 Porsche team members Nick Tandy and Nico Hulkenberg.
During the Season finale in Shanghai, he will race with a specially designed livery that honors his achievements and gives appreciation to social media fans as he returns to the one-make series that helped launch his successful career, while also helping pursue Porsche’s support of young talent by playing a role in helping Andrew Tang achieve success.
“It’s great to be back on the track with Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. Shanghai International Circuit is where I earned some of the toughest victories early-on in my career, so it’s always exciting to return. I’m looking forward to racing against this year’s talented group of drivers,” Bamber said.
Bamber is one of many VIP guests slated for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2016 finale. With Round 11 and 12 taking place alongside the 6-hours of Shanghai WEC race, Porsche’s WEC drivers will join Porsche executives from Germany to watch the thrilling conclusion of what has proven to be one of the most challenging seasons yet.
“We’re very excited to have Earl join us for the final races in Shanghai. As a driver who began his Porsche career with the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and worked his way through the Junior Programme before winning one of the toughest races in the world – Earl embodies the opportunities Porsche provides to young drivers. We’re very proud of the achievements he’s made and will continue to support young drivers,” Alexandre Gibot, Porsche China Motorsport Manager, said.