Craft-Bamboo Racing CEO Richard Coleman says he is ‘confident’ of being able to challenge for the TCR International Series title, as his team prepare for the opening race of the season in Bahrain this weekend.
Craft-Bamboo had to settle for the runners-up spot in 2015, when Pepe Oriola just missed out on the inaugural title in the season finale.
Since that meeting in Macau there has been limited preparation for the coming season, despite Craft-Bamboo Racing securing updated versions of the SEAT León Racer for 2016.
“The start of the second TCR season has arrived and I am confident that we can once again challenge for both championship titles,” said Coleman. “We really needed to have more testing during the off season but we focused on getting our driver line-up right and that will reward us over the entire year.”
After a winter of rest, Spaniard Oriola was in a bullish mood ahead of the first race of the season in Sakhir.
“I am really happy to be back in the series with the team and I hope to have a good result,” said Oriola. “I am really motivated for this year and after testing in Valencia I think we have the ability to be at the top of the standings all year.”
New signing James Nash, however, says he is keen to let his racing do the talking as he gets back behind the wheel of as touring car for the first time in anger since 2013.
“I am very excited to be a part of this growing championship and to support the Formula One paage as well,” said Nash. “It is going to be a challenging weekend but I have a great team around me and I can’t wait to start working with them again. I am bored of talking…let’s get racing!”
As well as Oriola, Sergey Afanasyev is also continuing with the team in 2016. The Russian is hoping to improve on the trio of podium finishes he scored in 2015.
“It is really nice to finally start the season,” added Afanasyev. “I haven’t run a single kilometre on this car as it is brand new compared to last year’s car, so it will be a bit of a challenge.
“We will be fighting for both championship titles and I will do my best. With Lukoil and Craft-Bamboo behind me, I know that we will be competitive and I am really looking forward to an exciting race ahead.”