Bamboo confirm O’Young and Taniguchi

Bamboo Engineering have confirmed Darryl O’Young and Yukinori Taniguchi will race for the team this season, and that they’ll race with 1.6 turbocharged Chevrolet Cruzes from the second round of the championship at Zolder.

The Silverstone based outfit will compete in both the British and World Touring Car Championships this season, with the Lacetti starting their WTCC campaign before being passed on to the BTCC.

O’Young returns after a strong run in the 2010 WTCC Yokohama Trophy independents’ championship. The Hong Kong driver went into the final round at Macau with a strong chance of taking the trophy in his rookie season against former works driver Sergio Hernández, but lost out after a collision in the first race with Fredy Barth and Tom Coronel.

Taniguchi joined the team for the final four rounds of 2010, filling in for Harry Vaulkhard who had lost a major sponsor, with Taniguchi impressing taking a class victory at his home race at Okayama.

“We’re obviously delighted that Darryl and Yuiknori have re-signed with us for this season,” said Team Principal Richard Coleman.

“The continuity will be vital to the development of the team. We were of course disappointed to have just missed out on both independent championships last year, but to be in that position at all was a fantastic acheivement for us and we are wanting to build on that success this year.”

“We’re not expecting too much from Brazil but we’ll hit the ground running with the new cars in the second round at Zolder and with Darryl and Yukinori on board our sole aim will be for both titles again this year.”