Craft-Bamboo Lukoil all set for TCR Asian leg

Craft-Bamboo Lukoil Racing have made full use of the long summer break to rebuild and maintain their SEAT León Racers, which will be driven in the final Asian leg of the series starting from Singapore by the team’s regulars Pepe Oriola, Jordi Gené and Sergey Afanasyev.

Besides rebuilding the cars, the team also inspected all the material to make sure everything was in place for the final title assault at Marina Bay, Buriram (Thailand) and Macau.

Pepe Oriola enters the final leg of the championship in the lead, but the Spaniard knows the title will not be easy to clinch come Macau: “I am currently in the best position of my entire season, but I have to put in the effort to make sure I conquer the title,” said the Craft-Bamboo Lukoil driver. “This is my priority. I am very motivated to become the first winner of the TCR International Series Drivers’ championship at 21 years old. This is my challenge and a dream that I want to accomplish.”

The young Spaniard also talked about Singapore, where the TCR International Series will be part of the FIA Formula One World Championship support package for the third time this season: “Singapore will be new for me. I have contested some endurance races at night but it cannot be compared to the experience in Singapore. I hope to achieve a good result during the weekend so I can continue leading the championship. The TCR International Series will also share the weekend with the F1 and this is something that will contribute to the worldwide recognition of the TCR Program”.

Richard Coleman, CEO of Craft-Bamboo Racing, added: “It has been a real challenge in the TCR championship but the whole team has worked incredibly hard and we are now leading the series into the summer break.” Coleman reiterated criticism over driving standards, which were a matter of discussion up to the Red Bull Ring event and culminated with a post-race drive through penalty for WestCoast Racing’s Gianni Morbidelli: “The driving standards have been a source of frustration for many, we have lost many points from incidents that went unpunished but I think that our rivals will say the same. The enforcement of the driving standards was below par earlier in the season but I think the last race was much better, I hope things continue like that for the remaining races.”

Pepe Oriola is currently 2 points ahead of title rival Stefano Comini, whose future in the series is still uncertain due to budget issues.