After finishing in third yesterday and fifth today (18 May) in the season-opener of the GT Asia Series, the #97 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of Craft-Bamboo Racing leaves the Korean International Circuit in third place overall in the driver’s championship standings 

Today’s mid-afternoon race was filled with action at the start, with Frank Yu (HK) in car #97 making up two positions as soon as the lights went out. Behind him, starting from sixth in the #99, Natasha Seatter (MY) kept the car out of trouble in the rush for turn one and confidently maintained her position.

From there, the duo stayed with the front-running pack engaging in a three-way Aston Martin battle with Jiang Xin, who changed positions with Seatter a few times before making it stick on lap five.

Seatter, running in sixth position, spun on lap eight to lose four spots before rejoining in tenth. However, the Malaysian driver was unfazed and quickly recovered a position in the next lap to continue in ninth.

Meanwhile, up ahead, Yu in fourth position continued to be pursued by Xin, who finally found a way past the Hong Kong driver on lap nine, forcing the #97 back into fifth place. The positions remained until the pit-window opened for the driver change.

Warren Luff (AU) took over from Yu and rejoined the race in sixth after the team was given a four second time penalty as compensation time for finishing third in race one. However, Luff finished the race in fifth as the Audi driven by Alex Yoong dropped out of the race on lap 21.

In the #99, Seatter handed the car over to Tacksung Kim (KR) who managed to set a good pace but left the pits with a big gap between him and the car ahead. Kim managed to maintain his position all the way to the end of the race to finish in ninth.

The team was happy with its first outing in the GT Asia Series and with the points collected. Car #97 scooped a total of 23 points to place third on the championship points.

Team Manager, Russell Eeles commented: “All in all it was a very successful season opener in GT Asia for Craft-Bamboo Racing. We were happy with the performance of all the drivers and the team gelled well together.We are looking forward to our next outing in Autopolis where we are looking forward to building on all the positives achieved this weekend. Excellent performance by all involved, right through the team”.

Craft-Bamboo Racing will return to the circuit for round two of the GT Asia Series on Sunday, 18th May at 15:00 KST. The team will then pack up for rounds three and four, to be held at the Autopolis International Circuit, Japan from 30th May to 1st June 2014.

Craft-Bamboo Racing was formed as the result of a merger between two renowned race teams - GT and endurance series participants Craft Racing AMR and touring car series participants Bamboo Engineering - to make Craft-Bamboo Racing. The partnership was announced early April, prior to its first outing at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in Europe.

Craft-Bamboo Racing’s campaign in the 2014 GT Asia Series can only be made possible with the continued support of the team sponsors; Gravity Partnership, POAD, Motul, Racerlink, Tunewear and Vortex Racewear.

Driver quotes:

Car #97 – Frank Yu / Warren Luff

Frank Yu: “We finished pretty much as we expected, in fourth or fifth. We started with the old set of tyres for the first stint. We had a good start, I jumped from fifthh to third but, after the first three laps, the tyre started to give way and I just drove safe to give the car back to Warren. Under the circumstances we gave the positions we gained back at the end and I gave the car to Warren in fifth. I knew Warren had the new tyres on so that he can make a bit more of a push. 

“I am happy with the weekend and it’s a good thing too that we will head to Autopolis with no time added for our pit-stops. It was a good weekend, I am happy with the two drivers that joined us and would like to thank them for driving well for us.”

Warren Luff: “I am much happier with the car today, it had a better race pace. We ran the new set for the second half of the race and I was able to maintain a good pace. 

“The team worked well to improve the car from race 1 and we will take the lessons we learnt this weekend to make the better for Autopolis in two weeks time. 

“I had a great time in GT Asia and I am impressed with the category, teams and the professionalism and I am looking forward to more races this year”.

Car #99 – Natasha Seatter / Tacksung Kim 

Natasha Seatter: “We had a good start, could have been better but we still managed to stay in the train at the start, pushing ahead. I kept an eye out on the Aston that attempted several times to overtake on the inside at the end of the straight. He took me at turn1 but left an opportunity for me to dive in and block, regaining my position, he put up a good fight. We were so close all the way. 

“I lost my aero through turn 13 following to close to Frank, followed by a spin. I managed to rejoin the race but lost a few positions down to tenth. I regained one position before having to pit to hand over the car to Tack.

“Overall I felt it was a good race, until I spun. It was a good car, and the whole team did good job. We pushed hard but things happen but I am happy”.

Tacksung Kim: “I learnt a lot about front engine cars and although it has a ‘happy’ front, it has good aero and is good overall. 

“The middle part of the race, the weather was hot and the tyre temperature went up quickly, which gave us a lot of understeer in the middle and the short corners. Overall the car was quite stable and we were able to finish the race with a good pace.

“The team was good, they have a good system and with lots of feedback with one another, which helps me on the strategy and setting of the car. It was a good experience and I hope to be back in the Series”. 

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