De komende winter zal Kay van Berlo niet stilzitten. Kay is bijzonder blij om te mogen aankondigen dat hij vanaf november zal uitkomen in de Asian Le Mans Series voor het team van United Autosports. Een geweldige stap, die hem in staat zal stellen om deze winter veel ervaring op te doen bij een topteam, op internationaal hoog aangeschreven circuits.
De teamgenoten
Met nog een race te gaan in de European Le Mans Series, hebben ze voor de winter alvast iets moois in het vooruitzicht. Normaal gesproken zit Kay als coureur dan een paar maanden stil, maar gelukkig geldt dat niet voor hem! Met United Autosports zal Kay deelnemen aan de Asian Le Mans Series en riidt hij vier races in Azië. Kay zal de auto delen met twee zeer getalenteerde coureurs, in de vorm van de Engelsman Matt Bell en de Amerikaan Jim McGuire. Twee ervaren coureurs van wie hij heel veel kan leren.
United Autosports
Ook als het gaat om het team zelf, had Kay het niet beter kunnen treffen. United Autosports heeft al veel titels binnengehaald, waaronder twee keer het LMP3-kampioenschap in de European Le Mans Series. Om in Azië te mogen rijden voor zo’n topteam biedt hopelijk ook kansen voor de verdere toekomst. Kay zal in ieder geval mijn uiterste best doen om mezelf zo goed mogelijk in de kijker te rijden!
De circuits
De Asian Le Mans Series bestaat uit vier races van vier uur. Ze zullen uitkomen op de circuits van Shanghai, Fuji, Buriram en Sepang en dat zijn stuk voor stuk hoog aangeschreven circuits, waar een flinke uitdaging ligt. Kay heeft ze natuurlijk al even verkend in de simulator en volgens hem kunnen we daar een hoop plezier gaan beleven.
Verwachtingen
Over de verwachtingen van het winterseizoen kan Kay kort zijn: “ik heb nog geen idee. Er is nog weinig bekend over de line-up van andere teams, dus ik weet nog niet hoe de concurrentie eruit zal zien. Wat ik wel weet, is dat ik voor een ijzersterk team ga rijden, met twee uitstekende coureurs. Hopelijk kunnen we deze winter voor wat moois zorgen!”.
De kalender van de Asian Le Mans Series ziet er als volgt uit:
- 23-25 november: Shanghai, China
- 7-9 december: Fuji, Japan
- 10-12 januari: Buriram, Thailand
- 22-24 februari: Sepang, Maleisie
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KAY VAN BERLO TO TEAM UP WITH JIM McGUIRE AND MATT BELL FOR ASIAN LE MANS SERIES WITH UNITED AUTOSPORTS
United Autosports have confirmed that Jim McGuire, Matt Bell and Kay van Berlo will complete their Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 team as they make their debut in the series.
Jim McGuire has raced for the team since December 2016, when he entered the Gulf 12 Hours for the first time. Since then he has raced in the Michelin Le Mans Cup for two seasons alongside Matt Bell, with a best finish of third at Portimao at the end of last year. Matt has been racing for the team since United Autosports first began competing back in 2010. This year he has been racing in both the European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup. Matt is currently lying third in the ELMS LMP3 championship standings with one round remaining.
Kay is a newcomer to the team, but has experience racing and winning in the LMP3 category. Currently racing in the European Le Mans Series, Kay scored a podium at the opening round at Paul Ricard, following that up with wins at Monza and Le Mans as part of the Road to Le Mans event. The 17-year-old Dutch driver has been racing from a young age, winning many high-profile karting championships.
United Autosports have already announced that Guy Cosmo, Patrick Byrne and Salih Yoluc will be joining their LMP3 team. The drivers of the LMP2 team will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Asian Le Mans Series begins in Shanghai, China on 24-25 November, with the series also visiting Fuji (Japan), Buriram (Thailand) and Sepang (Malaysia).
Jim McGuire, driver, United Autosports:
“The Asian Le Mans Series will be fantastic. It’s quite a thrill to be able to race on three continents in one calendar year. Between Sebring, Europe, and now Asia, the United Autosports team and our AERO-painted Ligier JS P3 have been superb. We’re now looking forward to the 2018/19 Asian Le Mans Series schedule, which includes circuits like Shanghai, Fuji, Buriram, and Sepang. For AERO Sustainable Paint Technology, the ALMS provides an exceptional venue to showcase our ultra-durable, environmentally sustainable paint technology in Asia. Lastly, I’m really looking forward to running with Matt Bell and Kay van Berlo. Matt and I have developed a chemistry with the JS P3, and young Kay is proving to be a rising star in motor racing at just 17-years-old.”
Matt Bell, driver, United Autosports:
“I’m very excited to be heading back to Asia for my second Asian Le Mans Series and to continue racing with Jim too. I’ve really enjoyed driving with him and it’ll be great to carry our season on into the winter. With Kay joining us, I think we’ll have a competitive line-up and can definitely target some podiums. I loved each circuit last time I did the series, especially Fuji, so I can’t wait to get going.”
Kay van Berlo, driver, United Autosports:
“I am extremely happy to be joining United Autosports for the 2018/2019 Asian Le Mans Series. It feels fantastic to become part of such a great team with so many successes already. Hopefully we can add some more successes during the Asian Le Mans Series. I’m looking forward to sharing the car with Matt Bell and Jim McGuire. Both guys are really fast and I am 100% sure we can put some good results down together and we will have a lot of fun as well. It’s the first time for me competing In the Asian le mans series. The championship is looking really strong and the calendar is mega exciting with some ex and current F1 circuits. I can’t wait to get the season started.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“I’m thrilled we’ve completed our LMP3 team for Asia – I think we have two great line ups. I’m pleased to welcome Matt and Jim back to the team and to have them racing in another series with us. I’d also like to welcome Kay to the team. He is quick. I’ve been watching him all year in ELMS and I’ve been impressed with what he has done so I’m pleased he has agreed to join our Asian Le Mans Series team.”
