KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) put in an incredible performance in the #47 Porsche 911 GT3 R at the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa, recovering from a brake issue that left them 65th on the grid to finish seventh.
Returning for a fourth effort at the world’s biggest GT3 race, its third with Porsche, Hong Kong-based KCMG and its drivers Nick Tandy, Laurens Vanthoor and Dennis Olsen went on a charge to slice through the field and transform an unexpected qualifying setback into a dazzling performance.
2020 24 Hours of Spa winner Tandy, who had secured fifth with KCMG last year in the same event, took the start of the 74th running of the Ardennes classic aboard the #47 machine. The British driver quickly made up for lost ground to sit in 30th by the end of the opening stint.
Team-mates Vanthoor and Olsen, who had claimed a podium finish with KCMG at the Rolex 24 in Daytona in January, carried the momentum throughout the evening, meaning the #47 crew ranked 10th at nightfall.
The star-studded trio even led the iconic GT race in the early hours of Sunday morning, before shuffling back down the order as temperatures rose again after dawn. 24 hours after starting last, Olsen crossed the line in seventh place overall, capping a fantastic 58-place comeback for KCMG.
LAURENS VANTHOOR
“We did the best we could with seventh. In hindsight, there’s always things you can do better, but we tried our best and managed to finish as the leading Porsche. It was quite a battle but I’m proud of how we managed to come back from our grid position. We were leading the race for a while at night but unfortunately when the sun came out and the temperatures went up, we lacked a bit of pace.”
NICK TANDY
“In the end, to be disappointed with a top-10 result in a race like this shows the heights of the ambition of this team. It looked so good this morning but, in the end, we just didn’t have the pace when the temperatures rose. I think we can be all really proud of how we executed the whole weekend. The race has been fantastic, the car was faultless throughout the event, the team were amazing in the pitstops. I am happy with how we raced, even though I think the end result is disappointing for everyone. But we can be pleased as we gave our best.”
DENNIS OLSEN
“It was a good race, especially considering that we started P65, which was not where we expected to be. We kept our heads high and focused on trying to gain as many positions as possible and move towards the front, which we did. We were even leading at one point, which shows how well the whole team has done a great job to prepare for this race. The engineers, the team manager, the whole crew, everyone has done an exceptional job. That’s how we managed to go from last all the way to the front. This was the maximum we could do.”
MATT HOWSON TEAM MANAGER
“This year’s Spa 24 Hours was one of the most exceptional showings any team could hope for. Qualifying 65th at the highest level in GT3 racing leaves a lot of work to do. But thanks to perfect performances from the drivers Nick, Laurens and Dennis, the car crew, supported by every KCMG team member on site, we managed to move into the lead by mid-race. This was a true team effort. It was a shame we couldn’t deliver in hotter conditions on Sunday, but we can all be immensely proud of a seventh-place finish, which is further evidence of the quality and professionalism of KCMG’s Global GT team. We now look forward to what the future holds!”
ALEXANDRE GIBOT MANAGING DIRECTOR, PORSCHE MOTORSPORT ASIA PACIFIC LTD.
“It was great to see KCMG racing under the Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific banner again at the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa, the world’s biggest GT3 race, where getting to the end already is a great achievement. KCMG did much more than take the chequered flag, as they showed tremendous grit to recover though the field and grab a strong top-10 finish in the premier class. So, many congratulations to the entire KCMG team for another fine result in one of the most prestigious endurance events on the planet.”
PAUL IP KCMG FOUNDER
“I’m so proud of the whole team and the amazing effort they put in to recover from the setback in qualifying. To have a brake issue at that moment was such a shame, the team put in an amazing effort and deserved to start further up the field. Despite this, nobody gave up and continued to believe in each other. Nick’s effort in the first stint was incredible, with Laurens and Dennis backing him up superbly. To lead the race at one point was such a brilliant moment, it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t hold onto P1 but we should all be very happy with the comeback and result.”
For more information about KCMG please visit www.kcmg.com.hk. To keep track of all the latest updates, please like KCMG’s Facebook page or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
About KCMG
KC Motorgroup Ltd (KCMG) is an international motorsport services group established in 2007 by Paul Ip. The group, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong, has operations reaching across the Asia Pacific region. KCMG operates closely with many partner companies and racing organisations around the world to provide unrivalled motorsport services, equipment, team management and quality distribution in the automotive industry. This includes the FIA Motorsport Games, where KCMG is the official supplier of hybrid F4 cars, and the KCMG Driver Development Project. For more information on all of the team’s activities please visit www.kcmg.com.hk or email info@kcmg.com.hk.
