Griffin ready to fight for World Endurance Championship in Bahrain

Ireland’s GT racing ace, Matt Griffin heads to Bahrain where he will fight for the win in the 9th and final round of the 2017 World Endurance Championship.  He joins teammates Mok Weng Sun and Kieta Sawa in their number 61 Clearwater Racing Ferrari 488 GTe.

The trio are currently sitting 3rd in the GTE Am championship of the series after a disappointing end to their race in Shanghai two weeks ago where due to contact early in the race, the car had to pit for repairs leaving them with a 4th place finish, however having had four podiums so far this season including a win at Silverstone in the early part, the teammates are feeling positive.

“2017 has been a fantastic season overall for me and I am really hoping to finish on a high in Bahrain.  It’s a great race and a great event that starts in the daylight and finished under the floodlights. This is the 2nd time I have raced in Bahrain and my teammates have raced here before also, which should help us to hit the ground running and fight for victory” Matt explained.

Team Aston Martin are currently leading the championship and for Clearwater Racing to overtake them in the championship the boys need to win with Aston Martin finishing 4th.

Matt continues “considering this is Clearwater racings first year racing at this level it has been amazing that we have been able to fight for the championship.  Unfortunately the contact in Shanghai blunted our challenge and will make it an uphill struggle in Bahrain.  The good thing from our side is, due to our position, we can just focus on trying to win the race as the rest is out of our hands but we will give it everything to end on a high”.

2017 has been a very hectic year for the Irishman, with Bahrain being the 30th race completed in 2017 along with spending 282 hrs on airplanes covering 171543km traveling around the world.

Due to not competing in the Asian Le Mans Series this year, the Cork based driver has a well earned, longer than normal, winter break.

“Doing the amount of racing that I do is great as I really love what I do, but it is a very demanding schedule with almost no weekends off during the season.  It’s going to be great to have some time off to recharge the batteries and fingers crossed I will have a world championship in my pocket while recharging those batteries!!”

This weekend kicks of on Thursday 16th November with two free practice sessions.  Friday 17th November sees another free practice session in the morning, followed by LMGTE AM Qualifying at 17.00.  The 6-hour day to night race will take place on Saturday 18th November at 16.00.

Live TV coverage of the race can be found on Motors TV at 12.45pm (UK time).  More information can be found at www.fiawec.com.