Griffin Confident Ahead of WEC Six Hours of Spa

Irish racing driver, Matt Griffin will be at the iconic Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium this weekend for the first round of the 2018 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) ‘super season’.
The unusual season will consist of 8 races that run over 18 months and include two editions of the famous Le Mans 24 hour, the super season will finish in June 2019.
Griffin rejoins the Singapore based Clearwater Racing team after coming 2nd in the 2017 World Endurance Championship (WEC), with teammates Mok Weng Sun and Keita Sawa. The trio will race the number 61 Ferrari 488 GTe.

“It’s a real privilege to be back with Clearwater Racing, we had an amazing season last year finishing 2nd in the WEC. I think keeping the continuity in the car, crew and driver line up will be a big benefit to us for the season.” explained Matt.

Griffin saw 5 podium finishes in the 2017 season and is hoping for more success in 2018/2019, however the WEC GT Pro Am grid has swelled this year with nearly every manufacturer adding at least one extra car compared to last year, it looks to be the most competitive the championship has ever seen.
Matt continues, “the championship has moved up a notch in terms of competitiveness for sure with almost double the entries. Having so many podium finishes last year was great and may be difficult to replicate this season, if we can start where we finished last year we will be competitive for sure. For me, Weng (Mok Weng Sun) was one of the stars of the season and was progressing each race, keeping that momentum is important”.

With the WEC super season including two editions of the Le Mans 24 hour, this will see the Cork based drivers participation in the race to eight years, by far the most starts for any Irish Racing Driver. Clearwater Racing finished 5thin 2017’s Le Mans 24 hour.

“Le Mans is for sure the jewel in the motor racing crown and I am very proud to have 6 consecutive starts under my belt to be confirmed for at least 2 more is great. Last year we had a very good run but everything has to be perfect to win Le Mans and we weren’t quite 100 % perfect, 5th was however a good result, but we have to aim a bit higher and with the extra experience I think we can get to the podium.”

The weekend kicks off on Thursday 3rd May with Free Practice 1 at 12.00 (CET), Free practice 2 is at 16.25 (CET). Friday 4th May sees Free Practice 3 at 11.00 (CET) followed by LMGTE Qualifying at 15.00 (CET). The 6-hour race takes place on Saturday 5th May at 13.30 (CET).

UK TV coverage can be found on Motorsport TV at 12.15 (GMT).

About Matt Griffin

The 35-year-old, 2013 European Le Mans Series Champion an 2015 Blancpain endurance series champion, has made quite an impact on international GT racing in the last couple of years, competing successfully in championships ranging from the FIA World Endurance Championship to International GT Open as well as racing closer to home in the British GT Championship. In the last ten years he’s never competed in less than 24 races, all in a Ferrari.

He has also broadened his experience in the last few years, taking part successfully in endurance races in Australia, Malaysia and Dubai and America.

In all of these he has been behind the wheel of a Ferrari, and has worked closely in testing and developments with the Italian marque’s GT development partner and constructor, Michelotto Automobili.