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INTERNATIONALS TO WATCH AT THE BEND

Former F1 driver Roberto Merhi is amongst the notable internationals in the field - Photo: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Former F1 driver Roberto Merhi is amongst the notable internationals in the field - Photo: InSyde Media

Former F1 driver Roberto Merhi is amongst the notable internationals in the field – Photo: InSyde Media

The Australian contingent of drivers that will contest the 4 Hours of The Bend this weekend has been well publicised, but the international regulars that compete in the Asian Le Mans Series ensures the quality at the top of the field is first class.

By HEATH McALPINE

As action at The Bend begins today, former Formula 1 drivers, GT factory drivers and ex-touring car stars will take on the Australian’s during the weekend’s inaugural event.

Former Manor Marussia F1 driver Roberto Merhi will take in The Bend Motorsport Park’s 7.7km International layout for the first-time, teaming with Aussie pair Nick Foster and Aidan Read in the #36 Eurasia Motorsport Ligier JS P217 Gibson.

Mehri is a much-accomplished racer in open-wheelers where he won the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2011 before moving into DTM as a Mercedes Junior and finished a best of second in his final race at Hockenheim before moving to Formula Renault 3.5 before his stint in Formula 1.

He was Caterham test driver in 2014 before joining Marussia Manor F1 the next year where he competed in 14 Grand Prix for no points. This was followed by his first event in sports cars before entering the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2017 finishing 18th after contesting a part-season, improving to 12th the next year.

Merhi kicked off his inaugural Asian Le Mans Series campaign with second at the opening round in Shanghai.

Rio Haryanto raced in Formula 1 in 2016 - Photo: InSyde Media

Rio Haryanto raced in Formula 1 in 2016 – Photo: InSyde Media

Another driver with Formula 1 pedigree is Indonesian Rio Haryanto, who started 12 races for Manor during the 2016 Formula 1 season. Just like Merhi, Haryanto has a successful open-wheeler career under his belt winning the Formula BMW Pacific Series in 2009 and winning races in GP2 Series, before turning his attention to GTs in Asia.

He will contest the ALMS alongside Christian Colombo and countryman David Tjiptobiantoro driving the T2 Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3. The trio were seventh in Shanghai.

The GT field features a number of factory drivers including Ferrari members Davide Rigon and Le Mans 24 Hour GTE Pro class winner Alessandro Pier Guidi, BMW’s Jens Klingmann and former DTM driver Joel Eriksson, regular visitor to these shores and former McLaren ace Come Ledogar, while former factory Seat, Alfa Romeo and Honda WTCC driver Andre Couto also features as part of the GT grid.

GT drivers Ben Barnicoat and Harry Tincknell team up - Photo: InSyde Media

GT drivers Ben Barnicoat and Harry Tincknell team up – Photo: InSyde Media

Drivers with GT experience also are part of the LMP2 field including McLaren factory ace Ben Barnicoat, who was only just in Australia contesting and winning the Challenge Bathurst event in late-November.

Partnering the Brit in the Thunderhead Carlin Racing Dallara P217 Gibson will be former Ford Chip Ganassi Racing driver Harry Tincknell. An illustrious sports car career highlighted by an LMP2 victory at Le Mans and the 2014 European Le Mans Championship leaves Tincknell as one of the elite prototype racers in the world. Last year, he also took wins in America driving for the Mazda Team Joest DPi squad contesting the IMSA Weathertech Championship.

Rivals in the lead class include Mathias Beche, who is another sports car ace and reigning winner of the European Le Mans Championship, recent S5000 driver James Winslow and a Kiwi team that are gunning for outright honours.

Previous SuperGT champion Nick Cassidy will be joined by Daniel Gaunt and super-sub Supercars driver Shane van Gisbergen will ensure LMP2 will be a tight affair.

Action at The Bend Motorsport Park begins today with the inaugural 4 Hour event occurring at 1:30pm AEDT on Sunday.

For more information head to: https://www.thebend.com.au/2020-asian-le-mans-series-round-2

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