JAMEC-PEM Racing Press Release
JAMEC-PEM Racing/Melbourne Performance Centre
2015 Australian GT Championship presented by Pirelli
13 January, 2015
Factory Audi star Christopher Mies will spearhead an Audi assault on the 2015 Australian GT Championship presented by Pirelli, the dual Bathurst 12-Hour and Blancpain Series Champion joining JAMEC-PEM Racing for the full six round series.
Mies is no stranger to Australia, having campaigned the 2013 (fifth) and 2014 (tenth) Bathurst 12-Hour events with the Audi Sport Customer Racing team in Australia alongside Mark Eddy and Marc Cini, the German lining up alongside the two GT stalwarts again for the 2015 event, although he won’t be with that particular team for Australian GT.
“We’re looking for the outright Australian GT title again in 2015, and we feel that Chris is a big part of that program,” former Trophy Class champion and Audi convert Steve McLaughlan confirmed.
Mies will join an expanded JAMEC-PEM Racing squad for 2015, driving alongside McLaughlan in a two-car team, with a yet to be named co-driver. The JAMEC-PEM team are an integral part of the MPC squad who are looking to reclaim the AGT crown after taking Mark Eddy to the title on Audi’s debut in Australia back in 2011.
“We’ve worked with Chris over a number of years, and are pleased that Steve and the JAMEC-PEM team were able to put this deal together so that Chris can join us for the 2015 season and go after the AGT title,” MPC’s Troy Russell admitted.
MPC were a big part of the local support team that assisted Audi with back-to-back wins in the Bathurst 12-Hour in 2011 and 2012, with Mies behind the wheel on both occasions, that result cementing MPC’s role with Audi as one of few international teams acting in an official Customers Sports role for the German manufacturer.
“I'm really looking forward to doing Australian GT together with JAMEC-PEM Racing and MPC,” Mies confirmed. “I'm a big fan of Australia. The target is definitely to win the championship this year, that's what I'm there for!
“I watched some of the races from 2014 and it looked like it is already a tough competition with some tight racing - I like that. From what I hear, my guess is that 2015 will be even more competitive, especially with the rumour that there will be a number of former V8 Supercar drivers and some other young guys looking to establish themselves in GT also coming in.
“The Australian market is very important for a brand like Audi, and I'm very proud to be the first official Audi driver who's doing a complete championship there. No question it will not be easy against all the other good drivers, especially as I don't know many of the tracks, but I'll enjoy it as much as possible.”
Whilst the opening round of the 2015 Australian GT Championship is not until the end of February, Mies - like MPC - will be on deck for the season opening Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12-Hour at Mount Panorama in three weeks time, joining Eddy and Cini with whom he also drove the Sepang 12-Hour in 2014 as part of the MPC team.
“I love driving with the boys, they’re both great characters and they always make Bathurst a special experience,” Mies added. “The field in 2015 is going to be tough, but we ran strongly last year and could well have been in that battle for the lead if not for a couple of issues mid race which dropped us down a number of laps.
“We’ll be in the mix again this year I’m sure, and it will also give me a good chance to see what the competition will be like for Adelaide. I can’t wait!”
Rnd#1 - 26 February-1 March, Clipsal 500, Adelaide, SA**
Rnd#2 - 22-24 May, Phillip Island, Victoria*
Rnd#3 - 10-12 July, Townsville, Queensland**
Rnd#4 - 21-23 August, Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW**
Rnd#5 - 11-13 September, Sandown 500, Melbourne, Victoria**
Rnd#6 - 13-15 November, Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell, NZ (TBC)
(* with the Shannons Nationals, ** with V8 Supercars)
JAMEC-PEM Racing is proudly supported by Companion Brands, ROMAN, APC Logistics, Melbourne Performance Centre, and Wrap my Ride.
For more information on the JAMEC-PEM Racing team, please contact Sean Henshelwood at Signature Series Group [SSG] via sean@signatureseries.com.au
www.facebook.com/MelbournePerformance
www.melbourneperformance.com
Photo credit: Melbourne Performance Centre
