On the heels of an effective 2015 season which saw him achieve some career highlights, Patrick Long’s racing prepare for 2016 have come into focus with a sprint racing focus in the Pirelli World Challenge, a go back to the FIA WEC and a 14th start at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
In 2015, Long handled dedications both in the WEC with Dempsey-Proton Racing and IMSA with Team Falken Tire, in addition to making a 2nd start at the 12H of Bathurst. On the WEC front, a prominent second location finish at Le Mans, lead at COTA and a well-known win at Fuji– the very first win in co-driver Patrick Dempsey’s career– produced a series of profession highlights. In IMSA, Patrick’s podium surface at Sebring as colleague to Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler in the popular Group Falken Tire helped reduce the drape on well-loved group’s last season.
For 2016, Patrick has actually signed a brand-new, multi-year contract to continue as a Porsche factory chauffeur. The coming season will be even busier than 2015, as Long contests 20+ races throughout the Pirelli World Difficulty series with EFFORT Racing, the FIA World Endurance Championship with Abu Dhabi Proton Racing and the Rolex 24 At Daytona with Black Swan Racing.
Long’s main goal will be racing development of a crucial new car: the FIA GT3-homologated Porsche 911 GT3 R. To do so, he will go back to the Pirelli World Difficulty (PWC) series full-time, which he dominated in 2011 to the tune of 4 wins, five lead and sole belongings of the driver’s championship. Teaming with Houston-based EFFORT Racing, who themselves won the 2015 PWC Team Champion, Patrick is thrilled about his brand-new sprint-racing obstacle.
“I really enjoyed my single complete season in the Pirelli World Difficulty and the series has actually only grown since I last raced there. I’m enjoying the chance to return into the fierce sprint racing that PWC provides, particularly in the brand-new 911 GT3 R. I have actually had the chance to test the car several times now, and I’m confident that we’ll have the devices to challenge for race wins all season long.”
Patrick will likewise make a return to the FIA WEC with Abu Dhabi Proton Racing, teaming to drive the # 88 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR with David Heinemeier Hansson and Khaled Al-Qubaisi in the GTE-AM class.
“Racing in the FIA WEC in 2015 was an eye-opening experience for me,” Long said, “and I admit I was happily surprised at the level of competition in the GTE-AM class. The machinery and the motorists are genuinely at a first-rate level in the series, and I’m delighted to return to a few of the tracks the WEC check outs. We have a long list of goals for how to enhance on this year’s efficiency within the team, however the fantastic aspect of connection is that there’s a lot less learning curve. David is an amazing entrepreneur but he’s also one of, if not the, fastest am-rated chauffeurs out there, and I was familiar with Khaled and his family this season when he drove the sis # 88 automobile at Dempsey-Proton racing. I think we’ll have a powerful lineup within our class.”
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Patrick wishes to thank his partners and sponsors:
Porsche– https://www.porsche.com!.?.!Oakley– https://oakley.com!.?.!Troy Lee Styles– https://www.troyleedesigns.com!.?.!Specialized– https://specialized.com/OSMO Nutrition– https://osmonutrition.com/Valor Collective– https://www.valorcollective.com/CXC Simulations– https://www.cxcsimulations.com/Racelite Protection– https://raceliteprotection.myshopify.com/
