Page 162 - Bespoke Issue

to be a perfect match as Harrison scored three wins from four races to seal the title and begin his endurance career in the perfect manner by lifting aloft the champions trophy. Newey claimed the 2017-2018 Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 title along with co-drivers Thomas Laurent and Stephane Richelmi after the trio recorded rst place in the fourth and nal race in Malaysia, marking a stunning 100% podium nishing record for Newey in the series.
In addition to the Sepang win, Newey had taken the Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Oreca 05 Nissan to victory in the four-hour races at Zhuhai and Fuji and then second place in the 6 Hours of Buriram in Thailand – a third potential successive win denied by a problematic downshift issue.
Unsurprisingly at the post-race Gala Awards, Newey was presented with the ALMS “Rookie of the Year” Award.
Newey completed a clean and consistent double stint in Sepang, having taken over from Laurent– who had started third on the grid – and handed the ORECA over to Richelmi with a 12secs advantage. Newey/Laurent/Richelmi were embroiled in a race long battle with the Anglo-Chinese team’s “sister” team car which it ultimately overcame by over one- minute at the chequered ag to claim the win and the title.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have won the title,” said Newey. “Three wins and a second place in my four-race sportscar career is pretty special.
Young British talent Harrison Newey has instantly excelled during his maiden sportscar campaign over the last four months. With three wins from four races in the Asian Le Mans Series, which climaxed at Sepang in Malaysia earlier this year, a new endurance ace has been born.
19 year-old Newey, the son of renowned Formula One designer Adrian Newey, has carved a successful niche in the world of sportscar racing after an equally impressive single-seater career.
After racing karts from the age of eight, Newey dovetailed his school studies with racing in the toughest junior race series in the world – the FIA European Formula Three Championship. The cut and thrust world of going toe-to-toe with the world’s best young racers is hailed as a star-maker series and has previously seen F1 champions Sebastien Vettel and Lewis Hamilton win the coveted crown. Newey scored several top results in F3, but also tasted triumph in the Indian based MRF Series in 2016/17 when he was crowned champion at a drama- lled nal race.
After scoring a hatful of points in second year of F3 in 2017, Newey leaped in to endurance racing by being signed up for a full campaign by Hollywood action legend Jackie Chan’s race team. It proved
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HARRISON
NEWEY
A New Endurance Racing Ace
WORDS SAM SMITH
IMAGES ASIAN LE LA MANS SERIES