29 October 2020 For Immediate Release
Challenger partners with Craft-Bamboo Racing for the 67th Macau Grand Prix
Inaugural Macau GT Cup winner Darryl O’Young to drive the #95 Mercedes-AMG GT3
67th Macau Grand Prix | Macau GT Cup
Challenger joins forces with Craft-Bamboo Racing for the 67th Macau Grand Prix, in the Macau GT Cup. Hong Kong race driver Darryl O’Young will be at the wheel of the #95 Mercedes-AMG GT3, in his 16th entry to the prestigious event. The 67th Macau Grand Prix will be held on the 19th – 22nd of November, at the daunting Guia Circuit in the streets of Macau. O’Young is the perfect fit for Challenger’s entry in the Macau Grand Prix, being a multiple-time winner of the event. He has tasted victory at the Macau Guia circuit no less than 5 times, having won overall at the Macau Grand Prix on three occasions, as well as 2 independent class victories in the World Touring Car Championship Guia Race. The previous Le Mans 24 Hour podium finisher and 2015 GT Asia Drivers’ Champion is relishing the challenge of racing at his favourite hunting ground, and will be gunning for glory again in the #95 Challenger Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. The Macau Grand Prix is one of Asian motorsport’s glamorous and highly-coveted events on the calendar. First held in 1954, the street race has grown to have a global reputation, with the Guia Circuit feared by all drivers for its unforgiving nature. Featuring fast, flowing corners like Mandarin bend and Fisherman’s, to tight corners like the Melco hairpin, the Macau Circuit is the ultimate challenge for the drivers as they all vie for international glory. The weekend in Macau is set to be a thriller, with a multi-class grid set to provide close and exciting racing to a worldwide audience. The 67th Macau Grand Prix will be broadcast across 315 internet platforms and 103 TV networks globally in addition to the various live streams on social media channels. Established in 1991, Challenger is a car care service concept brought over from the USA to Hong Kong. In almost 30 years, Challenger and its associate brands in the same group has grown to be the largest car care service chain in Hong Kong, with over 20 store locations conveniently located in car parks of major malls and commercial buildings in the city. Challenger also has 3 care service centres in Hong Kong, providing complete car service options. Challenger has most recently been involved in motorsport, having worked with the HKAA to organize an esport championship in Hong Kong and Taiwan, awarding the simulator racing drivers a total prize pool of HKD 1.5 million. Darryl O’Young is also an ambassador and coach in the esport series, providing access to motorsport for the wider general public and designed to develop young talent through virtual racing. Craft-Bamboo Racing’s entry to the 67th Macau Grand Prix would not be possible without their dedicated team partners; . The team would like to thank Challenger, Hong Kong Asia Medical Group, Evisu, Theodore Racing, M Plus Live, LVGEM, Gravity, ASPEC, POAD, and FreeM for their dedication and support. ABOUT CHALLENGER Affiliated to the Hong Kong Automobile Group Limited, CHALLENGER has rooted in Hong Kong for 30 years, it has provided high-quality car care services to more than one million customers across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan and Thailand. The company has dedicated to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities outside of business, and actively participates in various charitable activities. It has been honored as the "Caring Company for Caring Society" for 15 consecutive years. QUOTES Kelvin Lau | General Manager of Challenger Auto Services Limited “It is an honour to be the title sponsor for Craft-Bamboo Racing for the 67th Macau Grand Prix. Darryl O’Young is a highly regarded racing driver, and his attitude on the race track is very similar to Challenger, sharing the same beliefs of professionalism and performance in our auto care services. Darryl has already been working with us; he is our team principle and technical director of Challenger Cup Asian E-Racing Championship. We really enjoy having him on-board with us and we want to support his entry with Craft-Bamboo Racing in this year’s Macau Grand Prix. As we approach the 30th anniversary of Challenger, we will continue our focus on automobiles, and to provide wider services and promotions in the near future. We’re really excited and looking forward to the race, and fully support Hong Kong athletes in striving for success in the international motorsport scene.” Darryl O’Young | Driver #95 Challenger Mercedes-AMG GT3 “2020 has been a tough year for Asian motorsport and also myself as a race driver, with the Macau Grand Prix being my one and only race of the year. There has been a massive logistical challenge for the team and event organisers to make the race happen this year, so I’m truly grateful for everyone’s efforts. I thought long and hard before entering this year’s race, as there is a tremendous personal sacrifice with the current travel restrictions and quarantines. That is why working with Challenger this year is special, because competing in this year’s event is exactly what their name represents, a Challenge. Challenger has inspired me to push myself to overcome all the difficulties to compete in this year’s Macau Grand Prix. This year’s race is also a major mental challenge, as being out of the car for a year means it will take maximum concentration and confidence to drive at a high level. I am ready for this and I am truly grateful for everyone that supported me to compete this year. I will put my maximum effort to bring back another victory for Hong Kong, in what will be a race full of emotion and excitement.”
