Long to return to PWC with Wright Motorsports
Patrick Long, who came desperately close to winning the GT class of Pirelli World Challenge last season, will return to the series in 2017 with Wright Motorsports.
Photo by: Art Fleischmann
Long, the only Porsche factory driver from North America, will be returning with the squad that saved his ride this year, when Long’s original team, EFFORT Racing, had to shutdown, at least temporarily.
Switching from one Porsche 911 GT3 R to another, Long didn’t miss a beat and finished the season with three wins and a very close runner-up finish in the title race to Alvaro Parente’s KPAX McLaren.
Long, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., said: “I am grateful to be back with the Wright Motorsports group for a full crack at this Pirelli World Challenge championship.
“There were lots of storylines in 2016 from our season, and each has brought us only closer and more focused as a tight-knit team. The championship will only be stronger in '17, and this is a massive help to get this effort inked nice and early. Let's do this!"
Team owner John Wright echoed his driver’s comments, declaring: “I am very pleased to continue the program for the 2017 season. We finished the '16 season with a lot of momentum but a final result that left more to be desired.
“I'm glad we have the green light for 2017 so we can finish our business we started."
Jens Walther, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America, added: “Success is built on attention to detail and continuity. Wright Motorsports has a proven approach, missing the Pirelli World Challenge GT and GTA titles in the slimmest way possible in 2016.
“Clearly, there is unfinished business here in both classes. John is returning with the key elements of the team and the sole focus on finishing what was started last season. The competition will be even more intense, and we look forward to another exciting season of World Challenge.”
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