Regional businessman set to boost ties with China in new driving championship

A local businessman is heading to the Far East to try making his mark in China.

Tony Wells, Cramlington-based Merit Holdings’ managing director, is heading to Shanghai to compete in the Asian Le Mans LMP3 endurance driving championship.

Tony and his co-driver, Colin Noble, are the current LMP3 Cup champions and will compete in the first four-hour race of the Asian series at the Shanghai International Circuit on November 25, driving for the historic Ecurie Ecosse team in the LMP3 class.

LPM3 is one of the fastest growing classes of racing using cars specially designed for endurance racing, reaching speeds of over 180 mph and powered by a five-litre normally aspirated Nissan V8 engine.

Tony said: “We’re really excited about driving in the Asian series for the first time.

“We’ve had a really good season this year and winning the LMP3 Cup championship provides a great platform for us to push for more silverware in Shanghai before moving on to Japan in December and then Thailand and Malaysia in the new year.

“Colin and I have developed a strong racing partnership, which with the support from all of the team at Ecurie Ecosse has created a winning formula that will ensure we are very competitive throughout the series.”

Races are run over four hours with drivers changing places over the course of the race.

The winners of the Asian Le Mans series will receive an automatic entry into the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2019.

Specialist engineering and construction company, Merit Holdings, operates across the UK from its Cramlington headquarters.