Earl Bamber will not be racing in this weekend’s Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio with Porsche confirming it has withdrawn both of its factory GT Le Mans entries following three positive Covid-19 tests from the team at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Bamber’s co-driver, Laurens Vanthoor, was one of three factory IMSA GTLM drivers competing for Porsche at Le Mans last weekend.
The German manufacturer announced yesterday that several Covid-19 tests returned a positive result. The team has quarantined all of its staff and drivers from last weekend which has affected its participation in other endurance events.
Firstly, nine drivers were ruled out of the Nürburgring 24 Hour and now both GTLM entries have been forced to withdraw from the IMSA Mid-Ohio race this weekend.
“Based on yesterday’s decision that no employee or racing driver of our Le Mans team will participate in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, we have today decided that this ruling will also apply to the upcoming IWSC race in Mid-Ohio,” said Head of Porsche Motorsport Fritz Enzinger.
“This means that Laurens, Nick and Fred will not be traveling to the USA.
“This is very regrettable, but we would like to emphasize that in this case as well the health of all those concerned is the prime focus of the decisions we have taken.”
The only driver not directly affected by the positive Covid-19 tests was Bamber who has been reassigned to drive for Porsche customer squad KCMG at the Nürburgring.
There he will join Jorg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard and Dennis Olsen at the wheel of a two Porsche 911 GT3 Rs. It will be Bamber’s fourth Nürburgring 24 Hour start
He also becomes the fourth Kiwi entry for the race, joining Tom Blomqvist, Peter Scharmach and Wayne Moore.
Bamber is expected to reunited with Vanthoor and the Porsche team at the next IMSA round from Charlotte Motor Speedway.
