The entry list for next weekend's opening round of the 2016 Blancpain GT Series just got a bit more impressive. The driver pairing for the #59 Garage 59 McLaren has been announced: the 650S will be driven by Britons Craig Dolby and Martin Plowman, two drivers who already showed their pace during the course of the 2015 season of the Blancpain GT Series.
Dolby and Plowman, both 28, will need little time to get used to each other, for they shared the MRS GT and Always Evolving Nissans during last year's endurance races. Plowman has enjoyed a successful career in some of the world’s toughest championships including Indycar, American Le Mans Series and the World Endurance Championship. In 2013, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP2 class and was 2013 FIA WEC World Champion in the LMP2 class for drivers and teams. The 28 year old racer has a wealth of experience on and off track and has competed on all of the circuits the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup visits, which stands him in good stead for the season ahead. Team-mate Dolby had a fruitful journey through single seaters including clinching the Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium championship title in 2006 and completed two seasons in the Tottenham Hotspur Superleague Formula car before switching to GT racing in 2012. Competing in the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup in 2015, Dolby secured eight top-ten finishes.
Bas Leinders, team manager Garage 59: "We tested Martin and Craig at the beginning of the year and it was clear from the outset their pace was very good. They are both very professional racers which is important when selecting drivers for the Blancpain GT Series; the level of racing is so competitive. We are very confident that we have the right team, the right car and now the right drivers with all four confirmed to have a good season this year."