In a busy news week for the LMS which has seen confirmation that at least one Porsche RS Spyder will be present in the series next year, Embassy is pleased to end some of the paddock speculation surrounding the 2008 season by announcing a deal that will see Warren Hughes stay with us for a further three years.
The deal was signed at Spa on the eve of this year’s LMS 1000 km race and runs through to December 2010. Designed to provide the high degree of continuity we will need to launch a serious challenge on the LMP2 Championship next year, the news forms part of what will be a very eventful period in the Embassy LMS programme and although neither Jonathan or Warren want to talk about specific details of the contract or the team’s future plans, Warren did say:
“As a team owner, Jonathan not only has tremendous drive and enthusiasm, but that rare ability to know, and to provide, what is needed for success on the track. When we talked about the team’s future it was obvious to me that with the technical, human, and financial resources available to them, Embassy Racing was where I wanted to be. As a racing driver, we all want to be in the most competitive car available, and having been privy to the team’s 2008 plans for some time, it wasn’t really a difficult decision to make. Winning races is what I enjoy doing most, and I have no doubt that Embassy can provide me with that opportunity on a regular basis in the years ahead.”
Despite being only 8 months into our working relationship, team Principal Jonathan France, was delighted to resign Warren:
“Warren is an exceptionally talented driver, and I am extremely pleased that he will be driving with us, rather than our competitors, for the next three years! His speed, racecraft, and dedication have never been in doubt, and mark him out as a true professional. The nature of this long-term agreement gives us both the continuity and stability that is needed for consistent success both on and off the track."
Although the announcement has resolved one issue, its timing and particularly our history with Porsche in the British GT, the news will unavoidably fuel some speculation regarding the future Embassy plans and choice of machinery. Jonathan is careful not to give too much away:
“We are entering an interesting and exciting phase here at Embassy, and re-signing Warren is the first step along the road to success. We have other plans in place to ensure that we are at the forefront of prototype racing for the foreseeable future, and much more than that I cannot say. I realise that there has been considerable speculation as to our choice of chassis for next year, and whilst we already own a Pilbeam and a Radical, I can only comment that next year’s car will have a hint of Germanic engineering somewhere in its genes!”
