Josh Burdon has secured a drive in the new FRD LMP3 Series with the KCMG Team.
Burdon will team up with Bronze-rated Chinese driver Neric Wei in the new sportscar series, which will run a five-round season predominantly on Chinese tracks.
The series will be run by the Formula Racing Development (FRD) Group, which also operates the Asian Formula Renault Series and Ford’s factory-backed Chinese Touring Car Championship program.
Burdon won the Asian Formula Renault Series last year, which helped the Hobart native secure a place in the inaugural FRD LMP3 Series.
“We’re going to be racing in the FRD LMP3 Series this year, which is really cool,” Burdon told Speedcafe.com.
“It’s a new championship which has started up over here. Asia is growing and it’s quite exciting right now.
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“They’ve brought 16 brand new LMP3s out of Europe and they’ve given them to some of the top GT teams over here to run.”
The 24-year-old has secured a contract with FRD thanks to his successful stint in Asian Formula Renault, and intends to use the series as a platform for returning for Europe.
The winner of the FRD LMP3 Series will be awarded a seat in the Asian Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class, the highest level of the series.
The winner of that title then progresses to a drive in the Le Mans 24 Hour with the Ligier team.
However, Burdon still plans to base himself in Asia for the foreseeable future, and dovetail racing there with opportunities which arise in Europe.
“I’ve got a solid and capable team-mate in Neric so the ultimate big-time sort of plan is to win this LMP3 series, get the ride in Asian Le Mans in ‘P2, and ultimately just now build my focus around sportscar racing and prototype racing.
“I want to race at Le Mans next year, and basically if you win LMP2 at Asian Le Mans, when you’ve come through this ‘P3 program here, you win a ride at the Le Mans 24 Hour with Ligier in a factory car.
“I could see myself being based here for a while around the China/Hong Kong region where I am now but ultimately I’d like to get in the stage where I’m joining the Asian Le Mans, European Le Mans, and WEC, and back racing in Europe as well as over here.”
The FRD LMP3 Series commences in Shanghai on May 14.
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