British GT Race Winner Bryant Aims for GTE-AM Victory on Le Mans 24 Hour Debut

Experienced British GT Championship race winner Oliver Bryant will make his Le Mans 24 Hour debut next month (18-19 June), driving a Team AAI Corvette C7.R supported by ProSpeed Competition – and he’s aiming for GTE-AM class victory on his first appearance.

The 30-year old Buckinghamshire resident has driven a wide variety of both modern and classic machinery over a highly successful 14-year motorsport career, and knows exactly what to expect at Le Mans, having previously taken back-to-back podiums at the gruelling Spa 24 Hours in 2014 and 2015.

Bryant will have a highly experienced endurance racing operation around him, as this will be the seventh consecutive appearance at the Circuit de la Sarthe for the Belgian ProSpeed Competition outfit, and the second for Team AAI.

He is partnered with crew-mates Johnny O’Connell (who has scored three class victories at Le Mans and is a four-time Pirelli World Challenge champion) and Mark Patterson (who has raced at Le Mans in both prototypes and GTE machinery). The Corvette C7.R the trio will compete in has a strong pedigree at Le Mans, having won the LM GTE-Pro class in 2015 with Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Jordan Taylor.

Olly is supported at Le Mans by Duncan Taylor Artisanal, who blend their experience of Scottish heritage with unique and luxurious furniture, built by craftsmen who have a wealth of experience and expertise in their trade.

Oliver Bryant: “I’m delighted to be a part of this fantastic line-up for the Le Mans 24 Hours. I believe we have the car, team and drivers to challenge for GTE-AM honours and I’m very excited to make my Le Mans 24 Hours debut.”

Euan Shand, Chairman of Duncan Taylor: "Duncan Taylor Artisanal are very pleased to be sponsoring Team AAI Corvette in pursuit of a Le Mans 24 Hours win. Le Mans is the pinnacle of motorsport where only the best compete and sporting excellence prevails. Duncan Taylor subscribes to the same high standard in the production of its artisanal goods."

Jun-San Chen, Team Principal of Team AAI: “It is a great honour to have been invited by the ACO and the selection committee to compete for the second consecutive time in their world renowned competition. We are working with a drivers' trio for whom we definitely have great podium ambitions in the LM GTE Am category. Mark Patterson, Oliver Bryant and Johnny O’Connell offer up the ideal combination of experience and young talent to score well.”

Rudi Penders, Team Principal at ProSpeed Competition: "It goes without saying that with three strong drivers, who offer a perfect mix of experience and youthful talent, the ambition is to finish high up. Oliver Bryant, Mark Patterson and Johnny O'Connell form an homogeneous trio.”

The 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours begins with the official test day on June 5, before drivers return for qualifying and the big race – which begins at 15.00 on Saturday 18 June.