As part of our ongoing series of interviews with the various stakeholders involved with the Asian Le Mans Series, this week we sit down with Mark Goddard, team principle for Craft Racing AMR. Mark is a pioneer of the Asian racing and has set his sights high for results in the Asian Le Mans Series as we find out below.

Mark Goddard began his career in racing with a number of victories as a driver, ranging from Formula Cars to GT cars, Goddard moved to Asia in 1994 and has managed some of the region’s most successful teams, including the multi-title winning Toyota Alabang Team in the Philippines and Ghiasports Racing in China. As a driver he was a multi-race winner in Asia F2000 and Formula Toyota before claiming the Asian F3 Drivers Championship in 2002. He then concentrated on building Eurasia Motorsport and its sister team, Team Goddard. A successful driver coach, Goddard previously served as chief instructor at the Silverstone Race School in the UK. He is also the first modern Safety Car Driver in Formula One and a member of the prestigious British Racing Drivers Club, owners of the Silverstone F1 Circuit. 

As Craft Racing AMR Team Principal why did you choose to enter Asian LMS in 2013?

Whilst Craft Racing AMR is a new team it is a progression from Craft Eurasia Racing. In the past few seasons we have brought together a team of people with a view to compete successfully on the global motorsport stage. Our aim is to compete at Le Mans and in the WEC in the not too distant future and Asian LMS offers us the ideal opportunity to hone the team into a truly World Class organization. Outside of Japan this series is the only championship in the region that can give us the opportunity to develop the team.

Could you introduce your team and your objective for the 2013 Asian LMS?

Aston Martin appointed us as an Official Partner Team for 2012 and our first event with the new Aston Martin GT3 was in the MME 12 Hours. Aston Martin Racing was obviously impressed by what they saw and we have now been appointed an Official Technical Partner Team, under the Craft Racing AMR banner, the first to achieve this status globally. We are extremely proud to be moving forward with Aston Martin as a partner in our journey to Le Mans and beyond.

Eurasia Motorsport was formed in 2003 to enter the then new Formula BMW Asia Series. Most of the personnel had already won championships with me in Asian F3 and Formula Toyota. We were the Minardi F1 Junior team until Red Bull bought Minardi, after which we ran as Eurasia. In 2010 we joined the GT Asia Series, as Craft Eurasia Racing, winning the Team Championship and have since won several GT races and the MSS GT Championship. We were also Formula BMW Pacific Champions in 2010 and Formula Pilota China champions this year. Over the past few seasons we have recruited the best possible personnel, including an ex-F1 development engineer, and I believe the best technicians in the region.

Our aim for 2013 is quite simple:  to win the GTC Class and the entry for the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours. Apart from our line-up of professional drivers from the region we also want to encourage new young talent, and that will include those who have raced with us in our Formula car teams.

Luna Yang