Lieb and Bleekemolen Join Tekno Autosports For Enduros

Tekno Autosports' Shane van Gisbergen and Jonathon Webb

TEKNO Autosports has announced its co-driver line-up for the 2013 V8 Supercars endurance events with the signing of international sports car racers Marc Lieb and Jeroen Bleekemolen.

Lieb will again team up with Jonathon Webb, following the duo’s second place podium finish together at the 2012 Gold Coast 600.

“This is fantastic,” said Lieb. “I always dreamed about driving the Bathurst 1000. I was watching the race as a kid and was fascinated.

“It will be a big challenge! But I am driving for a great team and I am really happy to returning to Australia with TEKNO and Jonathon.

Lieb was one of the quickest international co-drivers at the 2012 Gold Coast 600, and Webb is pleased to again have the German Porsche works driver alongside him in the #19 Team TEKNO Darrell Lea Commodore.

“I’m really looking forward to driving with Marc again. He’s a fast, consistent driver who I can rely on to do the job.

Whilst he’s a Bathurst rookie, I know he’ll pick the circuit up fast, and we’ll be up the front for all three races.”

Bleekemolen will again line up alongside Shane van Gisbergen, this time in the #97 Team TEKNO V.I.P. Petfoods #97 Commodore, after the pair joined forces for Stone Brothers Racing at the Gold Coast event in 2012, taking two top-ten finishes.

“I’m extremely proud to be joining Shane and TEKNO for the V8 Enduros,” said Bleekemolen.

“I have always loved watching V8 Supercars and doing Gold Coast last year was a great experience.

“The team is running very strongly in the championship this year, so I can’t wait to go out there and fight for good results.”

Bleekemolen also raced at Bathurst in 2012 in the Australian Carrera Cup Championship and again in the Bathurst 12 Hour and van Gisbergen is delighted to have landed the Dutchman as his first choice partner.

“I was offered the opportunity to put forward my suggestions for my co-driver, and I immediately suggested Jeroen,” said van Gisbergen.

“He’s fast, he’s clean and he’s driven and won in almost everything, so I know he’ll be a great partner to me for the enduros this year.”

Both Lieb and Bleekemolen are fresh from successful runs in the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours, where Lieb won the GTE Pro class and Bleekemolen finished 10th in LMP2.

“Marc and Jeroen are both top-level international drivers, having demonstrated their talent with fantastic results at Le Mans over the weekend, and throughout their distinguished careers,” said TEKNO Team Manager Bruce Jenkins.

“When the rules changed, and the same drivers were able to join Jonathon and Shane for all three endurance races, we had no hesitations in selecting Marc and Jeroen.

“We head into the enduros with pairings familiar and comfortable with each other. They’ve had success together previously, so we’re confident of a good showing,” Jenkins concluded.

The inaugural 2013 V8 Supercars Endurance Cup, which includes the Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Armor All Gold Coast 600 gets underway with the Sandown 500 on 13 to 15 September.