Asian LM: Webb joins leader for climax

Former European Le Mans Series champion Oliver Webb will make his debut in its Asian counterpart with the points-leading Race Performance team next month.

The Briton, who won the ELMS with the Signatech Alpine squad in 2014, will drive the Race Performance ORECA-Judd/BMW 03R LMP2 alongside team regular Niki Leutwiler in the finale two ALMS rounds at Burinam in Thailand and Sepang in Malaysia in January. He is taking the place of former grand prix driver Shinji Nakano, who won the opening two rounds of the series together with Swiss Leutwiler.

"It is not a particularly deep field, but hopefully I can help the team win the championship and build a bit of momentum going into next season," said Webb. "This will help keep me sharp over the winter and it's two races on two tracks that I have not done before."

Race Performance boss Michel Frey said that he felt "one of the best current LMP2 drivers had signed with the team".

"He will support us to [try to] reach our goal to win the series, and furthermore, he is a real benchmark for Niki," he added.

Webb, 24, is aiming to continue in the World Endurance Championship next year after moving up to the series with the Morand Morgan team in 2015.

"The plan is to go back, but I'll only do it with a top team that has a chance of winning," he explained.

Originally on Autosport.com