Watson thrilled to make Porsche switch and face pal Eastwood in endurance series
likes of netminder Shane Owen and top pre-season scorer Ben Lake (below), if they’re to stand any chance of causing an upset.
But there’s confidence in the Giants’ locker room, led by their new captain, and he’s not backing down from the challenge.
“I know we can play with Liberec. I think everyone in our locker room knows we can play with them. I don’t know if they know we can play with them, but this is our building. We want to set the tone from the first shift that this isn’t going to be an easy night,” said a defiant Pelech.
“If they want to score a goal, they’re going to have to work for it and make some plays because we are not going to make it easy on them. We’re going to play defence first and play fast.
“The guys are so excited for the Champions League, us coming out with a good pace is not going to be a problem.
“The guys in there are really excited and ready to go.” THEY are good pals, as well as rivals, and both are members of Aston Martin’s Junior Driver programme, but now Charlie Eastwood and Andrew Watson are set to go head-to-head in the World Endurance Championship.
The two young Ulstermen already race against each other in the Blancpain European GT3 series for opposing Aston Martin teams, but this weekend Eastwood is being joined in the WEC by Watson, who has been signed to drive for the iconic Gulf Porsche team.
The 24-year-old, who hails from Donaghmore (below) will continue to be part of the Aston Martin set-up, driving for the Garage 59 team in the European series, but he has been given permission to switch to Porsche as he steps up to World level.
“I’m grateful to Aston Martin Racing for letting me pursue this opportunity. Not many young drivers get this chance so soon and it says a lot about all the team at AMR for letting me step up to this level,” said Watson, who will share a Porsche 911 RSR in the LMGTE category with Mike Wainwright and Ben Barker in the eight-round series, which begins at Silverstone this weekend.
“Racing in the WEC is honestly a dream come true for me. If you said that I would be on the grid even a few months ago, I would have never believed it.
“I’m still pinching myself at the fact that I’ll be taking part in so many great races around the world with a team and a brand that is so iconic.”
He will be in direct opposition to fellow countryman Eastwood, who begins his second WEC season with the TF Sport Aston Martin team alongside Salih Yoluc and Jonny Adam in the latest Vantage GTE.
They had four runners-up finishes last season, taking third in the series, and Eastwood is confident of getting the breakthrough victory.
“With four second places, it’s a big goal for us to get that win, especially as we were so close so many times,” said the 24-yearold former Porsche Carrera Cup champion from Belfast.
“Heading into our second season, we have all learned a great deal, so putting it all together we feel we’ll hit the ground running compared to last year where it was an all-new experience.
“The driver line-up, team and new car are all very strong as a package, so we just need to piece it all together to get the results we deserve.”