Iberian Supercars Endurance GT4 Pro class reigning Champion Elias Niskanen and newcomer Nuno Pires will team up this season with Lema Racing for the Iberian Supercars Endurance.
Elias Niskanen is a well-known name in the paddock, having been last year's GT4 Pro class champion in both the Iberian Supercars Endurance and the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT4 from Lema Racing. The Finn previously participated in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and competed in the Asian Formula Renault Series, where he conquered one win, three podiums, and one fastest lap.
Teammate Nuno Pires was one of the great protagonists of the Super Seven one-make series since 2018. In 2022, he finished fourth, having taken one win and three podiums.
These past results suggest that Slovenia-based team Lema Racing, which has entered another Mercedes-AMG GT4 for Luis Calheiros and Paulo Macedo in the GT4 Bronze division, will be a major player in the first-place battles during the season in the GT4 Pro.
Commenting about his Supercars Endurance return, Elias Niskanen said, "During the winter, I discussed with many teams and drivers about competing in SuperCars GT4 Iberia. After careful consideration, I decided to continue my career in familiar team Lema Racing with a new teammate Nuno Pires. Together we get to drive against, for example, my season 2022 teammate and also champion Manuel Gião, who also drives with Mercedes-AMG GT4 with a new teammate as well. So in the events, there are two reigning champions competing against each other at the circuit at the same time. How awesome is that?"
The Finnish ace added, "I strongly believe that we have a very strong package to race for top positions in the series, which is going to be much more competitive than season 2022. However, we also know that our rivals have done their homework well. Therefore, the importance of qualifying sessions will be crucial to collect podium positions. Also, in season 2022, we noticed that the performance of each car is strong, and therefore overtaking will be very difficult. I already know that we face another very thrilling racing season".
Teammate Nuno Pires added, "this season I wasn't thinking about racing, as I've just recently become a father. However, I saw the set of drivers that were joining this championship, which I always liked a lot, and I considered that it was the right time to participate. Since I was a child, my father instilled in me that we should only enter to win. Of course, it is my first contact with the Mercedes-AMG GT4, but the team is very competitive, and my teammate is the reigning champion, so the expectations are to win or, at least, battle for the top positions. Hopefully, we will have a solid first weekend, and I can learn everything very quickly".
The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve hosts the opening round of the 2023 Iberian Supercars Endurance on May 5 & 7 as part of the Algarve Welcome Spring program.