Motorsport: Busy Bamber puts his foot down

Earl Bamber sits inside the top three on the leader board in all three series he's contesting this year.

Rising Porsche GT Cup driver Earl Bamber joins fellow Kiwis GP3 racer Mitch Evans and GP2 pilot Richie Stanaway at the German Grand Prix this weekend.

The New Zealander would have to be the busiest one-make driver in the world at the moment having contested five different championships this year.

Bamber is racing in three fulltime series in 2014 - Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and the Porsche Supercup - and has raced in the French and British versions as well. The standout statistic for the young Kiwi is not the five championships, but rather where he's placed.

Bamber sits inside the top three on the leader board in all three series; first in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, second in Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and second in the Porsche Supercup. His focus this weekend is on the Supercup, which is at its halfway mark at round five.

"It's been pretty crazy this year with all the travelling and racing," said Bamber.

"The results have been good this year - we've had a lot of podiums with a few wins in there for good measure and we're nicely placed in all three championships.

"Last year was a good race for us in Germany where we got two podiums at Hockenheim [race win and a third] so we're hoping for more of the same this weekend."

While Bamber has undoubted talent in a Porsche, without a good team behind him and great working relationship with his mechanics and engineers it would be a struggle to stay mid-pack let alone win anything.

"It's always very difficult to choose the right team. That determines a lot. You can't go well without a good team, and you have to choose the right guys to work with.

"I have a fantastic bunch of guys in Supercup and Carrera Cup Germany who are doing a brilliant job for me. Also, the Carrera Cup Asia guys are really good as well.

"It's working well and we getting stronger and stronger. I'm really looking forward to racing this weekend and we'll be pushing each other to be even better."

There will be a bit of extra razzmatazz at Hockenheim this weekend with American actor Patrick Dempsey slipping behind the steering wheel of the VIP guest car. Dempsey, who stars in TV series Grey's Anatomy, is no stranger to racing cars. He's been punting himself around various circuits for 10 years now including American sportscar races and four starts at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Dempsey had two day's testing back in April in preparation for the rough and tumble of the Supercup. "It's really interesting that Dempsey is racing as he goes quite well in a Porsche Cup car. Most people find it difficult to come into these cars and if he can [get] inside the top 10 he'll have [done] very, very well.

"I really enjoy how tough, fierce and competitive this completion is. There's been some great racing and great battles this year and drivers aren't afraid of rubbing panels. Getting out in front in the top five means you're pretty safe but if you end up eighth to 15th it gets a bit rough," said Bamber.

The Kiwi is quietly chuffed with how his campaign is progressing. He was confident he could be a top five contender in the Supercup and is pleased he's second in the series at the halfway point.

He and his team are building momentum in the championship and are looking good to be in with a chance of winning the title, or at least being there or thereabouts towards the end of the season.