O’Young Announces Retirement; Macau to Be Final Race

Photo: Craft-Bamboo Racing

Darryl O’Young has announced his retirement from racing ahead of this weekend’s GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS season-ending round in Beijing.

The 45-year-old Vancouver-born Hong Kong driver will team up with Alex Liang in the Silver class No. 77 Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for his final GT3 races, before closing out his racing career next month at the Greater Bay Area GT Cup in a Mercedes-AMG GT4.

O’Young is a five-time Macau GT race winner, along with two WTCC independent class wins at the Guia Circuit.

The two-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion and 2015 GT Asia champion also became the first Hong Kong driver to finish on the podium of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013, at the wheel of an AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 in GTE-Am, while having won the first two GT3 editions of the Bathurst 12 Hour in Audi R8 LMS machinery in 2011 and 2012.

O’Young is also a former Sepang 12 Hours overall winner, while having been on podiums at both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 24H Dubai.

“I’ve been so fortunate to have had such a long and wonderful career in motorsport,” he said. “Starting at the age of eight with the support of my family, I never imagined I would be able to race cars for a living, and to sustain that over 37 years is truly a dream come true.

“Motorsport has given me so many life lessons which continue to give me growth until today, both in pushing my limits as a driver, but to also truly experience and develop my business knowledge in the sport.

“There has been so many ups and downs through these years, so much support from countless amounts of people, sponsors, and manufacturers to give me the opportunities to compete at the highest levels of motorsport.

“I’m just filled with gratitude to everyone that has been part of this journey. I’m also grateful to be able to wrap up my career with two races, this weekend here in Beijing in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Craft-Bamboo Racing, followed by the GT4 race in the streets of Macau where I will participate in my 20th and last Macau Grand Prix.”

“It all feels surreal, but it is the right timing to put my driving fully behind me and concentrate whole heartedly on my family and my management role at Craft-Bamboo Racing.

“I just want to give thanks to my family and all the supporters that have been with me since the beginning to present, and I look forward to continuing my motorsport journey for the years to come, albeit out of the driver’s seat.

“Despite all of the races and victories around the world, the Macau Grand Prix is the place where my heart truly lies and I look forward to racing there for one last time come November.

“Thank you to all my sponsors for making these last two races possible, I’m forever grateful.”

While retiring from racing, O’Young will continue his role as director of Craft-Bamboo.

Source: Sports Car 365