Formula One: LKY SUNZ going ‘whole hog’ in bid to join racing’s elite, says co-founder Pyrah
- Team’s chief commercial officer Andrew Pyrah says no point chasing place on grid unless you ‘fully commit to it’
- The new outfit is positioning itself as the only Asian team in the sport and says it has received positive feedback from race bosses
The deadline for Formula One hopefuls to submit bids to join the elite ranks of motorsport is getting ever nearer, and with plenty of groups expressing interest, one hopes their Asian connection helps them stand out.
LKY SUNZ have positioned themselves as a team that will not only represent Asia but be based there as well, and Andrew Pyrah, the co-founder and chief commercial officer, believes that could make all the difference.
In a release announcing their arrival alongside the likes of Mario Andretti and Cadillac, Panthera Team Asia and others wanting to join the grid in 2026, LKY SUNZ said they eventually intended to be “wholly operational outside Europe”.
With plans to build a factory in Asia, Pyrah said that “if you’re going to do something like this, you have to fully commit to it”.
“You can just slap a Malaysian flag or an Indian flag on a car and say you’re an Indian team or a Malaysian team, and not really go the whole hog with it,” Pyrah said, referring to previous attempts by Lotus and Force India to place themselves as representing Asia.
The Englishman said he did not understand why a team had not yet fully committed to the region, because “the opportunity in Asia and Southeast Asia is insane”.
