There is a new look to Nielsen Racing in 2019 as the team have announced a two-car entry into the European Le Mans Series. The British-based team will field two LMP3 entries with Colin Noble and Tony Wells continuing their successful partnership, while James Littlejohn returns to the team and is joined by Nobuya Yamanaka in the sister entry.
“We’re delighted to be back this year in ELMS with two cars in the LMP3 class,” stated Team Manager David ‘Sven’ Thompson. “We have some very familiar faces with Colin and Tony teaming up in one car and James in the other. It’s also a pleasure to welcome Nobuya to the team and help him build on his long-term programme to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “We know the competition will be to tough but with Colin and Tony we expect to be going for podium positions in every round, while we know that James will be an excellent coach to Nobuya and that as a pairing, they will make great gains over the course of the season.”
Colin and Tony form what is expected to be an especially strong Pro-Am driver line-up. The duo currently compete together in the Asian Le Mans Series and remain in the championship battle heading to the season finale in Malaysia. Both drivers have extensive race experience with Nielsen Racing, with Colin taking the inaugural Henderson Cup LMP3 honours in 2017 and 2018 before following that up with the runner-up position in Michelin Le Mans Cup – as well as fourth in the European Le Mans Series – all under the Nielsen Racing umbrella. Tony is no stranger to the team either, with an extensive track record in Radicals with the team before embarking on the Michelin Le Mans Cup programme in 2017 where he finished second in the championship and then teamed up with Colin to claim the British LMP3 honours.
The second LMP3 entry of James and Nobuya is also an interesting proposal. The former is currently competing in the Asian Le Mans Series, his first taste of LMP3 competition, and to date in the series after just three rounds, the Japanese gentleman driver has already claimed his first podium position. James is well-known to the Nielsen Racing team having competed with the team last year in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, finishing third overall with four podium positions. Prior to that, the British racer – who cut his teeth in single seaters – took the Radical UK Cup in 2012 and has competed in the British GT Championship with success.