ELMS: Richard Bradley returns to the LMP2 class with Duqueine Engineering

After a first season in LMP2 category of the European Le Mans Series, Team Duqueine Engineering will their second year with a new driver line-up.

French drivers Pierre Ragues and Nicolas Jamin are still part of the Team and will be joined by Richard Bradley, winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 (Team KCMG LMP2 category). The 27-year-old British driver, who is used to performing in that category, will make the crew complete, as they are more motivated than ever and look forward to starting the season at the wheel of the Oreca 07 number 29 next April.

Yann Belhomme, Team Manager of Duqueine Engineering said "I'm delighted to see such a quality Team ready to race in LMP2 for the second year in a row. It is with great pride and motivation that Team Duqueine Engineering will start this new season of European Le Mans Series. There is no doubt that we will be a force to be reckoned with in this tough competition!"

ELMS: Algarve Pro Racing signs Pizzitola, Patterson & Falb in LMP2.

Andrea Pizzitola, Mark Patterson and John Falb are set to front Algarve Pro Racing’s assault on the 2019 European Le Mans Series (ELMS).  Pizzitola will enter the 2019 ELMS as reigning LMP2 Champion but hopes he will also kick-off the new European motorsport season as an Asian Le Mans Series title-winner.

In 2016, the French Pro racer from Montpellier made his ELMS and 24 Hours of Le Mans debut and notably contested the 2016-17 Asian Le Mans Series with Algarve Pro Racing. He returned to the fold for a stab at the outright 2018-19 title, which will be decided in the forthcoming season finale at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia (22-24 February), and will remain with the Albufeira-based team to defend his European crown.

“I’m really happy to be extending my association with Algarve Pro Racing,” said Pizzitola. “It’s the team that gave me my first chance in LMP2, so for me it’s more than a team, it’s part of the story of my career and a family. I’m also excited to be racing again in the European Le Mans Series with Mark (Patterson) and John (Falb). It’s going to be an awesome challenge and I think we can figure highly throughout.

© Algarve Pro Racing

“In the ORECA 07 we have a good chance to be out front in qualifying and we can always aim for the podium. The level is high in the ELMS and that will make achieving results even more satisfying. We will do all we can to feature at the top. Last year I had a great season, winning the title. I’m not going into 2019 with the specific aim of defending my crown, as I just want to race. I took the same approach last year and thoughts about the championship always come later.”

Patterson has once again extended his long-standing association with Algarve Pro Racing, which hails back to the 2016-17 Asian Le Mans Series, when he was a regular visitor to the winners’ rostrum.

Since then, the 67-year old Bronze driver from the USA has raced a full season in the ELMS and two 24 Hours of Le Mans’ with Algarve Pro, although he is also currently bidding for the 2018-19 Asian Le Mans LMP2 Amateur Trophy and a coveted invitation to the 2019 edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours with the Portuguese team.

Patterson, whose motor racing résumé encompasses six Le Mans, nine Daytona 24 Hours and two Petit Le Mans starts, said: “I really want to do well and finish regularly inside the top half of the LMP2 field in 2019. With a guy like Andrea (Pizzitola) who has immense skill and rarely makes mistakes and somebody like John (Falb), who is a former Champion and a very fast, diligent driver, we should be very competitive.

“John steps up from LMP3 to LMP2 and with a good test programme he will be a super-quick and reliable Bronze. In fact, we’re both strong, reliable Am drivers capable of withstanding any other Bronze competitor, and this will only be helped by the fact that we will be driving an ORECA 07, which is said to be the most obedient and stable of the current crop of LMP2 cars. It seems easier to find the golden thread on each and every track with the ORECA and I couldn’t be happier to be jumping into this experiment with Algarve Pro Racing.”

Sharing the #25 Algarve Pro Racing ORECA 07 with Pizzitola and Patterson will be 47-year old American John Falb. Falb has been racing in the European Le Mans Series for three seasons in the LMP3 class with United Autosports. 

In those three seasons Falb scored seven podium finishes and an additional podium at each of the five showings of the Michelin Le Mans Cup’s blue riband ‘Road to Le Mans’ race. In 2017 Falb won the ELMS LMP3 title. In 2019, Falb will continue traversing the Atlantic for each and every round of the European Le Mans Series, except he will now line up for Algarve Pro Racing as part of the ELMS’s headlining and ultra-competitive LMP2 field.

“I feel really good and I’m ready to go,” said Falb. “I’ve been methodically stepping up the prototypes ladder over the years and after three seasons on the ELMS LMP3 grid, it’s definitely time to graduate to LMP2.

“Having already tested a P2 car, I’m really excited about this new challenge. LMP2 is a very competitive class and there aren’t many teams with Bronze drivers in their line-ups, so I must keep reasonable expectations and simply concentrate on doing my best. I would certainly like to pop some Champagne on the podium more than once, but the results will be what they are and this is an opportunity to work and improve with a solid team.”

ELMS: Bruno Senna joins John Farano at RLR MSport in LMP2

RLR MSport has signed Bruno Senna and John Farano for its return to the LMP2 class in the 2019 European Le Mans Series.

The 35 year old Brazilian, who started his career in endurance racing in 2010 with Oreca, will share the Bolton-based team’s newly-acquired ORECA 07 with reigning ELMS LMP3 Champion John Farano and a third unnamed driver.  Senna will drive all rounds in the European Le Mans Series at all-but-one: the 4 Hours of Silverstone.  If the team gets an invite for Le Mans, the team will also need to replace Senna as both races conflict with his drive at Rebellion Racing in the FIA WEC.

The 2017 FIA WEC LMP2 champion said he is very excited to take on this new challenge and to be joining the European Le Mans Series’ highly competitive LMP2 field with RLR MSport. The team has had great success in the past, most recently winning the ELMS LMP3 Teams’ and Drivers’ titles, and I’m sure the LMP2 step will be another successful one. Our experiences combined should make us a strong contender for the races and I’m really looking forward to kicking things off.”

Farano, meanwhile, began with select appearances in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and Ferrari Challenge, before winning the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Drivers’ title during his first full season of competition in 2012.

However, the 59-year old Am has become something of an RLR MSport stalwart. His long-standing association with the Bolton-based team has been a successful one and, having magnanimously sealed the 2018 ELMS LMP3 titles, Farano will remain within the RLR fold as he takes the next step of his motorsport career in LMP2. Farano was first to sample the RLR MSport-prepared Oreca 07 during a test at Silverstone in August, but countless more miles will be covered during a test and development programme that will only intensify on the approach to the season-opening ELMS 4 Hours of Le Castellet mid-April.

“I am super excited to be rejoining the RLR MSport team and to be part of its return to the LMP2 category in the European Le Mans Series,” said Farano. “I am also extremely happy to welcome Bruno Senna to the RLR MSport family; he will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the team’s success and play a major role as a mentor to me and other drivers to follow. I can’t wait to be back on track with the gang at RLR MSport whose dedication and hard work helped bring us the 2018 ELMS LMP3 championship. I’m looking forward to another great season and sharing new experiences with everyone at RLR MSport.”

FIA WEC: Stephane Richelmi completes Jackie Chan DC Racing x Jota Sport driver line-up

Jackie Chan DC Racing x Jota Sport have announced Stephane Richelmi as their final driver for this season's line-up in the FIA World Endurance Championhip.  Richelmi joins Gabriel Aubry and Ho-Pin Tung in the #38 Oreca, completing the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours winners’ driver line-up for the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship season.

Tung, one of the team’s core driver and part of the 2017 Le Mans winning crew, remains in #Mighty38 Oreca-Gibson 07. The 35-year-old Chinese, who led the iconic 24-hour race overall for two hours at Circuit de la Sarthe last year, will start his third full WEC season and remains an important part of the Anglo-Chinese team.

Richelmi, son of former World Rally Championship driver Jean-Pierre Richelmi, was the 2016 FIA WEC LMP2 Champion and Le Mans 24 Hours winner. He claimed the 2017-18 Asian Le Mans Series title with Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport and now will make his return to the FIA WEC and the famous Le Mans 24-hours with the China-flagged team.

After achieving five victories in Formula Renault over 2017 with two years of experience in the category, 19-year-old Aubry managed to stand on top of the LMP3-class podium in only his second race for Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport at the final round of the 2017-18 Asian Le Mans Series and played a pivotal role in clinching the LMP3 title for the team.

The new crew will head to the Prologue, which will take place at Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France on 6th-7th April.

David Cheng, co-founder of Jackie Chan DC Racing

Knowing that the #FortuneCat37 is in good hands this year with our returning Asian Le Mans crew of all Malaysian drivers with the support SIC, equally we have a formidable #Mighty38 line-up returning from Asian Le Mans with Richelmi, Aubrey and Tung. Ho-Pin and Stef both have Le Mans winning experience and has been teammates in sister cars in the past, and Aubry has shown great speed and mental fortitude with us. I’m confident in our team’s ability this year to challenge for top honors, and we look forward to kicking off the Super Season this weekend.

David Clark, director of JOTA Sport

It is great to welcome Stephane to the team. His pace and experience speak for themselves and alongside Gabi and Ho-Pin they will no doubt be challenging for the 2018-19 FIA WEC LMP2 title.

Ho-Pin Tung, driver 

The #Mighty38 is back! Once again, we have used our Asian Le Mans program to groom drivers for the WEC team, leading to these strong line-ups for both #Fortunecat37 and #Mighty38. With a great mixture between experience and talent the objective is clear: winning. The partnership – Jackie Chan DC Racing x Jota Sport has been highly successful in just its first year and we are all looking forward to reaching new heights together in the upcoming Super Season.

Gabriel Aubry, driver

I’m incredibly happy to take part in the WEC super season with Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport. It is a childhood dream to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which has been my motivation since I started Go-kart at 8! Joining such a prestigious team like Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport is a blessing, and I’m much looking forward to learning from my teammates Stef and Ho-Pin!

Stéphane Richelmi

I’m delighted to be part of the team for the WEC Super Season. I’ve been close to David and Ho-Pin since we met in Alpine two years ago, I really appreciate them. They work hard together with JOTA Sport to become a reference in endurance races. While we together already won the Asian Le Mans, it was a kind of new starter: big things are now coming. I can’t wait to come back in this great championship after a difficult year with the GTs, and endurance suits me well.

ELMS: IDEC Sport with Ligier, Oreca and Memo Rojas in 2018

IDEC Sport is expanding its efforts in the 2018 European Le Mans Series.  The French team will not only continue to race with their Ligier JSP217, but have also acquiered a new Gibson powered Oreca 07.  On top of that, Guillermo "Memo" Rojas has been announced as the third driver for the #28 Oreca. 

The 2018 season is a major step forward for the IDEC Sport team, expanding its efforts to two cars in the European Le Mans Series. The addition of a new Oreca 07 to its fleet is a choice which may be seen as complementary and above all down to a partnership between Rebellion and IDEC Sport. The Ligier LMP2 will be in the hands of Patrice Lafargue and two other drivers, whose names will be announced at a later date with the aim of winning the new category for Bronze drivers.

Paul Lafargue and Paul-Loup Chatin have already been confirmed by the team, and will drive the #28 Oreca. They will be joined by 2017 ELMS champion Memo Rojas, who is up for his third season in the championship.  Rojas won the championship last season with an Oreca 07, brining in a lot of experience into the team for the other drivers as well as the engineers. 

The ambitions and the achievements in 2017 convinced Memo to join the IDEC Sport team. On top of that, the Mexican driver already worked with Nicolas Minassian last season. “I had the pleasure of working with Nicolas last year and we developed much more than a simple professional relationship. We talked about the possibility of driving for IDEC SPORT. I think that this is a team with huge potential. The have the human and material resources to achieve something great,” said Memo Rojas. I’m really pleased to have Paul (Lafargue) and Paul-Loup (Chatin) as my co-drivers. Paul is a very good Silver driver and that is one of the keys to succeeding in endurance racing. Paul-Loup is also fast and experienced, so I’m convinced that together we form a great team.”

The team has also received one entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in which it will field their Oreca 07.  Memo Rojas will join his ELMS co-drivers Paul-Loup Chatin and Paul Lafargue in the classic endurance race.

Kristof Vermeulen.

FIA WEC: Dragonspeed adds Maldonado to LMP2 line-up

Dragonspeed has confirmed former Formula 1 driver Pastor Maldonado as its second driver for their LMP2 car in the 2018/2019 FIA WEC Super Season. Maldonado will join Roberto Gonzalez behind the wheel of the #31 Gibson powered Oreca 07. The third driver for the car is still to be announced after a deal with Esteban Guttierez fell through earlier this month.

The 33 year old Venezuelan will make his sportscar debut at the Prologue in a few weeks, after a two year break from competition. Maldonado raced in Formula 1 for Williams and Lotus between 2011 and 2015. In 96 starts he won the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona in 2012.

Very pleased to announce the new addition to our @FIAWEC @24heuresdumans LMP2 driver lineup for the 2018-2019 SUPER SEASON !!! @Oreca @fia @Michelin_Sport @gibsontech1 Check out who 👇🏻#oneteamonedream pic.twitter.com/0xFlCklYHm

— DragonSpeed (@DragonSpeedLLC) March 21, 2018

Roberto Gonzalez who was announced as designated driver at the presentation of the FIA WEC entry list, already built up some experience in prototype racing.  The Mexican drove for Manor in the World Endurance Championship last season and competed with AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports (Ligier JSP217) in the Daytona 24 hours this January. 

The driver line-up for the teams BR1 in the top class of the FIA WEC has been announced before with Renger Van der Zande, Ben Hanley and Henrik Hedman. Van der Zander will be replaced by Pietro Fittipaldi - grandson of two-time Emerson - in two rounds for which he is unavailable due to a clash with the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship. 

Kristof Vermeulen.

FIA WEC: TDS Racing returns to the "super season" with Loïc Duval

French Team TDS Racing will return to the FIA WEC in the upcoming super season with a full French line-up, lead by Loïc Duval who returns to the FIA WEC paddock since Audi's departure at the end of 2016.  The LMP2 class for next season is starting to take shape now with confirmation of the first two teams and more expected in the upcoming weeks. 

© JellyBaby.Media

In their second season in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Xavier Combet and Jacques Morello's team will be joined by Loïc Duval.  The Frenchman replaces Emmanuel Collard who has been racing with François Perrodo in the past years.  Duval shortly returned to the FIA WEC at Bahrain this year, where he raced alongside Roman Rusinov and Léo Roussel in the G-Drive Oreca.

After his first year in prototype racing, François Perrodo has shown improvement race after race and is very motivated to build on his 2017 LMP2 experience. Matthieu Vaxivière, who showed some quality racing last season, is now eager to carry on his experience of the WEC and hopes to score some strong results. The third member of TDS Racing will be French driver Loïc Duval. Winner of the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans and WEC Champion that same year, Loïc has a strong and valuable endurance racing experience (most notably on the Peugeot 908 HDi and the Audi R18), and will be team captain and an example to follow for François and Matthieu.

So far there is no word or confirmation about TDS Racing running a second car again for Roman Rusinov and G-Drive Racing as they did this season.

Xavier Combet, Team Manager: “During our 2017 WEC season, François and Matthieu have shown continuous improvements in LMP2 racing, they have consolidated their driving skills and race craft in what has proved to be an extremely competitive environment. Building on this experience, we have decided to go on and to take a new step by entering an LMP2 car in the 2018/2019 WEC Super Season. Teamed with Loïc Duval, who has a very strong experience in endurance, this second WEC season for us promises to be very exciting. We can’t wait to get back on the World Endurance Championship circuits, and challenge the other LMP2 teams and drivers.”

© JellyBaby.Media

François Perrodo: “The 2017 season was very exciting, but to be honest, it was also difficult. I not only discovered prototype driving but also a very strong competition, the challenge was huge and definitely up to my expectations. At the end of the season, I considered seriously ELMS or even a return to GT racing, but after the ACO decisions regarding the new WEC and considering the pleasure I’ve had driving these wonderful cars, I decided to stay in WEC for another season. And what a season we will have! To race twice the Le Mans 24 Hours and discover Sebring in just over a year’s time is the stuff of dream for a gentleman driver. In addition, I will have Matthieu and Loïc on my side. Not only Matthieu is a very fast driver, but he is also one of my best friends. Loïc has a solid endurance racing experience; he is a great race driver who shares our values: cohesion and team spirit which to us, are the keys to pleasure and competitiveness. My objective is clear: Improve my LMP2 racing skills, have fun, and hopefully score a few podiums.”

Matthieu Vaxivière: “I have known François since we started motorsports and we experienced some great moments together, including two WEC seasons. It will be a pleasure and an honour to share this new project together as well as with Loïc and TDS Racing. The Super Season promises to be a milestone in the history of motorsports, and I will do all I can to achieve good results. I can’t wait to work and learn from Loïc’s experience, and I already feel that this human adventure will be very special.”

© JellyBaby.Media

Loïc Duval: “I am very happy to come back to the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside my Audi program, and more over I am very excited about the environment in which I will compete. TDS Racing is a very professional race team, but with strong family values, not only is this season going to be great fun, I am looking forward to help Francois improve and be Matthieu’s wing man. I would like to thank both of them for this great opportunity. I can’t wait to race in the LMP2 category which has shown some classic fights last season.”

Kristof Vermeulen.

Pictures: JellyBaby.Media

Rebellion Racing announces 2 car FIA WEC effort

Today Rebellion Racing confirmed a 2 car effort in the 2017 World Endurance Championship. As announced before, the team makes the switch from the LMP1-L class to LMP2 with 2 new Gibson engined Oreca07's. 

Four drivers have also been announced today. Nicolas Prost and Matthias Beche are up for their ninth and fifth season with the Swiss team. Nelson Piquet Jr, who drove the first three races of the 2016 season with Rebellion, including Le Mans, also makes his return for his first full season in the FIA World Endurance Championship. 

A new name in the 2017 line-up will be Bruno Senna, leaving RGR Sport for a full season campaign with Rebellion. Senna had a successful campaign last season, scoring 2 class wins in Silverstone and Mexico and four class podiums.

The driver line-up will be completed with 2 silver drivers later on. Pierre Thiriet is one of the most named possible drivers to join in for next season.

The new Oreca07 has been tested for the first time at the Dunlop tyre tests at Sebring last week.

© Dunlop

The Swiss team will also compete in the 2017 Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup, the 4 longest races in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship (Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans) with a one car effort. Rebellion has already been successful in the States, winning Petit Le Mans in 2012 and 2013 and finishing on the podium in Sebring. 

For the Daytona 24 hours in January, Rebellion already has a stellar driver line-up with Neel Jani, Sebastian Buemi, Nick Heidfeld and Stéphane Sarrazin.  

Quotes

Nicolas Prost: "I am of course very glad to continue for a ninth year with REBELLION Racing. I know the team very well, I am very happy here and I am always involved in the development of the team. We have grown together over the years and it was clear to me that the right thing to do was to stay with REBELLION Racing in their challenge with the new LMP2 cars. The competition in LMP2 is going to be very hard, but we will give everything to fight for all the races. I am looking forward to driving the Oreca 07 LMP2 which I have heard a lot of good things about."

Mathias Beche: "This will be my fifth season with REBELLION Racing and we know each other well. I am extremely happy and grateful to be able to be part of this new challenge, moreover under the colours of Switzerland ! The new car is fantastic to drive and the fight on the track is going to be fierce, that's what makes us all excited ! I believe that my experience with the LMP1, coupled with the experience I gained in LMP2 will be a great asset to help the team meet this beautiful challenge."

Nelson piquet Jr: "I am really happy to return with the team, this time for a full season. It’s going to be a big challenge for us in our first year with the new LMP2. I am looking forward to work with people I know from last year and to make a good championship together with the team and my teammates. I can’t wait for the season to start !"

Bruno Senna: "I'm so excited to be part of REBELLION Racing's line-up for FIA WEC in 2017! The team really has strived to get the most competitive line-up possible to challenge for the championship as well as winning Le Mans in LMP2. Our job will be very tough with so many strong drivers and teams out there, but I'm very much looking forward to kicking things-off in Monza during the Prologue !"

Bart Hayden, REBELLION Racing Team Manager : "We are very pleased to confirm our plans to enter two Oreca 07 LMP2 cars in the 2017 World Endurance Championship alongside our already announced entry with a single car in the IMSA North American Endurance Cup races. We are also very happy that Nico, Mathias and Nelson will be driving with us again in 2017 and I would like to welcome Bruno to the REBELLION Racing Team. We were impressed with the Oreca 07 when we tested it in Sebring last week, it should be a good car to go for race victories and the Championship. We are putting together all the ingredients to run a strong campaign in 2017!"