ELMS: Tomothé Buret leads second Panis-Barthez Competition line-up.

Following  the previous Stevens/Canal/Binder line-up announcement for the Ligier  JSP217 #23, Panis-Barthez Competition is now ready to run a two-car effort in the upcoming European Le Mans Series season.

© Panis-Barthez Competition

Aboard the additional  sister car, the first official driver revealed is Timothé Buret, 23 years old, who is extending his career in LMP2 for a 4th consecutive season with Panis-Barthez Competition. The winner of the  2016 Jean Rondeau Prize is more than ever in a position to reap the benefits of continuity with troops of team principal Olivier Panis and  team managers Sarah and Simon Abadie. 

His two teammates will be announced soon. 

Olivier Panis - Team Principal :  "We - Simon, Sarah (Abadie) and I -, shared the common desire to carry  on working with Timothé Buret. He has been with us since the team  establishment whose initial aim was to find and develop young talents.  Tim is the perfect illustration of our commitment. He has shown his  determination, his team spirit and a host of skills on track. We are  convinced he will emphasise his talent even more this year. He will play  an important role among his new teammates by transmitting his  experience and backgrounds with PBC."

Timothé Buret - Ligier JS P217 #24 driver:  "Finalizing my commitment in ELMS for another season was the absolute  goal. I am happy that PBC, I consider as a second family, still had  faith in me. Driving with a team with whom I have already shared so much  since my endurance debut is clearly a huge plus. Close to the sister  car driven by Stevens/Canal/Binder, we will share all the data and push  both of us close to the edge. I had an incredible complicity with Will  (Stevens) and Julien (Canal) last year, and it will remain the same.  From my side, I will do all I can to replicate the same relations with  my new teammates."

ELMS: Alex Brundle and Ryan Cullen to race for United Autosports in 2019

United Autosports has confirmed that Alex Brundle and Ryan Cullen will join their LMP2 team for the 2019 European Le Mans Series and pending entry confirmation, the Le Mans 24 Hours.

© United Autosports

Alex Brundle first raced for the team in 2016 when they made their European Le Mans Series debut. After scoring three wins and two further podiums, Alex was crowned 2016 ELMS LMP3 Champion alongside other LMP3 team returnees Mike Guasch and Christian England. Alex also joined the team for their Sebring 12 Hours debut last year, standing in for Bruno Senna and finishing fifth in the Ligier JS P217 with Phil Hanson and Paul Di Resta.

Ryan Cullen is new to the team but has previously tested a Ligier JS P217 prior to joining them. Last year he raced in the European Le Mans Series for the APR – Rebellion Racing team and has previously raced in the Porsche Supercup and the GP3 Series. Most recently Ryan won the LMP2 class of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Cullen has already totalled four days of testing with United Autosports, most recently attending their Barcelona pre-season test last week alongside Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson. 

© United Autosports

Ryan Cullen, driver, United Autosports:

“I’m delighted to be joining United Autosports for 2019. It’s a team with great structure and experience and the perfect place for me to grow and be competitive in ELMS.  So far everybody has been superb and very welcoming and I’m looking forward to having Alex as a teammate. Le Mans also excites me and pending an entry of course, this year will be my first time racing at Le Mans. After experiencing success last month at Daytona, the prospect of being with a front running team in my second 24-hour race is a fantastic position to be in.”

Alex Brundle, driver, United Autosports:

“I’m very excited and motivated to be racing with United Autosports in LMP2 for 2019, re-joining the team who took me to the championship title in LMP3. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of a Ligier once more, representing a world-class outfit and my longstanding sponsors and friends at Richard Mille.”

Zak Brown, Team Owner and Chairman, United Autosports:

“Alex and Ryan will be a good combination for our LMP2 team. They are both quick and experienced drivers in the ELMS and in the LMP2 class. The competition looks set to be higher than ever in the ELMS this year but I think we have two good line ups so far. Just one more seat left to fill.”

Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:

“Alex is no stranger to the team and it is good to welcome him back for the 2019 season. He is a previous champion of ours so hopefully he can replicate his season in 2016 once again. Ryan has impressed us in the four days testing he has done with us so far so I am hopeful of good things from him throughout the season. I think him and Alex will make a good line up with their third as yet undecided team mate.”

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: Nielsen Racing enters two LMP3's in the European Le Mans Series

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.

FIA WEC: Brendon Hartley to replace Button at SMP Racing in Sebring and Spa

Brendon Hartley will take Jenson Button's place at SMP Racing for the next two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship: the 1000 miles of Sebring and 6 Hours of Spa. Hartley returns to the FIA WEC after leaving Porsche at the end of 2017 and 2 seasons in Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing. 

The 29 year old driver from New Zealand will join Vitaly Petrov and Mikhail Aleshin in the #11 SMP Racing BR1. Jenson Button isn't able to race in Sebring and Spa due to commitments in the Japanese Super GT championship.  He is expected to return to the team for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Hartley has also been confirmed as one of four Ferrari development drivers and is still one of Porsche's factory drivers. 

“I’m very pleased to join SMP Racing for the next two WEC races at Sebring and Spa. The team have all the tools and a great driver roster so I think we have a big opportunity to fight for podiums. It marks my return to the WEC and I’m really looking forward to being back in the paddock amongst many familiar faces” said Hartley.

Boris Rotenberg, SMP Racing founder and leader is delighted to have Hartley on board with SMP Racing. “We welcome Brendon as part of our line-up in the World Endurance Championship. He is a very strong driver, with extensive experience: he won the FIA WEC twice, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We are sure that our joint team will make a great contribution to the future victories. I think it will be interesting for Brendon to drive behind the wheel of our new Russian sport prototype BR1 and compete with rivals in the highest class LMP1.”

ELMS: IDEC Sport returns to ELMS with 2 cars in LMP2

IDEC Sport announced their 2019 racing plans yesterday, with their priority on the European Le Mans Series again.  The French team of Patrice Lafargue will once again compete with two cars in the LMP2 class: an Oreca with a top grade line-up and a Ligier reserved for gentlemen drivers. 

The trio of Oreca drivers remains unchanged with Paul Lafargue, Paul-Loup Chatin and Memo Rojas. An unchanged driver line-up for the #28 car, building onto their experience from last season in which they finished third in the championship. Expectations are high for the team in 2019, striving to do even better.  “I’m really pleased that the three of us can continue. Our trio worked well last year and we really built up something. Things are really coming together,” says Paul Lafargue. “I hope we will perform as well as last year, or even better, and that we will once again be aiming for a great result at the end of the season. We are feeling confident.”

In the Ligier, Patrice Lafargue and Erik Maris will be joined by Stéphane Adler, an IDEC SPORT driver in the Porsche 991 Cup, who will be making his debut in LMP2. “Patrice (Lafargue) has been talking to me about the P2 for a while. It took time for the idea to grow and then, I took the decision. These are cars we dream of. Even if I spent six or seven years with the CN prototype, I still feel apprehensive. But I’m there to enjoy myself and we’re all here to have fun,” explained Stéphane Adler. “I started to prepare myself with tests in LMP3 in Barcelona and Portimao. It is something new for me to be in a closed prototype, which is as heavy as this and with so much power. But it is enjoyable to drive. And when I think that it is going to be even faster in LMP2… We have four days of private trials planned at Le Castellet before the start of the season. It’s a huge challenge to be in such a competitive championship. I love that.”

While the main effort remains the ELMS, the pinnacle of the season will of course be the 87th edition of the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. Patrice Lafargue’s goal is to see both cars lining up at the start of the 24 hour race on 15th and 16th June, and to be sharing the enjoyment in Le Mans once again with his son, but this time with each of them in their own car. “IDEC SPORT got off to a humble start in the ELMS without registering for the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. We entered with one car in 2017 and got an excellent result. We stepped up our performance in 2018, once again with one car and I think that the ACO feels confident about IDEC SPORT. I think that should be noticed,” stressed Paul-Loup Chatin, the LMP2 driver in pole position in the 2018 Le Mans 24-Hour Race.

ELMS: Arjun Maini completes RLR Msport line-up in LMP2

Indian driver Arjun Maini joins Bruno Senna and John Farano in the RLR Msport Oreca 07 this season in the European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours. 

21 year old Arjun Maini raced in the Formula 2 championship last season with Trident Racing.  He finished 16th in the championship, his best results in Baku and Monaco with a fifth place finish. In 2017 he became the first Indian driver to win a race in the GP3 series in Barcelona.  Since May 2017 he is also one of Haas F1 development drivers.  

Maini is now set to broaden his horizons and divert his attention from open-wheeled competition to endurance sportscar racing, as he will join RLR MSport for the 87th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15-16 June and a full season in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).  He will share the RLR MSport-prepared ORECA with ex-F1 star Bruno Senna and Canadian gentleman racer John Farano in the European Le Mans Series, although other commitments will force Senna to relinquish his seat at Le Mans, and his replacement will be announced before the Automobile Club de l’Ouest reveals the 2019 entry on 11 February.

“I’m extremely excited to make my endurance racing debut this year in the European Le Mans Series,” said Maini. “The highlight of the year will surely be the race at Le Mans and I’m hoping I can do my country proud as it is one of the most prestigious events in motor racing. It is imperative for anyone to succeed to be backed by a strong team and I think the team at RLR MSport will provide the perfect environment for me to perform at my very best, especially considering I will be racing in a category I have no prior experience in. Given that they are the reigning ELMS LMP3 Champions, the expectations for the 2019 season will be quite high and I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”

RLR MSport Director of Motorsport Operations, Nick Reynolds: “RLR MSport’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the European Le Mans Series’ headlining LMP2 class is an important milestone for the team and we feel it’s absolutely imperative to maximise our chances of achieving great results by recruiting the best drivers. Arjun Maini has shown a great deal of innate speed during his illustrious single-seater career and his talent is unquestionable. I’m certain his transition to prototypes will be a successful one and that he will give a positive contribution to RLR MSport’s 2019 programme at Le Mans and throughout the European Le Mans season.”

FIA WEC: 2 new driver crews for Rebellion at Sebring

Rebellion Racing announced a second revised driver crew for the 1000 miles of Sebring next month. 

© Rebellion Racing

André Lotterer will be expectionally be replaced by Mathias Beche in the #1 Rebellion R13 in March.  Lotterer won't be able to attend the race in Florida due to a simulator test with his team in Formula E on the same dates.  For the German driver this will be the first race ever he will miss in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Christian Ried (Dempsey Proton Competition) now remains as the sole driver who has been racing in every round of the WEC since its inception.

Earlier, Nathanaël Berthon was announced as a new driver in the #1 car together with Thomas Laurent and Gustavo Menezes.  Beche now switches from the #3 to the #1 car. 

ELMS: Female driver line-up for Kessel Racing in GTE

Kessel Racing will enter the first ever women-only driver line-up with a Ferrari 488 GTE to compete in the 2019 European Le Mans Series. 

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Italian Manuela Gostner (34), Swiss Rahel Frey (32) and Danish Michelle Gatting (26) will share a Ferrari F488 GTE in the series as from the testdays at Paul Ricard in April.  The three women are no strangers to eachother as they raced together in the Abu Dhabi 12 Hours past December, finishing sixth overall and second in the Am class. 

This renewed participation in the ELMS was made possible, once again, thanks to Deborah Mayer. Driven by her passion for cars, challenges and the will to conceive something new and innovative in motorsport, Mayer commented:"I'm very happy and proud to be leading this project. It's the start of a wonderful and lasting adventure." The team’s participation is in line with the strategy of the FIA Women in motorsport.  

© Kessel Racing

Kessel Racing will also field a second Ferrari GTE which will be driven by Claudio Schiavone, Andrea Piccini and Sergie Pianezzola.

After winning the 2018 Michelin Le Mans Cup title in GT3 with Giacomo Piccini and Sergio Pianezzola, the team has also earned an auto entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTE Am class. Whether this entry will feature a full female line-up is still unclear at the moment.  If so, there is a chance we might see 2 female driver line-ups in June as it is believed that Michael Shank Racing might apply for an entry in the Am class with their Daytona drivers. 

ELMS: Algarve Pro Racing fields second Oreca 07

Algarve Pro Racing will field a second ORECA 07 LMP2 in the 2019 European Le Mans Series for swift Swede Henning Enqvist, American young gun James French and South Korea’s Tacksung Kim.

24-year old Swedish driver Enqvist enters his first full season in LMP2 after some impressive testing performances, and with the view of laying the groundwork for a three-year programme that he hopes will take him to the top step of the winners’ rostrum in the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“I feel really excited to be starting my first full season in LMP2, because I’m entering a critical stage of my career that will determine whether or not I achieve my ultimate ambition,” said Enqvist. “I got well-acquainted with the LMP2 car in a test with Algarve Pro Racing at Portimao and I hope to progress in leaps and bounds throughout the season to give me hope of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the next three years. It’s an ambitious plan for an LMP2 rookie, but you must set big targets and put yourself in deep water. I’ve always worked extremely hard to achieve my goals and will continue doing whatever it takes to achieve this goal. We will see where we stand in pre-season testing, but we have a line-up that is capable of doing very well.”

James French is a new face in the ELMS paddock for the upcoming season.  The 26-year old American from Sheboygan, Wisconsin has a full season in the IMSA Prototype Challenge under his belt in 2015, finishing sixth in the championship. In 2016, he scored six podiums in 11 United SportsCar Championship races to finish third in the Prototype Challenge Teams’ Championship.  In 2017 he dominated the LMPC class by winning seven of eight races, including the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity and I’m very excited  about the prospect of experiencing new tracks with a car that I’m pretty familiar with,” said French. “I’m looking forward to working with my new teammates, as I think we have a strong line-up capable of achieving some good results. We will have a better idea of where we are after the first test. Firstly, we must make sure we finish all races with no big mistakes, contact or penalties, and then hopefully fight for top fives or even podiums at end of the season.

“I have to use this year to learn as much as possible and continue growing as a driver. I have no experience of any of the ELMS circuits, but I’ve been dreaming of going to places like Silverstone and Spa since I was a kid and my ultimate career goal to this point has been to get to Le Mans. One of the main draws of the ELMS was its competitiveness. It boasts a strong field of high-profile names, including GP2 drivers and ex-F1 stars and that should make for some really good racing. If it wasn’t tough and competitive, it wouldn’t be any fun.”

Tacksung Kim is no stranger to Algarve Pro Racing, as the 41-year old gentleman racer from Seoul, South Korea first joined the team for the 2016-17 Asian Le Mans Series and most recently reunited with them last year for a full-season campaign in the ELMS and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“This is my third year with Algarve Pro Racing and I’m delighted to be joining forces again. I feel we’ve grown and expanded together. The team provided me with systematic and customised programmes in a professional environment, as well as challenging opportunities and warm encouragements, but it was most instrumental when I transitioned from the Asian Le Mans Series to the ELMS, ensuring that I was prepared and equipped to adapt quickly and enjoy each race.

I’m really excited to be racing alongside two very fast young drivers. I always aim high and, with such competitive teammates, I will do everything to achieve top-five results. Having said that, I will just enjoy the season and focus on doing the best I can.”

ELMS: Mike Guash and Christian England back at United Autosports in LMP3

United Autosports announced that Mike Guasch and Christian England will return to the team for the 2019 European Le Mans Series. The 2016 ELMS LMP3 Champions will be back at the team for their second shot at the LMP3 title. Mike and Christian were partnered with Alex Brundle when United Autosports made their ELMS debut in 2016, winning the first three races of the season and scoring a podium at five of the six rounds giving them the championship win with one round remaining. 

© United Autosports

American racer, Mike Guasch has spent two years away from racing in Europe, while Christian spent a second year in the ELMS in 2017, before moving to the Michelin Le Mans Cup in 2018. Christian also raced in the second round of the Asian Le Mans Series in Japan in December, filling in for Jim McGuire, where the team scored their first LMP3 win of the championship. 

Mike and Christian’s return coincides with the world-wide launch of the movie “The Gentleman Driver” featuring Mike and three other gentleman drivers and their journey through the ELMS, World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours. Mike’s story specifically focuses on his ELMS Championship winning year with United Autosports. “The Gentleman Driver” is available worldwide from tomorrow on digital download here: www.thegentlemandrivermovie.com. 

Mike Guasch, driver, United Autosports:

“I’m very excited to come back to United Autosports. Since I left at the end of 2016 I have raced in LMP2 at Daytona and Sebring but then for one reason or another it didn’t work out so I moved on and focussed on my business. In 2018 I kept up with racing by doing a lot of karting, just to stay in shape and sharpen my skills and to prepare for 2019. I have wanted to come back to United for a while and the perfect deal came about and Richard and I were able to make it happen, so I’m very excited. I’ve stayed in contact with Christian over the last two years and we have been saying we would do something together again in the future so I was really pleased to be able to call him and tell him we were going racing again with United. Let’s go win some races.”

Christian England, driver, United Autosports:

“To say I’m excited would be a complete understatement. After calling in the workshop for what was just supposed to be a coffee and a catch up back at the beginning of 2016, here I am. Four ELMS wins, one Asian Le Mans Series win, two LMP3 Cup wins, numerous podiums and of course one ELMS championship later, I can’t quite believe we are about to start our fourth season together. It's been special to be part of the United family over these last few seasons but this year definitely feels like the best yet. I can’t wait to get started working with Mike again. We had such a great friendship back in 2016 and of course winning the championship in our debut season was something very special. The competition is extremely strong in ELMS but one thing I do know is that our motivation is very high. We the drivers and United as a team are relentless and undeterred in our will to win. I personally feel like I’ve waited a lifetime to be back in this position again so a massive thanks to Richard, Zak and all involved for the continued support and for believing I’m worthy of a seat.” 

Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:

“I’ve kept in touch with Mike since he last raced for us and always hoped he would return, so I’m thrilled we have managed to pull this deal together for him to race with Christian once again. The ELMS grid has changed a lot since we won our first championship in 2016, the competition is so strong, but I think we have a good shot of being in the hunt from the off. Getting the LMP3 Championship back is definitely our aim.”

FIA WEC: New driver line-up for Jackie Chan DC Racing N°37 Oreca

Jackie Chan DC Racing announced a completely new driver line-up for their #37 Oreca 07 in the FIA World Endurance Championship.  A surprising announcement since the all Malaysian line-up with Nabil Jeffrey, Jazeman Jafaar and Weiron Tan won the 6 Hours of Fuji are currently third in the championship. 

© JellyBaby.Media

According to Jota's press release, "regrettable circumstances beyond the control of any of the drivers" brought and end to their succesful efforts.  The loss of financial backing by the Sepang Circuit is believed to be the reason behind the fallout of the three talented Malaysian drivers. 

As from Sebring, the #37 "Fortune Cat" will be driven by David Heinemeier Hansson, Jordan King and Will Stevens.  For Heinemeier Hansson this is a return to the FIA WEC after winning the GTE Am championship in 2014 with Aston Martin Racing and racing with Rebellion in LMP2 in 2017.    

Jordan King is a 24 year old English driver with a lot of single seater experience. He won the 2013 British F3 title and has since then raced in GP2 from 2015 to 2017 & Indycar (2018).  He was test and development driver for Manor F1 in 2015 and 2016, driving in 2 Friday practice sessions in 2016.  The 1000 miles of Sebring will be his debut in prototype and endurance racing.  

Will Stevens has become a familiar face in the FIA WEC and ELMS paddock in the past years, including a class win in GTE Am at Le Mans in 2017.  In the European Le Mans Series, Stevens goes into his second season with Panis-Barthez Competition in the LMP2 class.  If that team gets an invite for Le Mans, DC Racing will have to find a replacement driver for the 24 Hours. 

David Clark, director of Jackie Chan DC Racing x Jota Sport said “The changes which we are announcing today have been forced upon the team by commercial and business complexities outside of its direct control. We were left in a position where these changes had to be implemented and whilst this was a difficult process, it is in the best interests of the team".

“I would like to go on record in thanking Jazeman, Nabil and Weiron for their professionalism and dedication to the project over the five races that they were with the team. They proved to be a race-winning force and we wish them nothing but the very best for their futures in racing."

ELMS: Job Van Uitert joins G-Drive in the ELMS and at Le Mans

Job van Uitert has seized one of the most coveted seats in endurance racing for the coming season as the reigning European Le Mans Series LMP3 champion has signed for G-drive Racing. Van Uitert joins Jean-Eric Vergne and Roman Rusinov for both the European Le Mans Series and the 24 hours of Le Mans, meaning that a long-held dream will come true for the 20-year-old Dutchman.

© JellyBaby.Media

Van Uitert made his sportscar debut in 2018 and proved impressive as he powered his way to the European Le Mans Series LMP3 crown as well as the series’ Rookie of the Year award. Those  successes opened the door for a test with reigning LMP2 champions G-Drive Racing. That open audition was successful and had led to Van Uitert joining former Formula 1 driver Jean-Eric Vergne and team owner Roman Rusinov in the black-and-orange G-Drive Racing Oreca.

“This is a dream come true, that much is clear”, says Van Uitert after signing with the team. “G-Drive has won the European Le Mans Series three times now as well as taking the FIA WEC crown once. On top of that they are the benchmark at Le Mans so this is without doubt the best place for me to continue my career, a place where I will race for victories.” Van Uitert knows that, because of this, all eyes will be trained on the #26 Oreca 07. “With Jean-Eric and Roman, the team has a super-solid basis and I will do everything I can to add to that and be successful.”

Team owner and lead driver Roman Rusinov is delighted with the signing of his new teammate: “Job has already impressed us with his speed and approach to work during the tests. I am sure he will surprise many this year, and our line-up for 2019 will feature be an excellent combination of both experience and youth in our drivers..”

Van Uitert will race with G-Drive in all six races of the European Le Mans Series, the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. An event much bigger than just a race, knows Van Uitert. “Le Mans is the biggest race in the world and besides our hunt for a fourth ELMS-title for the team, Le Mans is firmly in our cross-hairs. That I can make my debut in this race, with this team, in a such a competitive car is, as said, a dream come true.”

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: RLR MSport defends LMP3 title with new driver line-up

After confirming Bruno Senna and John Farano in the LMP2 class last week, RLR MSport today announced their drivers who will defend the team's Euopean Le Mans Seriers LMP3 title in LMP3. Danish young guns Christian Olsen and Martin Vedel will join British gentleman racer Martin Rich in the Nissan powered Ligier JSP3.

Martin Rich, aged 45 from London, last raced LMP3 machinery to podium success during a one-off outing with RLR MSport in the 2017 Michelin Le Mans Cup. His Le Mans Series debut came in 2009, although that has been followed by several appearances in a wide array of high-profile sportscar racing categories, including the 24H Series, Blancpain Endurance Series, and the now defunct Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, as well as two outings in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His 2018 programme included the Le Mans Classic and two class wins in the Masters Endurance Legends with an LMP2 race car, but the gentleman racer has been anxious to return to modern-day machinery and is anticipating a successful season with defending LMP3 Champion, RLR MSport.

“Our aim is quite simple – bring the LMP3 title back to RLR MSport for the second year in a row,” said Rich. “The championship will be won by being consistent over the course of the year, but at the same time we won’t win it unless we’re contending for a podium at each round. I absolutely believe we have the ability to compete successfully; the team knows how to win at this level, Martin (Vedel) and Christian (Olsen) are extremely quick and I can play my part, so it’s game on! My job is quite simply to be one of the quickest Bronze drivers in the field, while remaining extremely consistent and staying out of trouble. 

Much like Rich, Olsen has a strong track record in historic racing; the Dane’s roots are in historic Formula 3 and he was an unknown quantity when, in 2018, he embarked on his maiden sportscar racing campaign in the ACO-sanctioned ELMS.  His maiden campaign in entry-level LMP3 prototypes yielded three podiums and a highly respectable fourth-place finish in the final championship classification, therefore he feels he can only shoot for top honours with the Champion RLR MSport team in 2019.

“I am already very familiar with RLR MSport, as I had my first LMP3 experience in a test with the team over a year ago and I’m really looking forward to getting to know them better and see how they work,” said Olsen. “For me, as much experience as I can get at this stage, the better. RLR MSport has clearly shown its discipline and capability at this level and that, coupled with the driver line-up, should be a formula for a successful season where we will be gunning for a win at every round.

Olsen’s new teammate and fellow countryman Vedel cut his teeth during a ten-year karting career, before making a seamless transition to car racing in 2012, when he won four championships in his native Denmark, as well as two additional Nordic categories. Last year Vedel raced in Lamborghini Huracan GT3. His eye-catching performances during tests at a rain-lashed Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal and a wintry Donington Park, where he was merely half a second off the LMP3 lap record in sub-optimal temperatures,  convinced the team to sign the young Dane for its ELMS title defence.

“I have high expectations for the 2019 season when I will make my European Le Mans Series debut, as my ultimate goal is to show what I can do by winning races and the championship title, repeating what RLR MSport achieved last year,” said Vedel. “I’m spending a lot of time in the simulator and all signs from winter testing have been positive, so I’m confident I will be ready and capable of fighting at the top from the very beginning of the season in Le Castellet.