LMP2 Focus: Three constructors go head-to-head in LMP2
The LMP2 grid will consist of seven entries but, in contrast to last year, there are three different chassis constructors represented through the ORECA 07, Dallara P217 and Ligier JSP217.
The new LMP2 regulations introduced in 2017 offered customers a significant increase in performance which provided thrilling and close competition throughout the entire 2017 season – something which is sure to be repeated in the Super Season.
Here’s a look in detail at the teams and driver line ups announced so far.
TDS Racing
No.28 ORECA 07-Gibson – François Perrodo (FRA), Matthieu Vaxivière (FRA), Loïc Duval (FRA)
After his first year in prototype racing, François Perrodo has found his confidence and that is sure to only grow under the tutelage of former WEC champion Loïc Duval. They, together with Matthieu Vaxivière, who had some great performances last season, form an all-French line up for TDS Racing.
Loïc Duval returns to the WEC for a full season for the first time since Audi withdrew, and the winner of the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans and WEC Champion that same year brings strong and valuable endurance racing experience. As team leader, François and Matthieu can have no better example to follow.
The team, which is based near Montpellier in the south western region of France, was formed 10 years ago, and entered the WEC at the start of 2017.
Did you know…François Perrodo is a true international. Of French nationality, but with a Singaporean mother, he lives in London and chairs Perenco, a family-owned oil and gas company. He has a degree in physics from Oxford, and went on to obtain an engineering degree from the École Nationale Supérieure du Pétrole et des Moteurs (ENSPM).
No.29 Dallara P217 – Gibson – Frits van Eerd (NLD), Giedo Van Der Garde (NLD), Jan Lammers (NLD)
The second all-national driver line-up comes thanks to WEC newcomer, Racing Team Nederland. A graduate from the ELMS, the team will campaign the only Dallara in the Championship, with the experience of Dutch racing legend Jan Lammers and former F1/WEC/ELMS driver Giedo Van Der Garde at hand.
The third driver is Frits van Eerd, CEO of the family-owned Jumbo Supermarkets in the Netherlands, and the former Dutch national rally champion has now spent several years honing his skills in endurance racing.
Did you know… Jan Lammers first went to Le Mans age 14 and sat in a Ferrari 512S during the filming of Steve McQueen's movie "Le Mans". Little did he imagine that he would stand on the winners’ podium some 18 years later!
DragonSpeed
No.31 ORECA 07-Gibson – Roberto Gonzalez (MEX), TBA, TBA
Sitting alongside the American-entered, French-based team’s LMP1 entry, the first named driver in the entry is a face well known to the WEC – Roberto Gonzalez. The former Champ Car driver from Monterrey in Mexico brings a solid base of championship experience to the team following his 2017 season with the CEFC Manor TRS Racing. We wait with interest to see who his team mates will be!
Did you know…that in 2013 Roberto’s younger brother, Ricardo, won the LMP2 class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in an OAK Racing Morgan-Nissan.
Signatech Alpine Matmut
No.36 Alpine A470-Gibson – Nicolas Lapierre (FRA), Andre Negrão (BRA), Pierre Thiriet (FRA)
Signatech Alpine’s A470, while individually named, is an ORECA 07 design. French team Signatech Alpine Matmut (2016 LMP2 champions) shows continued loyalty to the WEC. Having played a key role in winning the title in 2016, team regular Nicolas Lapierre will line up alongside the Brazilian André Negrão who put in some standout performances in 2017.
The crew will be completed by Frenchman Pierre Thiriet, 2012 ELMS European Champion and winner of the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in the LMP2 class last season. The experienced and pacey trio will be aiming for one thing only: the top step of the podium.
Did you know… Signatech Alpine is the only LMP2 team so far to win 4 races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and go on to take the WEC title in the same year.
Jackie Chan DC Racing
No.37 ORECA 07-Gibson – Jazeman Jaafar (MYS), TBA, TBA
No.38 ORECA 07-Gibson – Ho-Pin Tung (NLD), TBA, TBA
The British-run, Chinese-entered team returns to consolidate its claim on victory in the WEC with a
two-car team – the only entrant in the class to do so.
Jackie Chan DC Racing came agonisingly close to the championship title in 2017, with three victories including the memorable Le Mans class win plus second and third steps on the overall podium - the first Chinese class winner at Le Mans.
Malaysian driver Jazeman Jafaar has been competing with the David Cheng-led and JOTA Sport-run team in the Asian Le Mans Series and transfers to the world stage alongside Ho-Pin Tung who, despite his name and lineage, counts Dutch as nationality and first language!
Did you know… Jackie Chan set up the team together with David Cheng to support Chinese motorsport and driver development. The movie star has visited Le Mans and the 6 Hours of Shanghai twice.
Larbre Competition
No.50 Ligier JSP2170- Gibson – Erwin Creed (FRA), Romano Ricci (FRA), Fernando Rees (BRA)
The French team makes a welcome return to the WEC in 2017 after sitting out the championship last year, and it returns in LMP2 rather than the more familiar environment of LMGTE.
The Val de Vienne-based squad has also confirmed its line-up for this year’s FIA WEC with Brazilian Fernando Rees – 2017 LMGTE Am pole winner – returning to the squad alongside newcomers Romano Ricci and Erwin Creed, who both enjoyed successful campaigns in the European Le Mans Series’ LMP3 class last year.
Did you know…This marks the French squad’s 25th participation in the world’s greatest endurance race, in which it has scored five class victories since 1993. It will be its second prototype entry, having previously run a Morgan LMP2 in 2014.
