OAK Racing's Middle Eastern challenge
Photo: DPPI media
French LMP2 team, OAK Racing, is aiming to not only repeat its Brazilian podium placing in the 6 Hours of Bahrain, the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, but to improve upon it. The São Paulo result was the No.24 Morgan Nissan’s second LMP2 podium of the season, the Onroak-designed racer being piloted in every round this season by Jacques Nicolet-Matthieu Lahaye-Olivier Pla.
OAK Racing, like many others, will be making its debut appearance in the Middle Eastern region, and it will be the first time for Nicolet and Lahaye at the Sakhir circuit. Olivier Pla is the only one amongst the driver line up to have previous experience at the track from his time in the 2005 GP2 series.
The No. 35 OAK Racing entry will once again benefit from the talents of young British driver Alex Brundle, who will sit alongside Bertrand Baguette and Dominik Kraihamer and share the workload behind the wheel in the extremely high temperatures that are expected. Brundle, son of former F1 driver and Le Mans winner, Martin, will be able to profit from his father’s many visits to the Bahraini circuit.
Sébastien Philippe, OAK Racing Team Principal: “We are very excited to be discovering a new, prestigious circuit. The layout should be well suited to our Morgans while the three straights that come one after another on this layout allow us to exploit our top-end speed. The two crews are very competitive and Alex Brundle, who is making his second appearance with the team, will be even more at ease behind the wheel of #35. Hopefully we can count on a bit more luck than at the previous races and better our podium from Sao Paulo.”
Olivier Pla, No.24 Morgan-Nissan: “Sakhir is a very specific circuit in the middle of the desert, surrounded by sand. Having good acceleration when exiting the slower corners is very important and requires a car with excellent traction. Finding the right balance and a set-up that works under braking as well as during the acceleration phase will be crucial. In addition, the heat will be a difficult factor to deal with for us drivers, the tyres and car itself. But the layout should suit the Morgan well. In any case, and considering our performances regardless of the circuit this year, we are heading there aiming to win. A bit of luck and the result should follow.”
Fiona Miller (quotes from team press release)
Photo: AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE (INTERLAGOS, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL) 6 HOURS OF SAO PAULO, SATURDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2012, RACE. The No.24 OAK Racing Morgan-Nissan.