After four rounds G-Drive Racing is currently lying second in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LM P2 Teams. The Russian outfit is more determined than ever to win the Fuji 6 Hours and the next three races. While circumstances prevented G-Drive Racing from winning in Austin last month, Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla and Julien Canal demonstrated the potential of their new car, the no. 26 Ligier JS P2-Nissan-Dunlop.
After two wins on the bounce at Silverstone and Spa G-Drive Racing lost the leadership in the overall general classification in LM P2 to SMP Racing, which scored a large haul of points at Le Mans and Austin. However, the gap is only 27 points at the halfway stage of the season and the LM P2 title is still G-Drive Racing’s priority. With 25 points going to the winner and 1 on offer for pole things can change very quickly.
Since the America round last month the fourth of the eight in the world championship G-Drive Racing has run a new sport prototype. The team has remained faithful to Onroak Automotive and replaced the Morgan LM P2 with the brand-new Ligier JS P2, which made a strong impact setting pole and the fastest lap in the race in LM P2.
Since then Roman Rusinov, Olivier Pla and Julien Canal have all said that they have found their marks in the new car. The Japanese round on the fabulous Fuji circuit may be the theatre of another victory for G-Drive Racing and the first by the Ligier JS P2.
G-Drive Racing is determined to win at Fuji and also to score the maximum number of victories between now and the end of the season to clinch the FIA Endurance Trophy for LM P2 Teams con brio.
Roman Rusinov : "I'm looking forward to driving the Ligier JS P2 again. We've a great car with a lot of potential and this weekend we want to win. We'll do our utmost to clinch victory in the Fuji 6 Hours and get back in the lead in the overall classification. Our priority aim is the LM P2 title for G-Drive Racing. »
Olivier Pla: “After the race in Austin in which we showed the speed of the Ligier JS P2 although the final result was very disappointing, we’re arriving in Fuji with a single aim – victory! We have to clinch this win and take as many points as possible off our rivals in the title chase. We’ve got four races left so everything is still up for grabs. The Fuji layout has a sector with quick corners, another with slow ones and a very long straight. We have to find the right setup with a compromise between top speed and enough downforce in the corners.”
Julien Canal: “We’ve still got four races left; it’s the halfway mark of the season. We’re a few points behind in the championship, but we can still score good results and win the coming events. The team’s solid and motivated and the Ligier JS P2 is competitive. It’s up to us to do a good job and retake the lead in the championship. I raced on this circuit in GT the last two years; it’s quite technical so it’s up to me to adapt quickly.”
Philippe Dumas, Team Principal: “We’re tackling the fifth round with the same determination. Only if we score a string of victories can we win the title and it’s a position I like to be in. The Ligier JS P2-Nissan-Dunlop package proved to be a formidable one at Le Mans and Austin in terms of sheer performance. It’s up to us to do everything in our power to transform this into concrete results and score a victory with G-Drive Racing.”
From OAK Racing
