A Morgan LMP2 in OAK Racing colours back in the FIA WEC!
OAK Racing has entered a Morgan LMP2 powered by a Judd engine and shod with Dunlop tyres for the 6 Hours of Fuji, the fifth round of the 2014 FIA WEC. It will have the number 35 and will be driven by Keiko Ihara, Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman. The Onroak Automotive chassis, which is continuing its brilliant career in the different endurance series in Europe, Asia and the United States, is back on the LMP2 grid in the world championship.
Last month in the second round of the Asian Le Mans Series OAK Racing Team Total and Keiko Ihara with David Cheng and Ho-Pin Tung drove a Morgan-Judd LMP2 to victory on the Fuji circuit. After several outings together in 2013, the Le Mans-based team and the Japanese driver decided to join forces again this year in selected events. After the first victory in Asia they will meet up again for the Fuji 6 Hours and the Bahrain 6 Hours. Ihara is determined to shine at Fuji, her national circuit, and to finish on the podium in front of her home crowd.
OAK Racing has called in Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman, who have already raced successfully together in the United States, to share the car with her. The pairing has scored two pole positions and two second places at Watkins Glen with a Morgan-Nissan LMP2 and just recently in Austin with a Ligier JS P2-Honda.
On 4th October Brundle and Yacaman tackled the 10-hour Petit Le Mans in the Ligier JS P2-Honda after which they are flying to Japan to drive the Morgan-Judd. The talented Brit is familiar with the Fuji circuit and the FIA WEC as he drove for OAK Racing throughout 2013 finishing second in the championship. Gustavo Yacaman, the revelation of the American season with the Sarthe team, will be having his first outing in the FIA WEC. The Colombian will have no problems adapting to this new environment very quickly.
With OAK Racing’s entry for the next three events, the Morgan LMP2 is back in the FIA WEC field after G-Drive Racing, faithful to Onroak Automotive, replaced its Morgan with the Ligier JS P2, the new closed sports prototype built by the Sarthe constructor. The open version in the hands of the strongly-fancied trio, Ihara-Brundle-Yacaman, will have every chance of shining on the Fuji circuit and repeating the success it enjoyed in the past.
Keiko Ihara: "I'm very happy to race the 6 Hours of Fuji in my home country again with my very strong team mates Alex Brundle and Gustavo Yacaman. A month ago I won the 3 Hours of Fuji, second round of the Asian Le Mans Series with OAK Racing Team Total. So I'd like to aim for the topmost step of the podium again in this race. And I’m really looking forward to seeing Japanese motorsport fans."
Alex Brundle:“I am looking forward to returning to Fuji with great anticipation. After spending most of the year competing Stateside I am thrilled to rejoin the FIA WEC at this fantastic venue. The Morgan-Judd LMP2 package has proved strong in ELMS and Asian LMS, and although coming into any series mid-season is tough we will do our absolute best to ensure a good result.”
Gustavo Yacaman:“I am very excited about racing at Fuji. I want to thank Phillipe Dumas and Jacques Nicolet for the opportunity to compete in my first-ever FIA WEC event. I really look forward to have a problem free race, and with a little bit of luck, we can have Keiko on the podium at her home event. This is the goal. It will be nice to re-unite with my old Girlfriend the Morgan LMP2 chassis. I am extremely impressed with the performance of the new Ligier JS P2, but it is always a special feeling when your you are in a car with an open cockpit feeling 300kph winds on your helmet.”
Jacques Nicolet, President of Onroak Automotive: “The entry of a Morgan LMP2 by OAK Racing in the next three rounds of the FIA WEC helps us to beef up the presence of Onroak Automotive in the world championship alongside our new Ligier JS P2 in the G-Drive Racing colours. It’s an ideal showcase to demonstrate the potential and the speed of our two LM P2 sports prototypes in a field where the competition is very tough and the overall level very high.”
From OAK Racing
