A quick glance through the results sheets for 2012 perhaps doesn’t do enough justice to the pace and consistency shown by the Argentinian LMP2 entry, Pecom Racing. Managed by the Italian AF Corse team, Pecom’s Luis Perez Companc and his team mates Pierre Kaffer and Nicolas Minassian had an excellent second half to the FIA WEC’s inaugural season, only beaten to second overall in the class standings by ADR-Delta at the final round in Shanghai.
Victory in the highly competitive category at the 6 Hours of Bahrain was an undoubted highlight of the year, together with podium finishes at the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans and 6 Hours of Sao Paulo. The Oreca-Nissan combination proved to be a good choice for the team after a difficult 2011 in the ILMC, and a change to the driver line-up after Le Mans inspired the whole team. Nicolas Minassian not only brought his unquestionable speed to the No.49 entry, but he also fitted in extremely well with the tight-knit, very likeable squad. Indeed, the combination has been retained for the 2013 season.
There were few really low points, although the Championship’s second round at Spa-Francorchamps is probably one that Pecom would prefer to forget, and several occasions which – had fate looked down on the team more kindly – might have secured them second instead of third in the final outcome. A slow puncture in the closing stages of the Fuji race and an electrical problem at the final pit stop meant that a certain podium finish slipped from their grasp, one of several frustrating times experienced.
However, those frustrations were all channelled positively throughout 2012 and as the new racing season approaches, as summed up by German driver Pierre Kaffer: “The team got stronger and stronger every race and we made a lot of developments during the season. Bahrain was definitely the highlight of the year, and I think we were very unlucky at Fuji otherwise we could have been able to fight for victory there as well but in the end it was a great season.
“We were happy to finish on the podium at Le Mans, but you also know that you could do better so to win in LMP2 there in 2013 is definitely one of our targets. It was really great to have the support of Nicolas from Silverstone onwards last year, and it gave Luis, the mechanics and everyone a boost. We’re all really looking forward to the 2013 season, and aiming for the LMP2 Endurance title.”
Fiona Miller
Photo: SAKHIR (BAHRAIN), BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, 6 HOURS OF BAHRAIN, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 2012, RACE. Pecom Racing won the LMP2 class, their first victory in the FIA WEC.
