There will be much focus on OAK Racing this weekend thanks to Bertrand Baguette, the only Belgian driver entered for this weekend's second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps WEC.
The French team has three of its Onroak Racing-designed Morgans entered in the LMP2 category for the race, powered by the Nissan VK45 engine and all running on Dunlop rubber. Based at Le Mans, the team is out to score a good result and improve upon its performance at the 6 Hours of Silverstone and, like everyone else, views the Belgian round as an ideal dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In No.24 will be Frenchman Olivier Pla, Briton Alex Brundle and David Heinemeier Hansson from Denmark, the trio who finished on the second step of the podium in Britain. 2009 Renault World Series Champion, Bertrand Baguette, teams up with Martin Plowman from England and Mexican Ricardo Gonzalez.
Baguette knows the Ardennes layout like the back of his hand and, being the only Belgian national entered in all the FIA WEC events, he is determined to make it a point of honour to give his team-mates the benefit of his Spa experience. This will greatly benefit the gentlemen drivers in the No.45, Jean-Marc Merlin and Jacques Nicolet.
Sébastien Philippe, OAK Racing Team Principal
“We came back from the Silverstone 6 Hours feeling frustrated in terms of our performance and results despite second and fourth-place finishes. The team and its drivers are all determined to show their true potential at Spa. The circuit with its sweeping curves and long straights should suit the Morgan LM P2, which has a high top speed. I hope that the weather will be better at Spa than at Silverstone and that we’ll be able to show our true potential.”
David Heinemeier Hansson, #24 Morgan-Nissan LMP2
"We had a great start to the season at Silverstone and we are eager to go one better at Spa. I already drove the Morgan-Nissan at Spa last year and it was quick so we should be in good shape to fight right to the end and bag a large haul of championship points.”
Bertrand Baguette, #35 Morgan-Nissan LMP2
“Spa is a very special event for me all the more as I’m racing on home turf in front of my home crowd. In car # 35 all the drivers are determined to finish in the top three and as for our mechanical problems at Silverstone, they’re now behind us. I know the track inside out, and I’ll give Ricardo and Martin as much advice as I can so that our team’s as competitive as possible. Spa is also the last race before the Le Mans 24 Hours, and the last time we can show what we’re made of before THE event of the season. This is just a way of saying that we’re all extremely motivated at the idea of going to the helter-skelter in the Ardennes to score the best result possible.”
Jacques Nicolet, Team Owner/driver of #45 Morgan-Nissan LMP2
“The Silverstone 6 Hours wasn’t the easiest start for us as the weather was very tricky. We still managed not to make any mistakes and we’re counting on Spa to continue our fight to the front in view of preparation for the the Le Mans 24 Hours.”
Photo: SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT (TOWCESTER, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, UK), 6 HOURS OF SILVERSTONE, SUNDAY 14TH APRIL 2013. The three OAK Racing Morgan-Nissans in the pitlane at Silverstone.
