COOL Racing with Nicolas Lapierre, Yifei Ye and Niklas Krütten

Present in Dubai to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series with Herbeth Motorsport as Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific driver, Yifei Ye will also drive in LM P2 this season, as he recently told us in an interview (see below). The reigning champion with Team WRT thus joins the team managed by Nicolas lapierre : COOL Racing. The latter will continue this year with his double hat since he will also be at the wheel of the No. 07 Oreca 37. Niklas Krütten will be the third man.

 

 

 

 

 

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“I am very happy to join COOL Racing alongside Nico and Niklas in European Le Mans Series, Yifei Ye said. After winning the championship last year, I believe I have the experience, speed and consistency to compete for the top places. The team showed a very promising level of performance during the second half of last season, and I will have two extremely fast teammates in 2022 with Nico and Niklas. It’s great to be part of such a strong line-up. Driving in LM P2 again this season will help me get closer to my goal of racing in LMDh in 2023 and I can't wait to race in this category again. »

ALSO READ > Yifei Ye: “LMDh is my goal”

Yifei Ye has already had the opportunity to test with COOL Racing (Photo: COOL Racing)

The first contacts between Yifei Ye and COOL Racing took place after the 4 Hours of Portimão last October, with the driver even testing the car in the Algarve. “We saw what he did last year and for us he was one of the best drivers in LM P2, Nicolas Lapierre told us. Il était notre priorité numéro un dans notre recrutement. Le test à Portimão s’est très bien passé. Nous étions très contents de son feedback et de son attitude. Nous sommes donc entrés en contact avec Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific et nous avons réussi à trouver un accord avec eux pour cette saison. C’est une belle preuve de confiance de leur part. Avoir le champion de la catégorie dans notre équipe, c’est génial. »

A recruitment which inevitably leads to higher objectives, since COOL Racing will no longer only be in LM P2 Pro-Am, but will aim for the title in full pro. Nicolas Lapierre confirms this: “We were fortunate to form the crew we wanted quickly. The car proved itself last year by taking the last two pole positions of the season (at the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the 4 Hours of Portimão, each time with Charles Milesi. Editor’s note) and we are really armed as far as the line-up is concerned. We are still working a lot to improve many little things, but we are happy with our package and looking forward to continuing the season. We must not hide, we have the weapons to fight with the big teams. With this trio, we can clearly play at the forefront. »

Niklas Krütten is promoted to LM P2 this season (Photo: DPPI)

The trio will therefore be completed by Niklas Krütten. The 19-year-old German was already driving ELMS and in this same team last season, but in LM P3. After winning the first two meetings of the season, the former resident of various Formula 4 championships (United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy) missed the title by one point against Laurents Hörr and DKR Engineering. “He started prototype sports last year and had a solid season in LM P3, Nicolas Lapierre explained to us. We started LM P2 testing with him and he rode really well. He will be a strong Silver driver for this season. » “I am very happy to stay with COOL Racing for a second year, and to have the chance to be promoted to the main program, adds Niklas Krütten. We had a good season in LM P3 and I am happy to join two extremely fast and experienced drivers in LM P2, which Nico and Yifei are. I am sure that we will have a great season and we aim to fight for the general classification. »

High ambitions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans too

The general classification in the European Le Mans Series is not the only objective of the Swiss team this season, since an application file to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans has also been submitted. Nicolas Lapierre will obviously have to give up his place behind the wheel since he will already be engaged with Alpine in the Hypercar category, but the Haut-Savoyard assured us that his replacement will be a Platinum driver, “who has won big races in Endurance, but whose name we cannot yet reveal, because it will depend on whether we have entry or not”. “A high-flying driver to keep the goal of winning there”, adds Nicolas Lapierre. The suspense remains for the moment, but one thing is certain: COOL Racing has no shortage of ambitions for this 2022 season.

Despite this reinforced commitment in LM P2, the Swiss team will also continue in LM P3 with two crews in the European Le Mans Series. The first will be composed of Malthe Jakobsen, Michael Benham and Maurice Smith and the second of Nicolas Maulini, Jean-Ludovic Foubert and Antoine Doquin. The latter is also in Dubai to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series with CD Sport.

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