ILMC: OAK Racing begins its season

OAK Racing begins its second season in ILMC with new objectives. The team, newly installed at the Technoparc des 24 Heures, is entering three prototypes: two in LMP1, and one in LMP2. The latter will have the difficult task of defending the title acquired last year by the trio Nicolet-Lafargue-Da Rocha.

“The winter was very short and very harsh on all levels, explains Jacques Nicolet. Since the last race in Zhuhai at the end of November and this start of the season in the United States, we have developed two LMP1s and a brand new LMP2, while moving to Le Mans. In these conditions, it is a great reward for the whole team, which has done a fantastic job, to find itself operational for the first race of the season on a circuit as legendary as Sebring, with three cars. It?s a reward, but it?s also an achievement, whatever the final result, that many teams can envy us. »

In LMP1, the No. 15 Pescarolo-OAK will be entrusted to Matthieu Lahaye, Guillaume Moreau and Pierre Ragues. All three offered themselves a podium at the 24 hours of Le Mans in LMP2. The first two last year and the third in 2008. But neither knows the Sebring route. “I am happy to have been able to discover this circuit, this monument of motorsport, confides Pierre Ragues. Even if the track will evolve over the week, we were able to rough it up, collect as much data as possible and explore interesting routes. This is the first time we are in racing conditions with the car and the team. Everything is taking shape and it's very positive. »
On the sister car, bearing the number 24, we focused on continuity. For the 3rd consecutive year, Jacques Nicolet, Richard Hein and Jean-François Yvon are partners.

In the LMP2 category, Patrice Lafargue and Frédéric Da Rocha will defend their title won last year, associated with Andrea Barlesi. “It’s an atypical circuit, physical and where we put a lot of strain on the mechanics, explains the young winner of Formula Le Mans in 2010, just 19 years old. It will be very interesting to see the reliability of the parts. During these two days we acclimatized to the new P2 and tried different set ups. With Frédéric and Patrice the feeling goes well and for the technical debriefings we have the same feedback, which is essential for a crew. »

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