The Nissan DPi with Tequila Patron ESM clinches another podium finish
This weekend Onroak Automotive was in action with its Nissan DPIs, Ligier JS P217s and Ligier JS P3s, on the streets of Long Beach in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, and on the Paul Ricard circuit with the in the opening rounds of the European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup. In addition, an Onroak Automotive chassis had its maiden outing in a Rallycross race by competing in the first round of the 2018 World RX Championship.
> IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship – round 3 – Long Beach, 13-14/04
The Nissan DPi with Tequila Patron ESM clinches another podium finish
After the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours, the entrants in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship gathered in the streets of Long Beach for a short-format race. The #2 Nissan DPi run by Tequila Patron ESM and driven by Scott Sharp and Ryan Dalziel started the race on the fourth row. At the end of 70 laps the crew finished second (as in 2017) sandwiched between the #5 and #10 Cadillac DPis. The American team that won at Sebring last month again ran an excellent race combining flawless strategy and pits stops.
The second Nissan DPi did not see the chequered flag after hitting debris on the track. The #52 AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports Ligier JS P217 set the fastest time of the LM P2s in qualifying and saw the flag in 11th place in the prototype category and third in LM P2.
> Michelin Le Mans Cup – round 1 – Le Castellet, 13-14/04
Both Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing Ligier LM P3s on the podium
This weekend the third edition of the Michelin Le Mans Cup got under way on the Paul Ricard circuit with no fewer than 21 LM P3 sport prototypes including 14 Ligier JS P3s on the grid for the first round of the year. The Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing team put on a stand-out performance by clinching second and third-place podium finishes.
> European Le Mans Series – round 1 – Le Castellet, 13-15/04
Victory goes to the RLR MSport Ligier JS P3
The Ligier JS P3 continues its successful career in the European Le Mans Series for the third year in succession. No fewer than 14 Onroak Automotive LM P3s were on the grid for the first round of the season. They all finished the race confirming the reliability of the French sports prototype. Once again the car showed its speed with the victory of #15 entered by RLR MSport. The British team won after leading for almost all the 4-hour race in which it also set the fastest lap in 1m 52.941sec.
There were five Ligier JS P217s among the 19 LM P2s at Paul Ricard for the first event of the season. The Panis-Barthez Compétition team demonstrated the car's potential by holding on temporarily to third place before suffering a puncture. The Ligier JS P217 took finally the chequered flag in eighth place.
> World RX Championship – round 1 – Barcelona, 14-15/04
An Onroak Automotive chassis takes part in Rallycross for the first time
Sebastien Loeb Racing had a promising weekend in the opening round of the World Rallycross Championship on the Barcelona circuit. The Peugeot 208 entered by the French outfit for Grégoire Demoustier is the first chassis designed and produced by Onroak Automotive for this branch of motor sport. After pouring rain and a very slippery track on Saturday conditions improved on Sunday. Even though Grégoire Demoustier failed to qualify for the semi-final the overall result of the team's first outing is positive as the car did not run into any mechanical problems.
Next weekend, Onroak Automotive will again be hard at work supporting the teams that race its cars on circuits everywhere, in particular:
– 3rd round of the IMSA Prototype Challenge at Barber (USA) ;
– 2nd round of the V de V Endurance Series at Magny-Cours (FRA) ;
– 1st round of the LM P3 Cup Championship at Donington (GBR).
Photo Big Tom Photography