OAK Racing head in to the final round of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship in a very strong position as they look to take home the LMP2 drivers’ and teams’ trophies in Bahrain.
Following a successful outing in Shanghai earlier this month where the team stamped its authority on the top of the leaderboard with the #35 and #24 Morgan-Nissans in first and second places, OAK Racing head in to round 8 with the upper hand.
Bertrand Baguette, Martin Plowman, and Ricardo Gonzalez will be hunting for glory in the #35 to crown their victory in the Le Mans 24 hours earlier this year and will be looking for a clean race to bring home the points necessary to wrap up the title.
“It’s been a great year for us with OAK Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and this weekend we have the chance to finish it in a very high note.” said Gonzalez.
“After a great result in Shanghai, we are one step closer to winning the LM P2 championship, and that will be our main focus in Bahrain. We have been competitive at every track, and we have also shown that we can be fast but at the same time fast and consistent, which is why we have been able to lead in the points. I’m very excited to get on track one last time with my teammates Bertrand Baguette and Martin Plowman and go win the Championship!”
#24 Teammates Olivier Pla, Alex Brundle, and David Heinemeier Hansson will be looking for victory in the #35 car and take victory after taking four second place finishes through the season.
“We are heading into the Bahrain weekend in a good position with both OAK Racing machines situated at the top of the championship order.” said Brundle.
“It is all to play for in this final weekend of the series but I am certain that if we keep our heads down and focus on the race performance we will come away with the desired result. For the #24 specifically there is nothing to lose so we can just push to the absolute maximum for 6 hours and hope that it will be enough. I like it when it’s simple like that, so I’m looking forward to this final race of the series”
The third OAK Racing LMP2 Morgan-Nissan will be shared between Jacques Nicolet, Keiko Ihara, and David Cheng once again and will be looking to take a top 5 finish following a strong outing in Shanghai.
“We’ve made a lot of progress together this year, and to add in this round just before our season Finale of the Asian Le Mans Series in Sepang is all the better to help me prepare for our championship fight.” commented Cheng.
“I have to thank Jacques Nicolet for this opportunity and it’ll be a pleasure to share our #45 car with him and Keiko again.” he added.
Team Principal Sébastien Philippe is in a positive mood and believes the team has what it takes to round the year out on a high note. “We’re now on the home straight and it’s the most important race of the season. We know what we have to do and the whole team is fully concentrated and highly motivated to achieve the objectives.
“Each car has a specific aim: no. 24 is ready to do everything it takes to win the race; no. 35 has to score the few points lacking to clinch the championship title so the philosophies are very different. In no. 45 David Cheng is back for his second race in the WEC and Keiko Ihara her fourth. They’ve been making steady progress and together with Jacques Nicolet they can aim for a top-five finish.”
