OAK Racing will return to the LMP1 category later this season, it was announced yesterday.
The team announced a deal that will see a HPD engine placed in their #15 OAK Pescarolo, which was withdrawn from the Six Hours of Silverstone due to engine problems. The car will return to action for the final two rounds of this year’s World Endurance Championship at Fuji in Japan and Shanghai in China.
“2012 will be the first step of a collaboration we would like to initiate between OAK and HPD. We will do our best to confirm the option we have to run either one or two cars in 2013,” Jacques Nicolet, OAK Racing’s president said in a statement.
“The combination of OAK chassis, HPD engine and our trusted tyre partner Dunlop gives me great confidence in this new LMP1 package.”
“We are very grateful that HPD are able to provide us with their powerful LMP1 engine right in the middle of their season and in spite of their various commitments in different championships, particularly IndyCar. We are very honoured that they have made this effort on our behalf.”
OAK also confirmed that they have begun the initial design process of an all new LMP1 car for regulations that will come into force in 2014.
“We are very keen to continue in the premier prototype class, which is why we intend to build an all-new LMP1 car in 2014 in accordance with the fresh regulations and in partnership with a constructor. I can therefore confirm that our design office is now working on the conception of our 2014 LMP1.”
