The no. 33 Ligier JS P2 that has just left the Onroak Automotive workshops will be powered by the HPD Honda engine and driven by a 100 per cent Chinese line-up, Ho-Pin Tung, David Cheng and Adderly Fong: the no.33 Ligier JS P2 will be decorated in the colours of its Chinese partners Total Lubricants China, Michelin China and Orsun.

The team can count on the backing of Chinese partners associated with the project. The no. 33 Ligier JS P2 will carry the red and blue Total colours of Total Lubricants China, which has renewed its confidence in the team, and Michelin China that has just joined the programme. Orsun, a diversified Chinese Group involved in real estate, cinema production, commerce, education, tourism and finance and Sculfort, a firm specialised in the manufacturing of machine tools for railway maintenance, are also bringing their backing to this wide-ranging programme. At the start of this week these partners held press conferences and meetings with motor sport fans in Shanghai, Beijing and Wuhan, the Chinese capital of the motor car, to announce their partnership with the French team.

2014 sees the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Franco-Chinese relations, which gives OAK Racing a heaven-sent opportunity to highlight the colours of its town, Le Mans, and the Sarthe in the media as well as with Chinese entrepreneurs thanks to the backing of the “Le Mans Development” and “Sarthe Development” agencies.
The OAK Racing Team Asia is entrusting the no.33 Ligier JS P2-HPD to well-known, reliable drivers representing a 100 per cent Chinese line-up. After several successful outings in 2013 the very quick Ho-Pin Tung, who has racked up a great set of results in single-seaters including experience in Formula 1, and who raced at Le Mans in 2013 in an LM P2 will be back with the OAK Racing. He will team up again with David Cheng, the reigning Asian Le Mans Series champion, with whom he won the Zhuhai 3 Hours in 2013.

They will be backed up by their fellow-countryman, Adderly Fong, a regular in single-seater racing including GP3, winner of last year’s Audi R8 LMS Cup. This young, very quick driver can count on the experience of his older team-mates to share this adventure to try to score a top-3 finish in the most legendary of endurance races.

The new Ligier JS P2 having its maiden outing will be the centre of attention. It signals the return of the make to motor sport and its determination to shine at the highest level in endurance.

Patrice Devemy, General Manager of TOTAL Lubricants China Co Ltd : “One year ago, we decided to become partner of OAK for the first-ever asian endurance championship, to eventually win both the team and pilot titles in Sepang in Dec 2013. A great challenge ahead of us in 2014, with the obvious objective of defending our titles but as well of a good result in Le mans for the 24H. I am very pleased that we could further extend our cooperation for this event, having a squad of 3 chinese pilots the year of the 50th anniversary of the cooperation between France and China.”

Patrick Dias, Directeur Motorsport Asia Pacific Michelin : “The press conference in Beijing was a great event in which the fans and Chinese bloggers invited were able to take advantage of the availability of the three Chinese drivers of OAK Racing Team Asia. OAK Racing and Michelin China explained how this exciting project, which will bring a 100 per cent Chinese team to the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time, was mounted. ”

Wu Jian Gang, Chairman Orsun Group : “We are very happy to once again partner with OAK Racing. 2013 brought with it a fantastic result and I'm confident we will continue our success in the 2014 season with David Cheng and the All Chinese driver line up. Orsun has a long tradition in support of and promoting Chinese sport and culture, not only in Motorsports. Orsun has produced many award winning movies and tv series. The Orsun group is comprised of 6 core businesses ranging from Property Development, Cinema production, commercial retail, education, tourism and finance. Orsun's goal is to improve the quality of life and happiness for the people of Wuhan and for its country. Also to show the international community Wuhan’s and China's beauty. ”

Adderly Fong : “Thank you OAK Racing for giving me the opportunity to race this year in the great event that is the Le Mans 24 Hours. It is truly a pleasure and a highlight in my career thus far. Life is down to a few moments and this is certainly one of them. I feel the Ligier JS P2 car is a great car to drive. It handles very similarly to an F3 car. Having driven 4 years, in 2 variations of F3, I quickly adapted to the Morgan LM P2 when I came at the Paul Ricard circuit for some tests. The Ligier JS P2 is a closed prototype, which increases the downforce significantly. Thanks to Michelin for supplying the big fat sticky tires and to Honda for providing us a new spec engine. Thanks also go to Total Lubricants, Partner of OAK Racing since 2013 and my personal Partners Sino Vision Racing, and Sculfort.
I look forward to joining this campaign and to represent China well through hard work, determination and passion to conquer the Le Mans 24 Hours with OAK Racing Team Asia. ”

PHOTO: From left to right : Ho-Pin Tung, David Cheng, Adderly Fong.

- OAK Racing press release -