24h Le Mans
Eurasia Motorsport announced last week it will pursue its efforts in the European Le Mans Series in 2016, but with a new car, the Oreca 05; and with a new driver, Tristan Gommendy, who joined the team for the first race in the Asian Le Mans Series.
Though Tristan Gommendy only competed in four of the five rounds of the European Le Mans Series with Thiriet by TDS Racing, he finished fourth among the LM P2 drivers, after having claimed the second step on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year. This year, the Parisian scored the pole with Thiriet by TDS Racing's Ligier JS P2 before parting ways prior to the final round of the season at Estoril.
Gommendy then rebounded with Eurasia Motorsport in the Asian Le Mans Series without hiding he was looking for an opportunity in 2016. His performance impressed team principal Mark Goddard who hired him to support Kevin Pu Jun Jin and Nick de Bruijn in the ELMS in 2016, as well as at the 24 Hours of Le Mans if the team's request for an invitation is approved.
Mark Goddard, team principal: "We feel with Tristan on board we have a very strong driver line up which will give us a chance of being competitive in the European Le Mans Series. Whilst we seriously considered entering WEC next year we came to the conclusion it was better to concentrate on the European Series where our driver combination should be competitive and look to 2017 to move up to WEC. If we gain an entry we do want to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours and a warm up at Spa WEC round would help."
The return will take place after the first of the year for Eurasia Motorsport with the 3 Hours of Buriram, in Thailand, January 8-10, 2016.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
PHOTO: ESTORIL (PORTUGAL), CIRCUITO DO ESTORIL, ELMS, 4 HOURS OF ESTORIL, SUNDAY OCTOBER 18 2015. Eurasia Motorsport entered an Oreca 03R-Nissan in the 2015 ELMS.
