24h Le Mans
Kendy Janclaes is Team Principal of Luxembourg-based DKR Engineering, an outfit well-known to motorsport fans and particularly those who follow the French FFSA GT championship, FIA GT and Le Mans Series. This year, the team is mounting a three-pronged attack on Road To Le Mans.
Kendy Janclaes and DKR Engineering are taking part in the Michelin Le Mans Cup this year. “There are several reasons why we are taking part in the Michelin Le Mans Cup and the main one is Road To Le Mans – it interests the drivers. I wanted to race in the European Le Mans Series this year, but it wasn’t possible. The cars came out quite late and as entries were already closed for ELMS, I didn’t want to take any chances. The closing date was later for the Michelin Le Mans Cup, which is why we went for that.”
In addition to a full-season entry, DKR is going all-out for Road To Le Mans by fielding three cars. “We’ll have a Norma M30 – Nissan that is doing the full season (#3 for Jean Glorieux and Alexander Toril), a second Norma M30 – Nissan (#6 for Edgar Lau and Jacques Wolf) and an Adess LMP3 – Nissan (#91) in which we’ll have drivers who have already raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Yojiro Terada (29 appearances) and Sylvain Boulay (10).”
With such a three-pronged attack, the aim is crystal clear. “With such great cars and talented crews, we obviously have the resources to win. However, we are taking nothing for granted as the competition is very strong. In any case, we hold the right cards. We now need to play them well out on the track.”
Janclaes didn’t want to miss out on Road To Le Mans this year as “it’s always a pleasure to come to Le Mans. It gives us a chance to enjoy the special 24 Hours atmosphere and race in front of these big crowds. For a team like mine, it’s a privilege to be able to do that.”
DKR Engineering took part in the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours in LMP2, placing 38th overall. The desire to return is clearly there. “I have to admit that I would have loved to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, but we’ll be back. The aim next year is the European Le Mans Series. It’s important for us. I want to continue in LMP3, for budget reasons to be honest, and I think it will be with Norma. I can’t see why I’d change. I’m going to have to wait before I return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, however, as I’ve next-to-no chance of buying an LMP2 next year. But if we’re successful in LMP3, then why not, as I’d love to do the 24 Hours again.”
