Ligier JS P217 – #45 Gibson (LM P2)

Owners: Samantha and Stewart Cox
Team Manager: Samantha and Stewart Cox
Track engineer: Stewart Cox / Jonathan Bartlet / Pedro Rodrigues
Location: Albufeira (Portugal)
Website: www.algarveproracingteam.com

2013 ELMS classification: 4th in LM PC Teams Championship (16 points)

2015 ELMS classification: 12th in LM P2 Teams Trophy (11 points)

2015 Asian Le Mans Series classification: 2nd in LM P2 Teams Trophy (53 points)

2016 ELMS classification: 9th in LM P2 Teams Trophy (19 points)

2016 Asian Le Mans Series classification: Champion Teams et Driver LM P2 (53 points)

2017 ELMS results:

4 Hours of Silverstone: DNF, Roda/McMurry/Pizzitola (ITA/USA/FRA), #25 Ligier JS P217 - Gibson

4 Hours of Monza: DNF, Roda/McMurry/Pizzitola (ITA/USA/FRA), #25 Ligier JS P217 - Gibson

      Samantha and Stewart Cox founded Algarve Pro Racing in 2011 for high-level competition and driver training with instructors Nick Catsburg and Michael Munemann.

     Having begun with the World Series by Renault, the Mégane Trophy and the Supercar Challenge, the Portuguese team made its endurance début in LM PC in the European Le Mans Series. Their first race was in 2013, the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring with Nick Catsburg and C.O.Jones driving the #46 FLM. The team finished the season in fourth place on 16 points. It was the end of the road in endurance. For the time being.

     In December 2014, Algarve Pro Racing purchased a Ligier JS P2, the chassis with which French team Thiriet by TDS Racing had finished second in LM P2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that June. The first race for the pale blue Ligier JS P2 was the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring, with Michael Munemann, James Winslow and Andrea Roda at the wheel. They came tenth and notched up their first championship point. In the following races, the car came eighth at Circuit Paul Ricard and seventh in the home round at Estoril, Portugal. Algarve Pro Racing finished the season in twelfth place with eleven points. They went on to enter the Asian Le Mans Series. Despite missing the first round in Fuji, Michael Munemann, Dean Koutsoumidis and James Winslow had a good season, taking second place at Burinam and Sepang and third at Sepang to become vice-champions.

In 2016, the team kept the same car, but recruited a new driver: Olympic cyclist, Sir Chris Hoy. He was replaced by Jonathan Hirschi, who was joined by Andrea Pizzitola as of the Red Bull Ring round, where the team scored its best result (5th). Algarve Pro Racing finished the season 9th on 19 points.

Initially on the reserve list, Algarve Pro Racing eventually made the grid of the 84th 24 Hours of Le Mans. Munemann, Pizzitola and Hoy formed the crew for Le Mans. They raced sensibly and finished 17th (12th in LM P2). Then came another Asian Le Mans Series with two Ligier JS P2s. A good move, for Algarve Pro Racing clinched both Team and Driver titles (Andrea Roda), with the added bonus of an invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2017.

For 2017, the Portuguese team continued in ELMS with Pizzitola, Roda and Matt McMurry in a Ligier JS P217. The season started badly, with a retirement due to a gearbox problem at Silverstone. At Monza, the team fared no better. They were poised to take sixth place when they ran out of fuel just metres from the finish line!

Algarve Pro Racing will be taking up the invitation to Le Mans, partnered with SO24!, an association that helps Sarthe-based drivers to participate in their local race.  The line-up is composed of Vincent Capillaire, Mark Patterson and Matt McMurry.

Photo : PASCAL SAIVET / VISION SPORT AGENCY