OAK Racing at Le Mans 24 and in Asia

For the 24 Hours, the race number 24 is of course very popular. In 2013 it is assigned to the LM P2 prototype of the French team OAK Racing (based in Le Mans), for the 90th anniversary edition (22nd and 23rd June 2013), the FIA World Endurance Championship and the launch of the Asian Le Mans Series.

The Morgan-Nissan number 24 will be driven in the 24 Hours and the World Championship by a trio comprised of Oliver Pla, David Heinemeier-Hansson and Alex Brundle. After racing in the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours with Greaves Motorsport and the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo and Bahrain with OAK Racing, Brundle continues the adventure with his first full season in 2013: “I am delighted to be joining OAK Racing's 2013 World Endurance Championship line-up. Although the competition will be fierce I have confidence that we have the strength and depth required in driving, engineering and mechanical support to be serious contenders this season.” The second car of OAK Racing, which bears the number 35 will be driven by Bertrand Baguette, Ricardo Gonzalez and Martin Plowman.

As well as KCMG, the first Chinese team to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, OAK Racing will participate in the Asian Le Mans Series with their own Morgan, that will also carry number 24. For the driver line-up, the Le Mans based team have announced the recruitment of Chinese driver Ho Pin Tung. At thirty, he will make his début in endurance racing after a successful career in single-seaters including Formula BMW Asia and German Formula 3 : “Being a Chinese driver I am very proud to have the opportunity to defend my country's colours in this new series in Asia that has been instigated by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. For my debut in this new series I am very pleased to be working with OAK Racing, a French team that has enjoyed much success in LM P2 and one that is willing to implement a sustainable base in Asia. The Morgan LM P2 has already demonstrated its performance in several other series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship. The conditions appear ripe to achieve great things together.”
 

The first round of the FIA World Endurance Championship will frame the prestigious Tourist Trophy on the British circuit of Silverstone on 14th of April, while on the Zhuhai circuit (PRC) the kick-off of the Asian Le Mans Series will be on the 5th of May 5, before the Le Mans 24 Hours on 22nd and 23rd of June

More on OAK Racing on their  official website, Facebook and Twitter.

Jean-Philippe Doret
(Quotes from OAK Racing press release)

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, RACE, 16th JUNE 2012. Noblesse oblige : The Morgan n°24 led LM P2 for much of the early part of the race, with drivers Olivier Pla, Matthieu Lahaye and Jacques Nicolet, the owner of OAK Racing.