24h Le Mans
After two seasons in LM P1, Swiss driver Simon Trummer will switch to the LM P2 class in 2017 at the wheel of one of CEFC Manor TRS Racing's two Oreca 07s in all of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) rounds, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Like last year, the Manor outfit (renamed CEFC Manor TRS Racing during the off-season) will enter two cars in the LM P2 class in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), but unlike 2016, the two Orecas will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Indeed, late registration in the championship denied the British team (under the Chinese flag) the opportunity to participate in the 24 Hours and obligated it to enter the second car race by race.
During the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's press conference on February 2nd, only the two head drivers were revealed (giving the name of one driver is mandated by the sporting regulations). Yesterday, the team led by Graeme Lowdon announced the arrival of Simon Trummer in its ranks for the entire season without specifying if he will join Tor Graves in the #24 Oreca 07 or Roberto Gonzalez in the #25 sister car.
From single-seaters like many of his colleagues, Simon Trummer will make his debut in LM P2 after nearly two years with ByKOLLES Racing Team. Though it did cross the finish line, the Austrian team went unranked at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans for failure to race the minimum distance and was forced to retire the following year after the CLM P1/01 caught fire.
CEFC Manor TRS Racing President & Sporting Director, Graeme Lowdon: "We are very happy to welcome Simon to the team. We have followed Simon’s career through GP3, GP2 and then more recently in LMP1. He has a wealth of experience in motorsport including two 24 hours of Le Mans so he is a great fit to our growing driver line up. Simon has a very good understanding of WEC so it is great to be working with him. We are looking forward to working together this year and hopefully enjoying some success along the way."
After the Prologue, the official tests at Monza, the World Endurance Championship (WEC) season will kick off with the 6 Hours of Silverstone on April 16th, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, third race of the championship, will take place June 17th and 18th.
Photo: Manor's #44 Oreca 05 participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which it led in LM P2 prior to being forced to retire.
