Jackie Chan DC Racing is pleased to announce the driver line-ups for car #33 and #34 Ligier JS P217s for the 86th 24 Hours of Le Mans, optimising the opportunity to defend the Chinese racing team’s victory in LMP2 class.
The Chinese racing team ascends from the astonishing victory and second place in LMP2 class and a double-overall-podium finish at Circuit de La Sarthe in the previous year.
Despite the disappointment of missing the 2017 FIA WEC championship title at the showdown in 6 Hours of Bahrain, the team strongly fought back at the 2017-18 Asian Le mans Series clinching titles in both LMP2 and LMP3 class, which contributed to the two additional invitation for the imminent 24-hour race, on 16-17 June.
Thus, in addition to the #37 and #38 crew taking part in full 2018-19 WEC Super Season, the China-flagged team embraces the new adventure, choosing two Ligier JS P217s for the coming campaign.
David Cheng, who claimed his first Le Mans podium as a member of the #37 crew twelve months ago, will partner Pierre Nicolet and Nick Boulle in the Ligier #33 for his fifth campaign at the endurance spectacle.
Pierre Nicolet will return to the cockpit of car #33 after last year’s attendance; while Boulle, who won at the 2017 24 Hours of Daytona prototype class, will make his Le Mans debut.
The sister car #34 will be shared by 2017 IMSA Series Championship winner American Ricky Taylor, famous Danish programmer and racer David Heinemeier Hansson, who already had winning experience of 2014 Le Mans and WEC GTE Am class before competing in LMP2 class last year, and 2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup winner French Côme Ledogar.
Jackie Chan DC Racing, Jacques Nicolet and his Onroak Automotive share a sweet history, dating back to the year of 2013, when Cheng and his long-time racing partner Ho-Pin Tung competed in the inaugural Asian Le Mans Series, before Cheng and Jacques Nicolet lined up together at the 6 Hours of Shanghai later that year; then the following year witnessed the first-ever full Chinese line-up in Le Mans history with the OAK Racing Team Asia car with David Cheng, Ho-Pin Tung and Adderly Fong.
The 2015-16 Asian Le Mans Series marked another rememberable moment for the long-time partnership, when Cheng and Tung won the first ever LMP3 title after dominating the championship in the Ligier JS P3.
Since taking part in Asian Le Mans Series since the very beginning, Jackie Chan DC Racing not only has achieved great results, but also has taken the golden opportunity to educate young drivers, with a number of talented drivers graduating from the project and stepping in first-class endurance racing, including the first-ever full Malaysian-driver line-up in the #37 and Gabriel Aubry in #38.
With the full four-car line-ups confirmed, Jackie Chan DC Racing focuses on the preparation work before assembling in France for the official test day on 3 June.
David Cheng, co-founder of Jackie Chan DC Racing
“I’m glad that Jackie Chan DC Racing has this unique opportunity to partner with Jacques Nicolet and Onroak Automotive for our additional Le Mans invitations.
“For us, to have four cars at Le Mans this year is something I am very proud of and we will do everything to once again see the Chinese flag on the top step of the podium on Sunday afternoon 17 June.
“So, it’s nice to team up with Onroak Automotive as we have a long history working together dating back to 2013. I’m also looking forward to being joined in the #33 car by Pierre Nicolet and Nick Boulle as well as welcoming David, Ricky and Come in the #34.
“After the success of last year, I decided to step back to focus on the management and development of Jackie Chan DC Racing. However, Le Mans 24 Hours is a race I wouldn’t want to miss and am proud to be on the grid once again for my 5th participation.
“Since the inauguration of Asian Le Mans Series in 2013, we have been part of the championship. As a team we have climbed the ACO ladder and grown significantly, winning several championship titles and finishing 1-2 in LMP2 at Le Mans 24 Hours last year. We remain committed to the Asian Le Mans Series as it’s the perfect platform to educate and groom new drivers and at the same time gives a chance to conquer these hard-fought auto-entries for Le Mans 24 Hours.
“Obviously, it will be a complicated and busy race at Le Mans but I’m sure that the crew of all our cars are ready to defend our great results of last year.”
