PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports announced today that it will expand its operations throughout the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship by adding a new LMP2 ORECA 07 in order to double up its LMP2 team and also adding a new LMP3 entry into the IMSA Prototype Challenge category.
The new LMP2 chassis by ORECA will be used for a testing program in 2019 with the possibility of having an entry later in the year. The long-term plan is for a full 2020 season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. This news shows promise for the future of the LMP2 category which currently only has two full-season entries. PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports has always been known for bringing up-and-coming drivers through its ranks and they now believe a junior team in the LMP3 category will be a great place to foster that talent.
A testament to their efforts in this area is current drivers Matt McMurry and Gabriel Aubry of the #52 ORECA 07 LMP2 entry who posted the fastest lap time in the LMP2 class at the Roar Before the Rolex 24. The pair, joined by Mark Kvamme and Enzo Guibbert, had an amazingly strong outing at the Rolex 24 at Daytona despite a racing incident by Kvamme early in the race that put them out of contention for the podium.
The second race of the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the 12 Hours of Sebring, will be the debut of PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports LMP3 entry. March 16th will mark the kick-off of the next endurance race of the season.
Bobby Oergel
Team Principal
#52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca 07 LMP2
“This is an exciting time here at PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports and within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as well. We are happy with the results we have been seeing and hope to continue seeing success with the new ORECA 07 chassis. We are also proud of the opportunities we have been able to provide to up-and-coming talent which is what led us to enter a car in the IMSA Prototype Challenge category. Sebring will be a busy weekend for us and we are looking forward to it.”
