AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports has announced their driver lineup of Sebastian Saavedra, Will Owen, and Jose Gutierrez for the Motul Petit Le Mans, the final round of the 2018 IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship.
AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports welcomes back Will Owen, the American 23-year-old who ran with the team in July during the 2018 Six Hours of the Glen. Also coming back on board is Mexican, Jose Gutierrez, who returns to AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports after driving for the team in 2017 and winning Petit Le Mans with PR1 Motorsports in the LMPC category in 2016. Gustavo Yacaman, who competed with the team for the first nine races of the season will regrettably miss the season closer due to sponsorship issues but will continue to be part of the operation from the pit stand. Sebastian Saavedra will lead Owen and Gutierrez as the veteran driver for AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports during the ten-hour race.
In one week, all three drivers and the rest of the AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports team and crew will come together and begin their fight for the podium at Road Atlanta. The 2018 Motul Petit Le Mans begins on Saturday, October 13th at 11:05 am EDT.
Driver – Sebastian Saavedra
“I’m looking forward to an amazing event at Petit. This will be my first time racing at this track and my first time working with this line-up of teammates with Jose and Will. Overall, we are looking to continue our evolution of the team and the car, the ORECA LMP2. We had our first test a few days ago and we are going into the event prepared. It’s been an honor and a pleasure working with this organization and I’m looking forward to finishing the season strong and what’s to come of 2019.”
Driver – Will Owen
“I am very happy to rejoin AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports for Petit Le Mans. I have never driven Road Atlanta, which is kind of like saying I haven’t truly experienced racing in the US. Being able to add this difficult event and track to my repertoire has been something I have wanted to do for a while now.
I am also excited to drive the ORECA LMP2 chassis that the team is now using. It may take some time to adapt and learn how its different than what I’m used to, but the opportunity to feel the strengths and weaknesses of another car is one I would never pass up. It will be great to race on the same team as my friend Joe who I haven’t raced with in a few years. I’m sure he, Sebastian, and I will make a good team. I am confident in the team and our ability to get a good result together.”
Driver – Jose Gutierrez
“I’m very happy to be back with AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports for Petit Le Mans. We have a very strong lineup and I think we can give a very good result for the team. I won at Petit two years ago and have good memories of that track. Bobby wants to give me another shot and I’ll do my best to deliver. It will be my first time racing with my friend, Will Owen. We are best mates and we are going to work great together I can’t wait to start going.”
