Koch Secures LMP3 Drive with P1 Motorsports

Image: P1 Motorsports

Former Mazda IMSA Prototype Lites champion Kenton Koch is set to rejoin the new-look Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda series, having been signed by P1 Motorsports for the remainder of the season.

Koch will drive a newly added third Ligier JS P3 entry from the JC Perez-owned team, beginning with next weekend’s round at Barber Motorsports Park.

The 22-year-old, who claimed Prototype Challenge class victory in last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, said the deal initially came through team manager Alberto Pena, who Koch knew when he had worked at SpeedSource.

“We met at the Roar this year in passing and he told me about some cool things that were coming up and that my name would be in the hat,” Koch told Sportscar365. “Little did I know that I’d be getting a call to drive for his new team!

“I tested with them a couple weeks ago at Barber and things went really well.

“I am very blessed and grateful for this opportunity. It’s rare that opportunities like this come up and I’ll be sure to make the most of it to show that P1 Motorsports is a team to be reckoned with.”

Koch joins Perez and Lonnie Pechnik, who scored a pair of Masters class victories, including third overall in Race 1, in the opening round of the season at Sebring last month.

“We are extremely excited to bring Kenton on board,” Pena said. “What he brings on and off the track is something that every team manager hopes for in a driver.

“His skill behind the wheel is something that will bring our very young team into the spotlight.”

Perez added: “This series is very competitive and I couldn’t have chose somebody better to showcase our third Ligier.”

Koch returns to the series after an impressive 2015 season that saw him claim 11 wins out of 14 races, en route to the overall championship, which then featured Elan DP02 cars as the top L1 class.

LMP3 machinery debuted in the championship last month at Sebring.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John