ESM Adds Cumming, Derani to 2016 WEC Lineup

As Sportscar365 revealed earlier this week, Tequila Patron ESM has confirmed Chris Cumming and Pipo Derani will join the squad in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season.

The driver confirmations come on the heels of ESM’s recent announcement to have a technical and operational partnership with OAK Racing, and both drivers had past links to the French squad in 2015.

Cumming made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in an OAK Ligier JS P2 Honda with Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor this summer. Meanwhile Derani ran the full season in the OAK-run G-Drive Racing squad, co-driving with Ricardo Gonzalez and Gustavo Yacaman.

The two new drivers replace David Heinemeier Hansson and Jon Fogarty in the pair of Ligier JS P2 prototypes for 2016.

Ryan Dalziel, Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek return for another season, with specific car lineups to be revealed at a later date.

“For 2016, I think the package of team, car, engine and drivers will be very strong,” said Cumming, who ran the final handful of races this year in Team SARD-Morand’s Morgan Judd following his Le Mans debut.

“Ever since I competed in my first 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, my main goal has been to return to WEC for a full season, so this is like a dream come true.

Derani added: “I am very happy and proud to be racing for Tequila Patrón ESM, which is definitely one of the top endurance racing teams. When ESM partnered with OAK Racing for 2016, it made sense to be part of this new and exciting chapter.

“The partnership between OAK Racing and Tequila Patrón ESM is a strong combination of two highly motivated teams with talented people. I have seen how both companies operate and this gives me great confidence that we can become the benchmark in LM P2 for 2016.

“I would like to say a big thank you to Ed and Scott of Tequila Patrón ESM, and Jacques Nicolet and Philippe Dumas of OAK Racing for this exciting new opportunity.”

In addition to the driver changes, it’s understood ESM will make a switch from Honda to Nissan powerplants next year in the WEC.