ESM Confirms Shakeup in Driver Lineup

Photo: Jun Qian

Tequila Patron ESM is set for a shakeup in its No. 30 Ligier JS P2 Nissan for the remainder of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, with an all-new driver lineup set to debut beginning with the next round at Fuji Speedway.

Sportscar365 has confirmed that team owner Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek will be stepping aside for a new lineup featuring Jagonya Ayam-backed drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Sean Gelael, as well as ex-Formula One driver Giedo Van der Garde.

The car will carry the backing of KFC Indonesia, with expected new colors as well.

GP2 drivers Gelael and Giovinazzi made their prototype debuts in the 2015/2016 Asian Le Mans Series, winning the final two races in an Eurasia Motorsport-prepared Oreca 03R Nissan.

Van Der Garde, meanwhile, is taking part in this year’s European Le Mans Series with G-Drive Racing.

The Indonesian-Italian-Dutch driver trio will complete the WEC season, with races at Fuji, Shanghai and Bahrain.

“Jagonya Ayam expressed interest in getting a taste of a P2 program, and we already had the car, crew and full season entry,” Sharp said. “It only made sense for them to take over the No. 30 for the rest of the season, while we start to prepare for our 2017 efforts.”

“We are really proud to be part of this program with a professional team such as Tequila Patrón ESM,” said Jagonya Ayam Sporting Manager Francesco Principe.

“The cars look competitive and we are confident our lineup will do their best during each session.”

The No. 31 car will continue with the unchanged lineup of Ryan Dalziel, Pipo Derani and Chris Cumming, who currently sit fourth in the LMP2 Drivers’ Championship and are seeking their first class win of the season.

ESM’s shakeup is believed to be linked to the team’s rumored full-season return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year with a yet-to-be-announced program.

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