Dyson: “Long Wait” for Now-Confirmed LMP1 Return

Chris Dyson says he “can’t wait” to race an LMP1 car for the first time in more than six years after being confirmed in Team LNT’s Ginetta lineup for the 8 Hours of Bahrain.

The American driver’s debut with the LNT squad next month was announced on Tuesday. He will co-drive the No. 6 Ginetta G60-LT-P1 AER with Mike Simpson and Guy Smith.

Dyson, whose last LMP1 appearance came in the 2013 Petit Le Mans race, was unable to compete in the opening three rounds of the 2019-20 FIA World Endurance Championship.

He was forced to miss the 4 Hours of Silverstone after sustaining wrist injury in a Trans-Am crash the weekend before, while a date clash with the U.S based series forced him to forgo the 6 Hours of Fuji.

Dyson then opted to skip the 4 Hours of Shanghai because of business commitments but told Sportscar365 last month that he was on track for his return in Bahrain.

“It’s been a long wait to get back into an LMP1 car. I can’t wait,” said the 41-year-old, whose last WEC term was a part-season LMP2 entry with Greaves Motorsport in 2013. 

“The car was excellent in testing and I have been keeping a close eye on the team’s progress through the season so far.

“Bahrain, finishing at night under the floodlights, will be a new experience for me. I’ll be pushing as hard as I can to deliver on the clear potential of the Ginetta-AER package.”

Dyson’s previous LMP1 spell came in the American Le Mans Series with his family’s Dyson Racing Team, with which he secured the 2011 title alongside Smith.

The pair continued this partnership through the 2012 and 2013 seasons before Dyson’s program diversified with drives in different competitions over the next five years. 

Ahead of Dyson’s debut with LNT, team owner Lawrence Tomlinson said: “It’s great to finally get Chris in the car. He showed great speed and consistency in pre-season testing and I know he’s raring to go.

“Bahrain should suit the Ginetta, and as we saw in Shanghai where we ran first and second for over an hour and set the fastest lap, there is a real opportunity for a breakthrough result.”

Dyson’s co-drivers Simpson and Smith contested the first three rounds of the 2019-20 season together.

They were joined by Mazda DPi driver Oliver Jarvis for Silverstone while Charlie Robertson moved across from the No. 5 lineup to partner them for the east Asian leg.

Robertson will return to the No. 5 crew for Bahrain, sharing the car with Ben Hanley and Formula 2 driver Jordan King.

It will mark King’s second appearance in the Ginetta-AER after he made his LMP1 debut at Shanghai earlier this month.