P1 Confirms Three-Car Ligier LMP3 Effort

P1 Motorsports announced Wednesday its 2018 driver lineup, which grows to a three-car Liger JS P3 effort in the IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda series.

Former Prototype Lites champion Kenton Koch will return, along Robby Folly, plus newcomers Matt Dicken, Corey Lewis, Joel Janco and Jim Garrett in the expanded, endurance format that will feature single 1 hour and 45-minute races next year.

Koch finished second in this year’s drivers’ championship, narrowly missing out on the LMP3 title. Newcomer Foley, meanwhile, posted two podiums in five races.

“I’m very excited to be back with P1 Motorsports this year,” Koch said. “With IPC’s new format, I’ll have the chance to co-drive with my close friend, Joel Janco. We go back a few years and it’s an honor to be racing with him. Testing has been going well and we are looking promising for some good results next year.”

Koch and Janco will share the No. 25 Ligier, with Dicken and Lewis at the wheel of the No. 17 car. 

Lewis transitions to the prototype-only series following two years in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Change Racing.

“The new endurance platform for the IMSA Prototype Challenge gives a good feel what it would be like racing in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship series,” he said.

“This will be a great way to groom teams and drivers. Throughout the 2017 season, I noticed that the professionalism and passion behind the P1 Motorsports team could not go unnoticed.

“Every race weekend, the cars looked brand-new, great presence in the paddock and goes without saying, performance on track was extremely dominant.

IPC veteran driver Janco, meanwhile, makes the move to P1 next season, after taking part in the European Le Mans Series, also in a Ligier LMp3 car.

“The new endurance format is what the LMP3 was designed to do,” Janco said. “Having a pit stop this year will be fun, but even more fun will be the privilege of racing again with my co-driver Kenton Koch and my longtime friend and coach Jonaton Jorge. 

Foley and Garrett round out the lineup and will share the No. 42 Ligier.

“I’m also thrilled to continue my relationship with P1 Motorsports,” Foley said. “I’ve always been impressed with the team atmosphere, combined with the professionalism and experience of everyone; it’s really a great place to be.”

The Florida-based team is also expected to field a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GT Daytona class in the WeatherTech Championship, as well as the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, where Perez won the 2017 LB Cup Championship in his first year of competition.