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Lack of Spare Engines Had Put Performance Tech Entry in Doubt

Lack of available spare Nissan VK56 engines in U.S. puts Performance Tech on tight turnaround…

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

The lack of available spare LMP3 engines in the U.S. had initially put Performance Tech Motorsports’ entry in doubt for this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen according to team principal Brent O’Neill.

The Florida-based team was forced to revert to its Motel 6-sponsored IMSA Prototype Challenge chassis for last month’s Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio after its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship-designated No. 38 Ligier JS P320 Nissan sustained engine failure in qualifying.

IMSA granted special permission for the car to run, given the lack of spare engines on-site at Mid-Ohio, with drivers Dan Goldburg and Rasmus Lindh finishing second in class in a standout run by Bronze-rated Goldburg.

After having had to ship its Nissan-based VK56 engine to supplier ORECA in France, the team only received the repaired unit back in Florida on Monday, the day its transporter had to leave for Watkins Glen International.

O’Neill anticipates completing the install of the repaired engine on Friday prior to the start of on-track action.

“It’s great to be headed to Watkins Glen, especially because we did not think we would make the race due to a lack of motors in North America,” he said.

“After we blew the No. 38’s motor at Mid-Ohio it became apparent that there were no spares for us, potentially for the next two months.

“Thankfully the guys in France were able to ship one on June 17 and my crew was able to hustle and get the car back together.

“We’re excited to get back into endurance racing after our dominant performance at Sebring before our engine issue. It’s safe to say we’ll be building on that with our eyes locked on a win this weekend.”

Lindh and Goldburg will be rejoined by Mateo Llarena, who competed with the team in the opening two Michelin Endurance Cup rounds in the No. 38 entry.

A season-high nine LMP3 cars are on the entry list, although will most likely result in a seven-car class with both the Sean Creech Motorsports and Forty7 Motorsports entries not expected to compete. 

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

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