Lynn: Prototype Refocus Driven by “Romance” of Major Races

Alex Lynn says the “romance of racing” for overall wins in major sports car races was the key factor behind his refocus to prototypes after a period of driving in Formula E and GTs.

The British driver, who won the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2017, is undertaking a dual-series prototype racing program next year with full-time rides in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Lynn was today announced as the final signing for United Autosports ahead of the team’s expansion to a two-car WEC entry in the LMP2 class for the 2022 season.

That came after he was named as one of four full-time IMSA drivers with Chip Ganassi Racing, which runs two Cadillac DPi-V.R.s in the North American series’ top category.

Lynn’s career will refocus on prototype racing next year after recent spells in the WEC GTE-Pro ranks with Aston Martin Racing and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship where he drove for Virgin, Jaguar and Mahindra over a five-season period.

He explained that the allure of competing for outright victories at the major endurance racing events has captured his attention for the future, with a potentially golden period of LMDh and LMH manufacturer involvement just around the corner.

“At the end, that’s why I wanted to make this switch,” Lynn told Sportscar365.

“I had the opportunity to carry on in Formula E. But for me, where I wanted to see my career is coming this way and fighting for the chance to win big races overall, whether that’s Daytona, Sebring again or Le Mans.

“I think every driver is looking to get their chance to try and lift the trophies overall in the big races. That’s where I saw I wanted my career to go, and I think everyone’s got a good eye on LMDh and Hypercar for the future.

“Deep down I’m a romantic when it comes to racing. I loved being a part of Formula E, but for me the romance of racing – and there’s so much of it in America – was the big pull for me to put myself up against some of those big, prestigious trophies.”

Lynn’s dual-series program will see him return to the WEC after previously racing in the championship for three seasons, first with LMP2 outfit G-Drive Racing in 2017 and then with Aston Martin for the next two campaigns.

His term with Aston included a class win at last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which contributed to a manufacturers’ championship title for the brand.

Lynn suggested that continuing in Le Mans-style sports car racing next year was a high priority in addition to his IMSA commitments, even he won’t be in the top class.

He will share an Oreca 07 Gibson with Oliver Jarvis, who is also doubling up between IMSA and WEC roles, and American teenager Josh Pierson.

“I think it’s important to carry on always doing Le Mans and that European style of racing because that race is so unique in my opinion,” said Lynn.

“To always be at your personal best at that race, you need to be doing it year after year. I think even coming from doing three years in GTE, then coming back to LMP2, I noticed it’s a different race.

“There are loads of different things about doing it in a different category, even if it’s the same race. It’s a different style.

“For me, that’s when I realized I need to continue doing this.

“Because if I’m coming back there looking to race for the overall win, you realize that being there in a prototype is really important to be the best you can be.”

On the IMSA side, Lynn had his first DPi test with Ganassi at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in October.

He then shadowed the team during the IMSA season finale at the same track before undergoing a seat fitting for the Dallara-based Cadillac.

A recent test at Daytona added to his and the team’s winter preparations ahead of the Roar and Rolex 24 weekends at the Florida circuit in January.

Lynn has been impressed with Chip Ganassi Racing’s IMSA setup, which is expanding to two cars this year ahead of its progression to LMDh with Cadillac in 2023.

“The team speak for themselves in terms of prestige and what they’ve achieved,” he said.

“For me, it’s been a great experience just becoming part of the Ganassi team, with their wealth of knowledge and also that they’ve been able to be quick with the Cadillac.

“They’re making big improvements with a car that was already very well-established.

“I think it’s really exciting because, of course, everyone has got one eye to the future – not just us, but all the other manufacturers in the sports car arena.

“Certainly the team is getting a lot bigger and putting all procedures in place for the future, and with that wanting to go and win a lot next year already. But also trying to look for the future as well.

“Part of that is exciting to get everything right, now, and then keep those same traits going for when it becomes LMDh.”

Aim to Continue Long-Term with Ganassi

Lynn’s status as a driver in both IMSA and WEC next year puts him in a promising position to race on either side of the Atlantic when the LMDh cars arrive in 2023.

Despite being uncertain about whether he has a greater chance of racing full-time in North America or Europe after next year – and with Cadillac yet to name its LMDh squad – Lynn nonetheless envisages a long-term future with Ganassi and the GM brand.

Asked if he would prefer to race on one side of the Atlantic over the other during the LMDh era, Lynn said: “I don’t know. I’d say that my definite priority over the next few years is Ganassi and Cadillac.

“I know there are talks about [them] potentially doing a campaign in Europe as well, so I don’t know what’s going to happen there.

“I just know that my future is embedded with this team.”