Multiple LMP2 Title Scenarios in “Insanely Competitive” Field

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

The season-long drivers’ and teams’ titles in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 class could be split between multiple parties, in what’s been characterized as an “insanely competitive” class this year.

While Tower Motorsport’s John Farano enters this weekend’s season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans with the sole points lead, it’s the No. 52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca 07 Gibson that’s out front of the teams’ championship by virtue of having different driver lineups for the Michelin Endurance Cup races and sprint rounds.

Farano holds a slim 33-point lead over Era Motorsport’s Ryan Dalziel and Dwight Merriman, but the Florida-based Tower squad is at a 19-point deficit to the Bobby Oergel-led PR1/Mathiasen squad in the teams’ title race.

For Farano, who was part of the class-winning lineup in last year’s Petit Le Mans, the Bronze-rated Canadian said he’s not taking anything for granted heading into the ten-hour enduro at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

“Everybody has been competitive this year,” he said. “I think anyone can come in and win a race. They’ve proven it.

“Both of the PR1 cars are strong (in addition to Era). If they can stay out of trouble, they certainly have a good chance of winning this race.

“From our standpoint, we have three things at stake: We’ve got the drivers’ championship, teams’ championship [and Truman Award].

“We’re only 19 points behind PR1, so PR1 also has [the teams’ title] at stake, so they’re going to want to win this race.

“It’s going to be more than two or three teams. But those three have the most at stake and will put in an exceptional effort to try and get the job done.

“I’m also in the lead for the Trueman Award, so I’d like to come away with that award as well.

“There’s a lot at stake. But we’re going to this race… wanting to win. That’s the mentality you have to have and whatever happens, happens.”

Despite being in rival championship-contending teams, Dalziel said he’s taking a similar ‘win-or-nothing’ approach.

Indy Lights race-winner Christian Rasmussen has joined the Kyle Tilley-led operation in place of the team owner/driver alongside Dalziel and Merriman in an effort to boost the team’s chances.

“We know going into this weekend is that the only thing we can do is try and win,” Dalziel said. “We’ve put together the strongest team we can in one of the best Silvers and Indy Lights drivers out there.

“We’re doing everything we can within Era to put together a good effort and we’ll see what happens. Hopefully we’ll have a relatively smooth and dry race and see where we are at the end.

“It’s a cliche but you try and win every race. We need to win this race. There’s not a huge amount of cars in P2 so I believe we have to win and John [Farano] has to finish third. We’ve thrown everything at it.”

In addition to Farano, Merriman and Dalziel, PR1/Mathiasen’s Steven Thomas (-93 points) and the DragonSpeed duo of Henrik Hedman and Juan Pablo Montoya (108 points) have mathematical chances of the season-long drivers’ title as well.

PR1/Mathiasen’s Ben Keating, Mikkel Jensen and Scott Huffaker, meanwhile, lead the Michelin Endurance Cup drivers’ championship and would give the team the season-long championship title should it win on Saturday.

“I raced [in Petit Le Mans] and won in 2020, finished second last year after leading most of the race, and actually lost it in the last lap, so that shows everything about this race,” said Jensen, who is also a Peugeot factory driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“It’s insanely exciting and competitive… Hopefully we can secure the title.

“We go for the race win and if we can secure the title, that would be a win-win, that would be the goal, and our wish for this weekend.”

Dalziel: Rasmussen “Going to Grab” Era Opportunity

The veteran Scot believes the addition of Rasmussen to Era’s lineup will be one to watch as the 22-year-old Dane makes his sports car racing debut.

“I think he’s a young, enthusiastic kid that’s trying to make his name known,” said Dalziel.

“He’s very open to what direction he wants his career to go, which is a big thing when it comes to Indy Lights guys and finding the right one.

“He definitely brings a mature head on his shoulders but the negative is that he’s never done endurance racing, he’s never done multi-class racing and has never driven a closed-top car and has never driven at night-time.

“He’s definitely got a lot of challenges ahead of him but he handled himself really well for the two-day [test] with us.

“We spent a lot of time trying to figure out who we thought the right fit was going to be and we’re definitely happy so far with the choice we’ve made.

“Knowing we’re bringing him in to help us, and at the same time he can do a lot for his career… There’s so many opportunities in sports car racing and I think he’s going to grab this one.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do in the race.”

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