PR1/Mathiasen’s Oergel Hopeful of LMP2 Rebound in 2020

Photo: Scott LePage/IMSA

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team principal Bobby Oergel is hopeful of a rebound of LMP2 entries in 2020, with up to six cars projected for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup races.

The California-based team, which recently took delivery of a second Oreca 07 Gibson chassis, says that interest levels have been high in the revamped category, which will feature in seven IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races next year.

As part of the changes, the Rolex 24 at Daytona will not count towards season-long points, allowing teams to have split driver lineups for the twice-around-the-clock enduro and remaining six races.

A Bronze-rated driver mandate has also been discussed, although not yet officially confirmed by IMSA.

Oergel, whose team will clinch the season-long LMP2 championship by rolling off the grid in Saturday’s season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans, says he currently sees up to a half-dozen cars committed to the class next year.

PR1/Mathiasen and Performance Tech Motorsports have been the only full-season entrants this year, in what has been a two-car class outside of January’s Rolex 24.

“We’re very happy to hear of the teams that have not maybe publicly committed but have committed. Because I think we’re in the neighborhood of five or six,” he told Sportscar365.

Oergel said the chances are “pretty high” PR1/Mathiasen will field two full-time Orecas, while Performance Tech is expected to continue alongside a new entry from Rick Ware Racing, which has purchased the ex-BAR1 Motorsports Riley Mk. 30 Gibson.

DragonSpeed has laid out plans to contest the opening two rounds of the championship with at least one entry, while it’s understood an additional European-based team is set to feature for the ‘Florida 36 Hours’ at a minimum. 

“From the potential of us putting a second car program in place, and hopefully [Performance Tech] is coming back, I think it will be a nice category,” Oergel said.

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