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Performance Tech Taking “Wait and See” Approach for LMP2

Performance Tech Motorsports not yet able to commit to full-season LMP2 program…

Photo: Performance Tech Motorsports

Performance Tech Motorsports is taking a “wait and see” see approach to its future of the LMP2 class in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship beyond Daytona according to team principal Brent O’Neill, who is not yet able to commit to a full-season program for 2020.

The Florida-based team, which along with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports have been the only two full-season competitors this year, is working to remain in the series, amid IMSA’s announced schedule changes.

O’Neill indicated the team will take part in January’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona, which has become a non-points round for full-season LMP2 entries.

He stressed, however, the need for competition in the class, with at least five full-time entries in order to have his drivers commit for a full season.

“My guys all want to do Daytona,” O’Neill told Sportscar365. “But if it’s only a two or three-horse race [for the season], they don’t want to do it. They want to have some competition.”

The current car count projection for next year remains unclear.

Beyond a commitment from PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, which could field up to two Oreca 07 Gibsons, no other team has officially come forward with plans for 2020.

“If there’s other teams signed up for the full season, we’ll probably do the full season,” O’Neill said.

Performance Tech Sets Sights on 24 Hours or Le Mans

O’Neill said they could forgo a full season in the WeatherTech Championship for a program around the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

An automatic invite to the French endurance classic could come from its driver Cameron Cassels, who currently holds a sizable lead in the Jim Trueman Award.

“The goal is for Cameron to win the Trueman and get to Le Mans,” he said. “That’s the bucket list item.”

O’Neill said he’s “not 100 percent” sure on prospects of a European Le Mans Series program, as initially targeted earlier this year, due to his drivers’ busy schedules.

While a debut at Le Mans could be in the cards either way, O’Neill said his preference remains to be a full-time LMP2 entrant in North America.

“I think IMSA knows we’re all on a wait-and-see situation,” he said. “They know where we stand.

“We were on a conference call and they’re behind us and they want it to work.”

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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