Pla Returns to PR1/Mathiasen for Road America

Photo: Jose Mario Dias

Olivier Pla will make his return to PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports at Road America, joining Jose Gutierrez in the team’s Ligier JS P217 Gibson.

The Frenchman joined the team for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen but was absent from the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park race one week later, with the team opting for an all-new lineup of Nicholas Boulle and David Ostella.

Pla’s return was revealed with the release of the provisional entry list for the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase, which which features 35 cars, in the return of all four classes for the first time since CTMP.

ENTRY LIST: Continental Tire Road Race Showcase

As expected, the Prototype class is reduced to eight cars following the previously-announced withdrawal of the pair of Mazda RT24-P DPis for the remainder of the season.

Visit Florida Racing is also set to debut its new Ligier chassis, as half of the eight-car field now runs on the Onroak-built platform, including the pair of Nissan Onroak DPis.

The eight-strong GT Le Mans entry remains unchanged since Lime Rock Park last weekend, with the Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE still absent but expected back for Virginia International Raceway.

Lone Star Racing is set to return to the series for the first time since Circuit of The Americas in May, entering its Mercedes-AMG GT3 to be driven by Dan Knox and Mike Skeen. 

It is the only addition in the 16-car GT Daytona class, while neither the TRG Aston Martin Vantage GT3 nor the Alex Job Racing Audi R8 LMS will take part in Road America.

Three Prototype Challenge entries are listed, with the No. 26 BAR1 Motorsports Oreca FLM09 still with to-be-determined drivers but Ryan Lewis returning to the No. 20 car alongside Don Yount.

Track action at Road America will start on Friday, Aug. 4, while the two-hour, 40-minute race is set for Sunday Aug. 6

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.