PR1/Mathiasen Expands into Two-Car LMP2 Operation

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports will expand into a two-car LMP2 operation in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year, having confirmed the first portion of its lineup for the No. 52 Oreca 07 Gibson.

Ben Keating, Scott Huffaker and Mikkel Jensen will return for the Michelin Endurance Cup only races, with Nico Lapierre completing the lineup for the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Drivers for the sprint races have yet to be announced, along with the full-season lineup of the team’s new No. 11 entry.

“It’s been a long time coming for our small and tight nit team to become a two-car program,” said team principal Bobby Oergel.

“The last couple of seasons have been great with multiple championships and great programs within them.

“The opportunity to now grow and add the No. 11 car into our program is very unique and exciting for us in these trying times around the world.”

The No. 11 entry ran under the WIN Autosport banner this year in LMP2 and served as PR1/Mathiasen’s main championship rival.

“This is a first for PR1/Mathiasen trying to compete with a second car,” said team co-owner Ray Mathiasen.

“The No. 52 car will compete at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona with the identical group of drivers that we used at this race last year and that were members of our very successful 2021 LMP2 championship.

“Mikkel, Scott, Ben and Nico had a difficult 24 hours last year but I anticipate that they will be running at or near the top in 2022.

“They should be one of our toughest competitors for the No. 11 car.

“It’s going to be very interesting to see the two cars competing against each other and the other cars as well in a very competitive field. Bobby will have his hands full trying to coordinate all this.”

Keating, who along with Jensen won the season-long LMP2 title last year, is set to pull double duty at Daytona, having also been confirmed in the No. 5 JDC-Miller Motorsports Cadillac DPi-V.R.

“There are a lot of changes in LMP2 for 2022,” said Keating. “There are more competitors. There are team changes.

“There are driver line-up changes. I think the field looks really tough and really competitive.

“However, I believe it is all the small details that make up a successful effort, and I believe the fact that we are all sticking together for 2022 gives us an advantage in the details of running this program.”

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