Yacaman Replaced by Owen for Petit Le Mans

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Gustavo Yacaman has been replaced by Will Owen for next weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans, in a revised lineup for AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports.

The Colombian, who was due to complete the season with the California-based team, will be forced to sit out the ten-hour Road Atlanta enduro due to sponsorship issues.

Owen joins Sebastian Saavedra and Jose Gutierrez, who returns to the team since contesting the majority of the season in its Ligier JS P217 Gibson last year.

AFS/PR1 has since switched LMP2 chassis to an Oreca 07 Gibson, which debuted last month at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Owen, who is set for his Road Atlanta debut, is coming off a strong showing in recent European Le Mans Series races with United Autosports and was recently confirmed as a LMP2 class podium finisher in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“Being able to add this difficult event and track to my repertoire has been something I have wanted to do for a while now,” he said.

“I am also excited to drive the Oreca LMP2 chassis that the team is now using. It may take some time to adapt and learn how it’s different than what I’m used to, but the opportunity to feel the strengths and weaknesses of another car is one I would never pass up.”

Gutierrez, meanwhile, completes the team’s lineup for the ten-hour enduro.

“We have a very strong lineup and I think we can give a very good result for the team,” he said. “I won at Petit two years ago and have good memories of that track.

“Bobby [Oergel, team principal] wants to give me another shot and I’ll do my best to deliver. It will be my first time racing with my friend, Will Owen. We are best mates and we are going to work great together I can’t wait to start going.”

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