Cosmo, Byrne Working Towards 24H Le Mans Effort with DCR

Reigning Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 champions Patrick Byrne and Guy Cosmo are making a push to secure the partners needed to be on the grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

The American duo took class wins at Fuji and Sepang en route to the title for Jackie Chan DC Racing X Jota, securing the automatic bid for Le Mans in the process.

While an LMP2 class entry has been secured for the team by virtue of the championship, Cosmo says he and Byrne have around a month remaining to secure the backing needed to ensure the pair are in the cockpit for the Race.

“We are relatively close to sorting out our part of the effort,” Cosmo told Sportscar365.

“I feel like we have a strong, reliable driver combination, we have a decent of amount of the fund raising already started, and we have an incredible opportunity to bring on partners with this program.

“There’s an opportunity for a qualified and funded driver to join us with the understanding that they are coming into a world class team with Le Mans winning experience.

“We’re looking at all options to try to piece it together. I would say we’ve got about a month left to put it together, otherwise we have to give the team the opportunity to fill the car if we can’t make it happen.

“Trying to piece the budget and the program together is a fairly monumental task, especially because it’s not something we were originally planning for. Initially we were just planning on how to go LMP3 racing.”

Cosmo was quick to credit Patrick’s father, Bill Byrne, who has personally backed the duo in their racing efforts all the way through their ALMS class title.

“He’s been phenomenal with his willingness to help Patrick develop his skill and his level of experience and invest in our ability to race on an increasingly global level, Cosmo said.

“It’s because of him that we even have the opportunity to do this. Everything has finally come together and it is crunch time.

“It’s an incredible opportunity because we have the Le Mans winning team from last year in P2 and they’re winning everything right now.

“To miss this incredible opportunity would be such a shame.”

Should a deal be finalized, it would mark both drivers’ race debuts.

The Chinese-backed team has a total of four entries for the race, with Cosmo and Byrne’s possible entry to be one of two Ligier JS P217 Gibsons that would be supported by OAK Racing.

David Cheng and OAK Racing President Jacques Nicolet were the nominated drivers for the two-car offshoot.