Nakano Returns to Race Performance for Imola, 24H Le Mans

Photo: Race Performance

Race Performance has signed Shinji Nakano for this weekend’s Four Hours of Imola and next month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Japanese driver will replace Franck Mailleux in the No. 34 Oreca 03R Judd for the two races, joining Niki Leutwiler and James Winslow.

Nakano raced alongside Leutwiler in the 2015/16 Asian Le Mans Series, winning the races at Fuji and Sepang.

“This will be my ninth time at Le Mans and I am really glad to be able to do it with such a reliable team as Race Performance,” he said.

“[Leutwiler] has got a very stable and consistent driving style, which will be a great asset to the team at the upcoming Le Mans 24 Hours.

“With Jamie I am driving here at Imola for the first time and I am really looking forward to getting to know his driving style.”

“Le Mans is simply the greatest race on earth,” added team manager Michel Frey.

“We are proud to be able to take Oreca 03R Judd to the Sarthe for the last time. We want to succeed by reliability, experience and good strategy.”

At Imola this coming weekend, for the second round of the European Le Mans Series, the team will also run its LMP3 Ligier JS P3 Nissan.

Marcello Maratteoto, Giorgio Maggi and Bert Longin will stay on in the car; the same three drivers who took the No. 8 Ligier to a sixth place finish at Silverstone last month.

Jake Kilshaw

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