Ingraham: “We Have the Full Faith in JMW’s Abilities”

After a one-year absence, members of Flying Lizard Motorsports return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in a program run by JMW Motorsport. (En Français)

Drivers Seth Neiman, Spencer Pumpelly, alongside team manager Eric Ingraham and strategist Thomas Blam will make the trip to La Sarthe, with the target of victory in the GTE-Am class.

Endurance-Info caught up with Ingraham to get his thoughts on the effort and his goals for the race.

How this opportunity come about?

“Thomas Blam, our chief strategist, has known Tim Sugden for a long time.  We got to know JMW through this relationship and our Le Mans effort was born!”

As the Lizards know Michelins quite well, was this the reason for the team’s switch from Dunlop to Michelin tires?

“Not at all – JMW elected to switch to Michelins for this season in the ELMS and has already raced on them.  But it is welcome familiarity for Seth and Spencer.”

Who will be the Team Manager of the JMW Ferrari at Le Mans?

“The Le Mans effort of the 66 Ferrari will be entirely that of JMW. Seth and Spencer are driving for their team and Thomas and myself will assist, but only in advisory roles. We are very happy to work with their team and have full faith in their abilities.

“As a team manager I can say that Le Mans is the most challenging event we ever did, so to go back in a different role will be an absolute vacation for me by comparison.”

Do you have high expectations for Le Mans?

“My expectations for Le Mans are the same as every year – it is such a tough race, so much can go wrong, and so much must go right for you to succeed.  I have high hopes as I do every year, and I believe that JMW will put us all in an excellent position to succeed.

Will this be your first time working with a Ferrari? Is there a test scheduled?

“Standing next to the car of our friends at Risi Competizione on the grid or in the paddock is the closest we have come to a Ferrari!  I am on a plane at the moment headed to London. Seth and Spencer will have their first Ferrari drives at Snetterton on Friday.  Then we will be back for the test day and the race week itself.”

As the Test Day is scheduled  just after the next round of the TUDOR Championship, how will you deal with that?

“We will be headed for the airport immediately at the conclusion of the Detroit race, which is thankfully at ~2:30pm on Sat. May 31. We will be a bit tired for the Test Day but the time there is irreplaceable and so valuable that we can’t miss it.”