Cumming: “I’m Really Excited to Get More Time in a P2 Car”

Photo: John Dagys

Following his recent debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Chris Cumming is getting a further taste of the FIA World Endurance Championship, as the Canadian driver embarks on an end-of-year campaign with Team SARD-Morand.

Cumming, a front-runner in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Prototype Challenge ranks, kicks off a three-race run with the Swiss squad this weekend at Fuji, in what could lead to a switch to the globe-trotting championship full-time next year.

“Originally, Morand asked me if I wanted to do the rest of the season beginning at COTA,” Cumming told Sportscar365. “I decided the schedule at COTA was going to be too busy and I really wanted to focus on the PC championship.

“I first just committed to Fuji but then after looking at the schedule, I realized I could do the final two as well.

“I’m really excited to go out there and get more time in a P2 car and learn three new tracks.”

The 45-year-old swaps his Oreca FLM09 for a Morgan-Judd Evo, teaming with Morand’s full-season drivers Oliver Webb and Pierre Ragues in a entry that could be considered a dark horse pick for a podium finish.

It marks the second LMP2 car Cumming has driven this year, following his maiden outing at Le Mans in an OAK Racing-run Ligier JS P2 Honda.

“Le Mans was amazing but it was a bit of a trial by fire,” he said. “Weather and a few other issues caused us to be a little light on testing.

“It’s going to be nice to have three races with the same team, the same car to really acclimatize better to the P2 car. I think I can be closer to my potential.”

Despite not having any prior testing with the team or car, Cumming is expecting an easy transition this weekend, largely due to his PC experience.

“I think the open cockpit will make the transition easier,” he said. “The sight lines in a coupe is something that takes some getting used to.

“I love tracks like COTA. These last three races are going to be on smooth F1 tracks. That’s where a P2 car really shines.”

While his immediate focus will be to help put the Benoit Morand-led team back on the podium, following a challenging season on and off the track, Cumming is also using the three-race effort in planning for his future.

“Ultimately, I would like to try and do a full WEC season next year,” he said. “I’m talking to some teams.

“It looks like it’s possible. If I don’t do that, another idea could be to do ELMS and try and hope for a Le Mans entry on top of that.

“It looks like I’m going to take a year off of North American racing, just to see what it’s like out there and go see more of the world and grow this experience.”

The WEC has seen a significant increase in North American interest as of late, with the arrival of Tequila Patron ESM, Patrick Dempsey, as well as fellow Canadian Paul Dalla Lana, who has raced the last two seasons in GTE-Am.

For Cumming, the allure of competing on the world’s stage is something that’s too difficult to turn down.

“I think for a gentleman driver, it’s the ultimate level that you can rise to in the sport,” he said. “It’s natural to try and get to that level.

“I love the P2 machinery. Obviously we can drive that too [in the U.S.] as well but I think the tracks there are better suited for P2 cars.”

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