De Angelis Not Focused on Valkyrie Prospect in LMP2 Debut

Photo: Heart of Racing Team

Roman De Angelis has downplayed that his foray into the LMP2 ranks will serve as a direct pathway to Heart of Racing Team’s Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH program next year, with the Canadian driver “just happy to be racing.”

The 2022 IMSA GTD champion is set to make his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in Algarve Pro Racing’s Oreca 07 Gibson alongside Olli Caldwell and Matthias Kaiser, in a deal that came together with the Stewart and Samantha Cox-owned team in recent weeks.

“I think it was the weekend before [SRO America] Sonoma, I got asked to go do a test in Barcelona with the team, kind of randomly,” De Angelis told Sportscar365.

“They were looking for a driver, which I really didn’t know at the time.

“I did a few days of testing with them and it went really well, other than being squeezed in the tiny cockpit with my 6″3 build, which isn’t ideal.

“It was great to work with such a high-level team. Obviously they won ELMS and won a bunch of stuff in the past.

“I didn’t really think much of it and then that following week they asked if I wanted do Le Mans with them. Here we are.”

De Angelis said making his Le Mans debut was something he couldn’t turn down, even with his general lack of prototype racing experience.

“I always said if I had the chance to do it, I would do it,” he said. “But I have quite a bit going on between all the Heart of Racing stuff. So I wasn’t too worried about it.

“I have a job in motorsports so I’m always happy just to be racing in general.

“The opportunity obviously came. Getting to do Le Mans for my first time, that’s something that I can’t really turn down or express how excited I am.

“Just to think I’ll be doing my first Le Mans is pretty crazy. I’m just trying to take it all in still.”

The 23-year-old admitted he isn’t necessarily thinking the LMP2 drive could help propel him into Heart of Racing’s Valkyrie LMH effort next year, although he revealed a strong desire to be part of that program.

De Angelis is one of the latest GT aces to dip his toes into the LMP2 ranks, which has been used as a spring board for a number of drivers into either the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship or GTP class in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“I’m pretty sure you can ask anybody in racing and they’d say they’d want one of those seats. My answer is pretty obvious,” De Angelis said, referring to the Valkyrie LMH program.

“I think if I said that I didn’t want to do it, there’d be something wrong with me.

“At the end of the day I enjoy racing. As long as I’m in a car in a competitive championship and can drive and race, I’m happy.

“If it comes, it comes. If not, I always do my best every weekend so I’m just fortunate enough to be in this position in general.

“If I’m in a GT car, if I’m a Hypercar, I’ll always be enjoying racing. Fingers crossed that it happens because I’d love to be able to do that.

“Just like this LMP2 deal, it’s a great experience for me. But I’m just happy to be racing.”

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