Dillman to Make Debut in ESM Ligier for 6H Bahrain

Photo: Formula V8 3.5

Newly crowned Formula V8 3.5 champion Tom Dillmann will make his LMP2 return in next weekend’s FIA WEC season-ending Six Hours of Bahrain as part of a driver lineup shakeup at Extreme Speed Motorsports.

The 27-year-old Frenchman, who claimed class victory in last year’s Shanghai race with Signatech Alpine, will join Sean Gealel and the returning Guido Van Der Garde in the No. 30 Jagonya Ayam-backed Ligier JS P2 Nissan.

ENTRY LIST: 6H Bahrain

Both Antonio Giovanazzi and Tom Blomqvist, who teamed with Gealel for a second-place class finish in last weekend’s round in Shanghai, are unavailable due to other commitments, with the GP2 championship leader even relinquishing his seat in the LMP1 rookie test with Audi that weekend.

A total of 31 cars are on the entry list for Bahrain, following the late withdrawal of a third SMP Racing BR Engineering BR01 Nissan, initially listed for Stefano Coletti, which did not materialize.

There’s also been a further change to the lineup of the No. 45 Manor Oreca 05 Nissan, with 2015 class champion Julien Canal joining Roberto Gonzalez and a to-be-announced third driver.

Canal replaces fellow Silver-rated driver Tor Graves, while Mathias Beche, who was involved in the car’s race-ending Lap 1 accident in Shanghai, is currently not listed to drive.

Larbre Competition’s Bronze-rated driver, to join Ricky Taylor and Pierre Ragues in the team’s No. 50 Corvette C7.R in GTE-Am, meanwhile, has yet to be confirmed.

The Six Hours of Bahrain is set for Nov. 17-19.

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