KCMG Purchases Second Oreca 05, Set for Expansion

Photo: John Dagys

KCMG will expand into a two-car operation running Oreca 05 Nissans, having recently ordered a second brand-new LMP2 car from the French manufacturer. (En Français)

The Hong Kong-backed team, led by Paul Ip, could debut its second LMP2 coupe at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, should the entry, currently second on the reserve list, be confirmed for the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic.

“If we receive the [word], we’ll go,” Ip told Endurance-Info. “The idea is to run a second Oreca 05 at Le Mans, replacing the 03R that was registered. The car is still being built at the ORECA Technology workshops.

“You can [definitely] see it in competition after the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

While its expected the team’s second Oreca 05 would be slated for select FIA WEC races, post-Le Mans, there’s also the possibility of returning to the Asian Le Mans Series, which has seen a change of series management for 2015.

Ip, whose team took part in the inaugural season in 2013, is upbeat about the championship’s long-term future.

“I am confident about the future of the championship,” he said. “Endurance races are very popular in Asia. You just have to let time take its course.

“The teams want to go. We will always consider a presence in the championship.”

KCMG topped the time charts in last weekend’s FIA WEC Prologue test, with the team rotating through its two full-season drivers Richard Bradley and Matt Howson, as well Nick Tandy and Nicolas Lapierre, who will share the third seat.

“We are pleased with the performance of the car,” Ip said. The drivers completed nearly 100 laps without any major glitches. The car is new, so there is still some loose ends but the two days was productive.

“The arrival of Nico was a real added value. We now hope to transform [the results] of the test to Silverstone.”

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