Shank Eyeing WEC Spa Round

Photo: John Dagys

Michael Shank Racing could make its European debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship round at Spa-Francorchamps, in preparation for its maiden voyage to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Team owner Michael Shank revealed his Ohio-based team is hoping to enter its Ligier JS P2 Honda in the Belgian race on May 5-7, in order to get a jump start in learning the ACO-specific rules that are enforced at Le Mans.

“We are considering it, but we cannot commit to it yet,” Shank told Sportscar365. “A lot of that depends on the commercial things we’re working on for Le Mans. We think it would be invaluable.

“There are so many different rules. You can’t screech the tires, for instance, out of pit lane. So we see extreme value in doing that, it’s just putting the financial package to do it. We’re not ready to talk about it.

“Laguna is the weekend before so we’d have to fly directly. We can make it happen but we have to fund it.”

Longtime drivers Ozz Negri and John Pew, who were confirmed alongside Laurens Vanthoor for Le Mans, would be part of the proposed Spa effort, with Vanthoor not likely available due to his Blancpain GT Series commitments that same weekend.

The team will utilize a European-based Ligier-Honda chassis with Dunlop tires for its Le Mans effort.

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