OAK Confirms Full Season TUSC P2 Entry, Management Changes

Photo: John Dagys

OAK Racing will compete in next year’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, having received a full-season entry for its Morgan-Nissan P2 car in the Prototype category.

The French squad also announced Monday management changes. Team principal Sebastien Philippe has left the team, effectively immediately, for GP2 outfit ART Grand Prix, and will be replaced by Philippe Dumas and Serge Lapierre.

Dumas is no stranger to the sports car racing world, having served as team manager for Hexis Racing for the last decade. The FIA GT championship-winning squad recently closed its doors after it was unable to find a buyer. The Frenchman will take the role of sporting director.

Lapierre, who previously headed up Magny Cours’ driving school, will serve as OAK’s new executive director and will be tasked with the administrative duties within the organization.

“Saying goodbye to Sébastien Philippe makes me feel very emotional,” team owner Jacques Nicolet said. “I think we became a strong pairing and that’s brought us the results we’re enjoying today. I’d like to wish him all the success he deserves in the next step in his career.

“This is the right moment for OAK Racing to carry out a reorganization to achieve its new objectives. Serge Lapierre and Philippe Dumas are joining us and I’m delighted to welcome them. I’m absolutely sure that their talents and their determination will help us to continue our success.”

Fresh off LMP2 titles in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Asian Le Mans Series, the team will kick off the 2014 season with a single-car entry in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Drivers will be announced at a later date.

Additional announcements regarding OAK’s programs for next year will be made at a later date, although it’s expected the team will also have a continued presence in the WEC and Asian LMS.

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