Penske Oreca LMP2 Spotted Testing at IMS

Image: David Land

An Oreca 07 Gibson, allegedly from Team Penske, has been spotted testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of a potential races in either the FIA World Endurance Championship or IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year.

Captured by YouTube vlogger David Land, the unidentified Oreca LMP2 car was turning laps into the night on the combined oval-infield road course, the day after the Indianapolis 8 Hour.

While yet to acknowledge a program, team owner Roger Penske told Sportscar365 in June that “we’ve got to look at what the options are there” to participate in races next year as preparation for its LMDh effort with Porsche that will debut in 2023.

Team Penske entered an Oreca LMP2 car in the 2017 Motul Petit Le Mans as preparation for its factory Acura DPi program the following year.

“What we’re able to do next year, putting a team together, if we can run somewhere, whether it’s Sebring or a Daytona or something like that you have to have the right equipment to do that with,” Penske told Sportscar365 in June.

“We really haven’t gotten there yet… Anything is a possibility.”

It’s unclear who was at the wheel of the Oreca during the test but Penske would likely utilize a mix of contracted LMDh drivers for potential test races next year should the decision be made.

Sportscar365 understands that Dane Cameron, who is set to join Porsche Penske Motorsport, could be a candidate for selected WEC races next year, as the American is slated to be part of the LMDh’s program in the globe-trotting championship.

Cameron has yet to gain race experience on the majority of the WEC circuits, with a LMP2 program offering that knowledge.

Unlike its run in 2017 when LMP2 was part of IMSA’s combined prototype class, Penske would have to field either a Bronze (IMSA) or Silver-rated (WEC) driver in the lineups in the respective championships.

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