Racing Team Nederland Pulls Reserve Entry

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Racing Team Nederland has pulled its reserve entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in order to “fully focus” on its commitments in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

As revealed by Sportscar365, the Dutch squad, which was third on the reserve list for the race, had given an ultimatum of Friday to decide whether it would remain on the list or withdraw altogether.

The TDS-run LMP2 operation has shifted its focus this year to the Michelin Endurance Cup races and is coming off a podium finish in last weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

“After winning the world title in the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship last year, we chose the IMSA Endurance Cup as a new challenge,” said team owner/driver Frits van Eerd.

“The chances of getting an entry in Le Mans are always slim if you don’t compete in the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship or the European Le Mans Series, which are also organized by the ACO.

“Due to the large number of entries this year, we would have to wait for a Le Mans entry these coming months. We’ve decided not to.

“We would have to move our entire team from America to France – without knowing if we can race in Le Mans – and then very quickly after Le Mans transport everything back to America, where we have an IMSA race in Watkins Glen just two weeks later.

“We understand and respect the ACO’s considerations, but we are very sorry for the Dutch fans, because for the first time since our debut in 2017, no Dutch team will be at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“However, we prefer to now focus fully on the IMSA Endurance Cup 2022 in which we are fighting for the title after our success in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.”

A total of five cars remain on the reserve list, headed by the No. 49 High Class Racing Oreca 07 Gibson, which is also competing in the WeatherTech Championship this year.

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