DragonSpeed announces LMP2 return
Reigning European Le Mans Series champion DragonSpeed is set to return to the European Le Mans Series this year, despite stepping up into the FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMP1 ranks with a Gibson-powered BR1 LMP1.
The team confirmed its plan to race a single ORECA 07 Gibson in the 2018 season, on twitter, and hinted that it will announce its drivers later this week.
#oneteamonedream Happy to say that we will be back to defend our LMP2 Championship Titles in the @EuropeanLMS championship with our @Oreca 07 @gibsontech1 !!! Driver announcement later this week! @fillon_pierre @fia @FIAWEC @OrecaStore @GerardNeveuWEC pic.twitter.com/jECmynyi8U
— DragonSpeed (@DragonSpeedLLC) January 16, 2018
IDEC Sport sign Chatin for 2018
After recruiting Nicolas Minassian as head of racing, the IDEC Sport team has also signed French driver Paul Loup Chatin for the upcoming ELMS season. The former ELMS champion will be given the task of leading Patrice Lafargue’s team to victory.
“I’m pleased to have become leading driver for IDEC SPORT. Working with Patrice Lafargue is based on our relationship and I’ll be doing my utmost to fulfil my tasks during this season. It’s a great opportunity to to be part of this top class team, which has managed to keep its family, friendly atmosphere,” said an enthusiastic Paul-Loup Chatin.
“On top of that, the arrival of Nicolas Minassian as head of racing confirms all the team’s ambitions and shows how dynamic this team is. I am convinced that what he brings, along with all the work done by Patrice Lafargue’s team over the past few years will be an amazing cocktail.”
Paul loup will be alongside Paul Lafargue in one of the two IDEC Sport’s LMP2s. A strong pairing which should enable the team to achieve its goals and raise its sights in the highly competitive ELMS championship. If they take part in the Le Mans 24H race, we can be certain that Nicolas Minassian will be quite capable of finding a third driver to ensure everything falls in place in the crew.
Krohn to return?
Long-time GT and LMP team Krohn Racing appears to be set to make a full-time return to competition in 2018. French outlet Endurance Info has reported that Krohn Racing is due to at Le Mans and in the full ELMS season in 2018 with a Ferrari 488 GTE for Nic Jonsson, Tracy Krohn himself and Andrea Bertolini.
In 2017, Krohn Racing’s only appearance was at Le Mans, when the aforementioned trio raced a Ferrari 488 in GTE Am under the banner of Asian team DH Racing.
ELMS reveals new logo
Ahead of the start of the 2018 season, the European Le Mans Series has unveiled its new identity with a brand-new logo, which the series says has been “designed to be used with ease across the various ELMS digital platforms and TV production”.
The use of the three stars symbolises the three steps of the podium, the European values and also the three classes (LMP2, LMP3 and LMGTE) that take part in the series.
Gérard Neveu, CEO of the European Le Mans Series: “A logo is a very important part of the identity of a brand. The European Le Mans Series is the leading endurance motorsport series in Europe and we wanted a logo that will continue to build the brand for many years to come. The new ELMS logo is simple yet easily recognisable and dynamic. It is a modern design evoking the very important tradition of endurance competition. We hope that it will receive a warm welcome from our fans and those who follow us”
BBT putting together LMP2 programme
While out in Buriram for the third round of the Asian Le Mans Series last week, the DSC editor learned that Asian LMS LMP2 outfit Team BBT is putting together an LMP2 programme for the ELMS in 2018.
Amato Ferrari, in Thailand in support of the AF Corse crewed effort told DSC that he expected a decision from the team owner at during the weekend.
