2017 European Le Mans Series LMP3 Champion John Falb has explained to DSC that he’s got some big decisions to make ahead of the 2019 season, the American looking to step up to racing in LMP2.
This season has been a strange one for Falb. In 2017 he and his co-driver in the ELMS Sean Rayhall could almost do no wrong, winning two races, and finishing on the podium another three times. In 2018, it’s been a different story though, as Falb explained to DSC in Portugal.
“We started off the season really wanting to win the championship again, we felt if we did the same we could do that,” he said. “But luck wasn’t on our side at several events, we were also off our game a bit at Paul Ricard. Nothing was working in our favor and the best we could muster was fifth before Spa.
“We’ve had punctures, engines blow, the lot. But I’ve learned so much this year, I had to focus hard and improve on my driving, so it was still a great experience.”
He did however find form towards the end of the season, with Australian Scott Andrews taking up the co-driver role for the final two rounds in Rayhall’s absence.
The pair won at Spa, and finished on the podium in the season finale last weekend.
And it’s that uptick in form that has Falb hungry to step up.
“The end of the season has been better,” he continued. “I wish we had kept it clean (at Portimao), as if Scott hadn’t got into trouble early we probably would have won that race outright too. We had to replace the nose at the first stop, which cost us about 50 seconds. But we had the Safety Car which helped us later and I was able to nab a podium.
“This leaves me looking towards 2019. I’m likely to be back in ELMS. I’m also looking at IMSA, trying to figure out Daytona as I’ve done that race the last 4-5 years. But I think I’ll be back in ELMS, whether it’s in an LMP2 or LMP3 I don’t know. It’s TBD, I just need to get details sorted.”
Falb has been out testing in an LMP2 ORECA with Duquiene Engineering already (above and below), and explained to DSC that ability wise, he’s capable.
“I didn’t know whether or not I’d be ready to race in LMP2 until last Wednesday, when I did a two-hour test with Duquiene Engineering and I exceeded my expectations for lap times. I was consistent, the car felt fantastic. I think I can do it.”
