Inter Europol Competition has entered the 2020 Motul Petit Le Mans in IMSA’s WeatherTech Championship on October (14-17) with an LMP2 ORECA 07 Gibson.
The race will be the first for the team in the USA and their first with an ORECA LMP2 car.
The race meeting will also give the team the opportunity to observe the IMSA paddock and to have meetings around the potential for a Stateside LMP3 campaign in 2021, Inter-Europol are past Asian le Mans Series LMP3 Champions and were runners up in a tightly fought ELMS LMP3 class last season.
The car will be driven by regular team LMP2 driver Kuba Smiechowski, US Gentleman driver and regular ELMS LMP3 pilot Rob Hodes and 2019 IMSA Prototype Challenge Champion Austin McCusker who was initially slated to join the team in the ELMS this season in LMP3.
US sources have confirmed to DSC that the Petit Le Mans effort will involve PR1 Mathiesen’s second Oreca with the US team providing logistical and technical support to a travelling Inter-Europol crew and engineer.
Sascha Fassbender (team manager): “We have been looking at a couple of things over the last months. One was expanding our business and now that the LMP3 is admitted in the IMSA championship we want to have a look at what that might mean for us.
“We are fully aware that in these difficult times with restricted travelling that going to the US should not make much sense. But we cannot stop because of COVID-19, we have to push forward. Then came the opportunity to do this, so we did.
“We have tested with an ORECA before, but never raced in one.”
Kuba Smiechowski: “It has always been my dream to race in America. And, now, in a few weeks’ time, my dream will come true.
“It will be a very steep learning curve, especially with the ORECA LMP2, but I am looking forward to it. We always seem to make bold moves with this team. And we can, because we have a really good team of dedicated mechanics and other staff.”
Rob Hodes: “I am thrilled to get to work with Inter Europol Competition for a great result at Le Petit Le Mans.
“This is an exciting number of firsts: for the team it’s their first race in America and in an ORECA. For me, it’s my first and longest race in a P2 car. I can’t wait to get going and look very much forward to a productive synergy with everyone on the team!”
Austin McCusker: “It’s great to be back with Inter Europol Competition!
“I’m looking forward to getting into a LMP2 car for the first time. It will be a big step for never running the car before at Petit and being out of seat for around eight months. But I am confident with the team and everyone surrounding us that I will be able to adapt quickly and we can push for
some strong results.”
