DSC asked recently whether there was any chance that Sean Creech Motorsport might return to IMSA’s WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in the near future:
“Everything is on the table – we’re having conversations in a number of different areas, and our priority remains getting back on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship grid in 2025.”
That’s the word from Sean Creech, team principal of the Jupiter, Fla. based Sean Creech Motorsport team (SCM), which saw its 2024 season cut short after Lance Willsey’s retirement from active driving (above left with Joao Barbosa). The team had made headlines late in 2023 with the announcement of its intention to return the LMP2 field to multi-manufacturer racing, embarking on a test and race program with its #33 SCM Focal One Ligier JS P217.
While the possibility of a driver or sponsor leasing or buying the Ligier and continuing the program remains, Creech’s discussions have involved everything from the Ligier to a new Oreca – and even to a return to the GT field. The team was the solo Ligier entrant and had continued to unlock potential from the machine through the season, with an August test delivering some promising pace.
“We appreciate everything that Ligier has done to help reintroduce the JS P217,” said Creech. “Clearly, we have the car and it’s available to lease or buy, with all the spares necessary. It’s a turn-key operation. But Ligier knows we’re open to different opportunities.”
Creech, who began his career as a junior open wheel driver of some repute, began working as a sports car racing mechanic over 30 years ago. He has worked with some of the top teams in the business (Dauer, Busby, MCR, Doran, ESM), with drivers including the Andretti’s, Unser’s, Lynn St James, Desire Wilson, and Joao Barbosa, and legendary cars like the Porsche 962, Nissan GTP, Riley & Scott MKIII, 333SP and the Callaway Corvette that earned the GT class pole position at the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans. Consequently, he is comfortable with either the prototype or the Grand Touring classes.
“We have plenty of options, we’ve had discussions with Oreca, there are several solid chassis available,” said Creech. “We’ve spoken to several potential drivers and multiple interested companies, both here in Florida and across the United States. We’ve also engaged with Multimatic, and there are opportunities in the Mustang Challenge series as well. Nothing’s off the table at this point.”
Being a veteran of the sport, Creech knows the current landscape – and knows the clock is ticking. But don’t count out this small team of veteran racers.
