Team Penske clinches podium at Petit Le Mans with the ORECA 07
For its return to endurance, Team Penske decided to enter the famous Petit Le Mans. With strong drivers, the American team managed to climb on to the podium with the ORECA 07. For this IMSA championship’s final, Rebellion Racing and JDC Miller Motorsport have also shown lots of potential.
ORECA 07s are doing a great job
The three ORECA 07s stood out and made themselves seen on Road Atlanta right from the start of the weekend. They regularly occupied the first places throughout the practice sessions. Then, in the qualifying, Team Penske confirmed it was the fastest, clinching the pole position – 80<sup>th</sup> pole in endurance for the team and first one for their first entry with an ORECA 07.
Quite early on in the race, one could guess that the upcoming ten hours were going to be lively and full of surprises. Within the first thirty minutes, Team Penske – which had started from the first place – had to come off the track following on a contact with a lost GT. The No. 6 ORECA 07 came out of the pits two laps behind the leader. Thanks to a great strategy, crew Montoya/Castronoves/Pagenaud managed to catch up, back on the same lap as the leader. Delivering a great performance they got in first place again, but unfortunately went back down the rankings due to a puncture following on another contact towards the end of the race. Their strategy still allowed them to secure a third place, 4 tenths and 8 tenths away from the second and first cars respectively. For its return in endurance, and just before the 2018 season begins, the team’s goal was to learn. Well, clearly they have met that objective with much success!
JDC Miller Motorsport, which has participated in the entire American championship, performed well too. Several little mistakes and one penalty forced them to let go of their podium hopes. Their first LM P2 campaign thus ended on a 4<sup>th</sup> place in the championship standings. During this final race, all the work that crew Golberg/Simpson/Miller had put in throughout the season, as well as the great progress made, really showed.
As for English team Rebellion Racing, this third race as part of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship was cut short. After Gustavo Menezes’s excellent stint, the squad was in the lead. For sure they had what it takes to win. Yet unfortunately the trio’s quest for victory was interrupted by a contact with an LM PC car, and the team had to withdraw.
The ORECA 07s have clearly demonstrated great potential during this last race of the season in America. Let’s now see what happens on the other side of the Pacific at the 6 Hours of Fuji.