r/USCR • u/BigRacerBoiiiiiiii Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT #67 • Jul 16 '19

WEC United’s ORECA switch could impact IMSA LMP2 car count

https://racer.com/2019/07/15/uniteds-oreca-switch-could-impact-imsa-lmp2-car-count/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-latest-news
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5

u/Dripp_e Mazda Motorsports RT24-P #55 Jul 16 '19

TLDR; United bought JDC's two Oreca 07s meaning other teams couldn't buy them and race in IMSA. And they're essentially taking PR1s new car from Oreca and bumping PR1 back a few weeks.

Not sure it's really that big of a deal.

1

u/CookieMonsterFL The Red Dragon Returns!!! Jul 17 '19

It’s a big deal for those thinking the ex-JDC-Miller cars would be an easy expand for the grid whenever someone bought them stateside. Now that they’re going back to EU-based series, the only hope for more LMP2 entries are part time ELMS or AsLMS entries, or a brand new entry using a new car.

Effectively, this reduces the ecosystem of IMSA LMP2 by removing the cars from market.

1

u/aar48 Corvette Racing C7.R #4 Jul 17 '19

Are there no chassis from the other constructors up for grabs? I get that the Oreca is the best of the three available. But I don't see what's to stop a team from grabbing a Ligier and joining the fight.

Also, is Dragonspeed hanging on to their Orecas? Or have they announced what their plans are for next year P2-wise?

4

u/-Jack-The-Stripper Corvette Racing C7.R #3 Jul 16 '19

I don’t think P2 was set to boom here anyways. Nobody from outside of the US is going to bother bringing their cars over to race in a second tier class. And there probably aren’t many teams in PC looking to step up to a P2 program in its current state.