Photo: performancetechmotorsports.com
Deerfield Beach, Florida-based Performance Tech Motorsports will be fielding five entries in the inaugural Scouts of America Race for the IMSA Prototype Challenge series during the ‘Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona.’
Changes in the championship for 2018 include the scheduling of single one-hour 45-minute races during race weekends rather than the two 45-minute races held previously. Teams can run single or two-driver combinations with performance being equalised between the driver combinations with minimum pit-stop times.
For the opening round of the 2018 series, 14 Le Mans Prototype (LMP3) entries will take to the grid at Daytona International Speedway with 12 Ligier JS P3 s and an Ave Riley AR2 and a Norma M30 completing the field.
Brent O’Neill’s Performance Tech Motorsports will be campaigning a Ligier JS P3 to be driven by Cameron Cassels. Cassels enjoyed a busy season in 2317 with outings in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America – Pro Am series with Prestige Performance, a campaign in the Pirelli World Challenge with Case-It Racing in the GTS Am class and a second place in the Continental Tires Sports Car Challenge GS class in the #12 Bodymotion Racing Porsche Cayman GT4.
Driving the team’s four Mazda-powered Elan DP02s will be Dr Robert Masson, Wyatt Schwab, Stephen Dawes and Howard Jacobs.
Team Principle Brent O’Neill is excited by the new challenge.
“We aren’t going into this with any benchmark” said O’Neill. “It’s a clean slate with all the changes. It’s different because some guys will be splitting time with other drivers when our guy’s won’t be. It changes their mind-set because they’ll be in the car for almost two hours. But I think our guys will surprise people.”
“I think Cameron (Cassels) is going to be fast straight away. Dr Masson is faster. Stephen and Howard have really stepped up their game. Wyatt is going to surprise people with how well he handles the MPC0. I think everyone is ready to go. But we’ll see where we are after Daytona.”
Practice for the Prototype Challenge field begins at 09:00 local time on Friday January 5 with the lights going out for the one-hour 45-minute race at 13:35 local time on Saturday January 6