LM24: Shank announces Le Mans plans

Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian has committed to taking on a new challenge on the global stage in 2016. The Ohio-based team announced Friday at the Roar Before the 24 test at Daytona that it will make its debut outing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.

The partnership between Le Mans organizer the ACO and IMSA forged the opportunity for the Ohio-based team to be invited to compete in 2016. MSR earned the invitation to compete thanks to the efforts of team driver John Pew, who won the 2015 Trueman Award as the top semi-pro racer in the IMSA Prototype ranks.

Pew will team with longtime Michael Shank Racing co-driver Ozz Negri as well as Belgian Laurens Vanthoor, who will make his first start with the team and second career start at Le Mans.

The effort will utilize an active collaboration with Onroak and Honda as technical partners. Michael Shank Racing joined the Onroak family ahead of the 2015 IMSA season, utilizing the Ligier JS P2 Honda platform to score pole in the Rolex 24 and take three podiums.

The team first began preparations for the Le Mans event in 2014, generating the technical partnerships to have the competitive platform required for the race after moving from the Daytona Prototype package for the 2015 season. The drivers and key team members attended the 2015 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to prepare for 2016.

Michael Shank Racing will see its first on-track action at the Circuit de le Sarthe on June 5 as part of the annual Test Day. Pew and Negri will also participate in the ACO-managed driver certification program that includes time on the Le Mans simulator as well as training in some of the safety procedures that are specific to the event.

The international effort will be managed as an extension of the previously announced 2016 plans for Michael Shank Racing to contest the IMSA WeatherTech Championship with full-season drivers Pew and Negri. That campaign will launch with the Rolex 24 at Daytona on Jan. 30-31.

"When I first started with Michael Shank Racing in 2007, I never thought that this all would eventually lead to a 2016 Le Mans entry in an LMP2 car," said Pew. "Le Mans is the pinnacle in the world of sportscar racing. What an honor it will be just to race there. Last year we went to Le Mans just to observe and what an awesome event! The crowds, the track, the complete ambience. It is great to partner with Onroak in the Ligier P2 and with Honda. Not only is it an awesome car, but they have Le Mans experience which we hope to draw from."

Team owner Mike Shank said the announcement is not only a dream come true for the drivers, but also for every member of the team, many of which have been part of Shank's organization for over 10 years.

"This is a big announcement and a very big project for my entire organization," said Shank. "It is one of the great things about our sport – we can compete on a world level and this gives us the first shot to be able to do that. This collaboration with Onroak is a very big part of our ability to do this, and of course getting the invitation from the ACO is critical, so we appreciate IMSA having the relationship with the organizers that they do.

"We are excited to bring someone like Laurens (Vanthoor) on board for this effort. I got to meet him last year at Le Mans and followed his race. I earmarked him right then and there. In fact I told John (Pew) that if we did Le Mans, we needed to consider him and I always had him in the back of my mind so we are fortunate that we were able to sign him. I'm very excited about having everything come together to make this possible, it is the biggest challenge we've taken on as a group and we are very, very motivated to do well."

Vanthoor, 24, campaigned the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Honda-Ligier package with Oak Racing last year (pictured above right). He set the car's best lap time during the race with a 3:38.251-second lap.

"I'm more than excited to join Michael Shank Racing for Le Mans!" said Vanthoor, who won the 24 Hours of Nurburgring last year. "Racing at Le Mans is a goal for every driver and especially for me, with my links with Audi, it's a dream to be successful at Le Mans. Racing for the second time with the same package as the first time is definitely an advantage, I know what to expect and that puts me some steps ahead. I think Michael Shank Racing has big potential. I've always been keen on racing in the United States and starting a collaboration with Michael Shank Racing for Le Mans may hopefully continue on with other collaborations in the future, I would be more than happy with that! But first we are heading to Le Mans together and the main goal is to work hard and do our best."