Something Old and Something New

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (May 1, 2018) – The only thing Performance Tech Motorsports is missing is something borrowed and something blue.

Following an abbreviated race at Long Beach due to a first lap racing incident, Performance Tech Motorsports is headed to Lexington, Ohio, for the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. The team has not visited the historic 13 turn, 2.258-mile track since 2011 with the American Le Mans Series.

While the track itself and the team’s history at it are dated they’re introducing something new to it this season: the No. 38 Centinel Spine/Restitute Health ORECA 07 LMP2. The last time the team visited the track it was still running the open cockpit ORECA  FLM 09. This weekend provides a fresh take on a storied track.

Drivers James French of, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Kyle Masson, Windemere, Florida, are new to the track as well. However, Mid-Ohio’s sweeping turns and elevation changes are similar to Lime Rock Park, a circuit where both French and Masson have stood on the podium. The similarities to other tracks mixed with practice time on race simulators have the duo feeling prepared headed into the weekend.

Though both the team and the drivers have spent little time at Mid Ohio, Team Principal Brent O’Neill is feeling confident heading into the weekend. Following the street course configuration of Long Beach, he believes their ORECA 07 LMP2 will show incredibly well on Mid Ohio’s layout. Like Performance Tech, most teams haven’t been able to test at the track so O’Neill is not worried.

“We’ve got a clean slate going into this weekend,” O’Neill said. “We haven’t raced at Mid Ohio since 2011 with the old car and it poured rain that weekend so there really was nothing to be learned from that. The weather has been so cold up there since Long Beach teams couldn’t even get a test in, but I think we’ll do fine. I’m hoping IMSA is getting closer to the DPI’s with BOP. Mid Ohio should be a fast track for the LMP2 cars so if they get the BOP right we really can have a good showing.”

“I know James and Kyle have been testing on the simulators so I’m confident they’ll be up to speed. Both of them are quick studies and can learn a track fast so I’m not worried about them at all. The car is all fixed after our Long beach incident so we should have no problem getting the car and drivers up to speed and hopefully have a good weekend.”

The weekend kicks off bright and early Friday, May 4th, with a practice at 9:45 a.m. ET, followed by Practice Two at 3 p.m. Saturday hosts an 8:35 a.m. practice followed by qualifying at 12:55 p.m. Finally, the green flag drops Sunday, May 6th, at 1:05 p.m. The race will be broadcasted in its entirety on IMSA.TV, FOX Sports GO, and FOX Sports 1.

WeatherTech

Practice 1: Friday, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. ET

Practice 2: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Practice 3: Saturday, 8:35 – 9:35 a.m.

Qualifying: 12:55 – 1:10 p.m.

Green Flag: Sunday, 1:05 p.m.

Checkered Flag: 3:45 p.m.

WeatherTech Tune In

FOX Sports 1: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. ET