Performance Tech Motorsports’ Fast Five From 2021

Performance Tech Motorsports looks back on its five favorite moments from 2021, all of which were due to the excellent crew, drivers, and partners.

“This was a big year for us,” Team Principal Brent O’Neill said. “With support from Centinel Spine and Motel 6 we were able to accomplish a lot of big things, like a bunch of Motul Pole Awards, countless podium finishes, and even an epic win. We’re already full-steam ahead on 2022 plans, but it’s always important to reflect on what we achieved in the previous season so we can set the tone for the next.”

The introduction of the LMP3 class to the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in 2021 promised a strong year for Performance Tech Motorsports as they had already run the car for four years in IMSA Prototype Challenge. This priceless knowledge set the team up for success as they unloaded at Sebring International Raceway and immediately topped the charts with the No. 38 Centinel Spine Ligier JSP320. This led to the teams’ first big moment in 2021 as driver Rasmus Lindh earned the Motul Pole Award and set a new track record with a time of 1:56.001.

“It was amazing to get the pole at Sebring International Raceway,” Lindh said.  “Specifically for the 12 Hours of Sebring which has so much history. To earn pole there was really cool.”

Next, the team headed to Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course for a double-feature weekend including the No. 6 Motel 6 Ligier JSP320 and the No. 38 Centinel Spine Ligier JSP320. With driver Dan Goldburg at the helm, the No. 38 was on track to earn its second Motul Pole Award when the engine suffered a catastrophic failure. With no engines available in North America, the team received special permission from IMSA to convert the No. 6 to an IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship eligible car post IMSA Prototype Challenge Round 3.

The crew rallied and was able to complete the conversion in just under an hour; the switch involved electronics, bodywork panels, and graphics. The newly donned No. 38 took the green flag from last place and through tactful driving by Goldburg and Lindh was able to finish in second place, earning the No. 38’s first podium of the year.

“My drive in the WeatherTech race at Mid Ohio was probably my best work in the car in 2021,” Goldburg said. “I started from the back of the pack due to the chassis swap. I picked off each of the competitors one by one until I made it to the lead by the end of my stint. I had to have outright speed, but I also had to utilize the traffic to pull off passes and to hold competitors behind me after making a pass. I had clarity, focus, and patience, and it all came together to produce results. My best drive of the year, and one of the best of my career.”

As the season heated up the team moved into Watkins Glen International Raceway for a ten-day, three-race event. During this prolonged stay, the team once more made history earning the Motul Pole Award with Mateo Llarena. The 17-year-old is the youngest Motul Pole Award recipient as well as the first Guatemalan to earn the honor.

“I feel very happy to have accomplished this pole position not only for me as a personal accomplishment but also what it meant for the team,” Llarena said. “It is something I will never forget and that I will always be proud of. It was not easy at all, all the preparation behind it was big. Watkins Glenn was a new track for me and being able to earn pole without much track time made it even better.”

Keeping with the fast-paced trend, driver Goldburg checked off another first at Road America. He piloted the No. 38 to its third Motul Pole Award of the season, and the first for himself in IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship competition. The 2021 season served as his debut in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, so a record-lap was the icing on the cake for the Florida native.

“Qualifying at Road America this year was in very tricky conditions,” Goldburg said. “The track was wet but drying. I was hunting for traction all over the track and picking up speed lap by lap, but so were my competitors. The team was feeding me info lap by lap that I was in the lead, but I remember they went a bit quiet on the last lap. I know Brent and Nathan well enough to know that meant I wasn't in the lead anymore.  I just kept pushing.  I came across the line to record my last timed lap and still silence. The team was waiting for the others to cross the line to be sure I had it, and then they got on the radio to let me know and we all erupted in joy. It was a great moment.  It's one of those "racing highs" that hooks you all over again and keeps you chasing more poles and more wins.”

Performance Tech Motorsports and IMSA Prototype Challenges' top moment of the year came to be during the penultimate event at VIRginia International Raceway. The No. 6 Motel 6 Ligier JSP320 was on a charge through the field with Lindh at the wheel preparing to make the pass for first place. After getting caught in the aero-wash of the competitor ahead the No. 6 became a hair too loose causing it to spin on two wheels, nearly flipping.

After completing a full 360-degree rotation the No. 6 landed facing the correct way; Lindh did not miss a beat as he continued to put pressure on the first place competitor. Less than one lap later he successfully made the pass for first place. Lindh would go on to pilot the No. 6 to the checkered flag in first place, earning the first win for Motel 6 in a more than memorable manor.

“It was a really fun weekend we were on pace all weekend,” Lindh said. “Both Dan and I were running a good race. I made a small mistake and spun but didn’t lose a position. Then on the last lap, I went for the lead and we made it stick. The spin also got crazy media, the video was really wild to watch.”

The team is now busy at work at its Deerfield headquarters preparing for the 2022 season. With the ink drying on contracts and pre-season testing commencing you can expect a slew of announcements to roll out in the coming weeks