Performance Tech Motorsports Welcomes Chris Allen in IMSA Prototype Challenge

Performance Tech Motorsports is growing its fleet in IMSA Prototype Challenge.

The Deerfield based team is adding a new Ligier JSP320 to its mix for the penultimate round of IMSA Prototype Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway. The No. 7 Cannonball Storage Ligier JSP320 will be piloted by Christopher Allen, a newcomer to the prototype team. After years of running upwards of six Prototype Challenge cars at a time Team Principal Brent O’Neill is excited to see the convoy expanding once more.

“Having Chris with us for the weekend will be great,” O’Neill said. “We’ve done some testing and fine tuning on the cars. Chris also has plenty of seat time in various racecars over the past few years, most recently in NASA which is where almost all of my drivers have begun their career. There will be a learning curve, but I think we’ll have a ton of fun at a track we have a lot of success at.”

As alluded to by O’Neill, Allen has a history in NASA, a great series for drivers of all skill levels to gain additional seat time. After racing a BMW Spec E30 he went international, journeying to Germany to partake in the VLN series, a renowned endurance series that takes place on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. His comfort at the historic circuit, also known as the “Green Hell,” will serve as a strong foundation for the fast and tight turns typical of VIRginia International Raceway.

“I started club racing back in 2014 with NASA NE in an old 1988 BMW Spec E30,” Allen said. “I did that for a few years then began to branch out a bit. I raced over in the German VLN series several times starting in 2017. IMSA has always been the pinnacle for me and I'm thrilled to be running my first race at VIR.”

After years of GT racing Allen was drawn to the high-speed, high-downforce makeup of prototypes. The Ligier JSP320 was launched in 2020 and features 95% new bodywork, all of which was updated to compliment the cars aerodynamics on road courses. It’s safe a few laps in the No. 7 Cannonball Storage quickly convinced Allen his decision to switch to prototypes was worth it.

“Having owned several other French cars, a Ligier seemed like the logical next step,” Allen said. “That and as soon as I tasted the forbidden fruit of real aero, I was hooked.”

Like any driver, Allen is headed out on track to try and do one thing; win. However, he understands how trying and technical the 17 turn, 3.270-mile course can be, and aims more than anything to bring the car back clean and ready for the next event.

“Winning would be nice,” Allen said. “But actually just finishing would make me happy too!”

Allen will make his IMSA Prototype Challenge debut at VIRginia International Raceway, August 26-28. The event serves as the penultimate round for the challenge series, proceeded shortly thereafter by the finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, September 28-October 1. For event details and ticket sales visit https://www.imsa.com/events/2022-michelin-gt-challenge-at-vir/.