Performance Tech Motorsports Concludes 2023 Season at Petit Le Mans
The 26th running of Motul Petit Le Mans was a challenging final round for Performance Tech Motorsports, as the team’s race was plagued with setbacks in the opening half of the event. After completing more than half the race, they were forced to retire the car following some untimely contact from an out-of-class competitor that ultimately rendered it impossible for the team to continue.
The team took the green flag from sixth on the grid following a mechanical issue that plagued them in Qualifying. Cameron Shields was first behind the wheel of the #38 Ligier JSP320s and had an excellent opening stint, clocking in some of the fastest laps among the LMP3 class as he continued to move his way up the field. It wasn’t long before the young Australian was battling at the front of the pack, running in first place for the majority of his time in the car.
Brian Thienes was next to take over and expertly navigated his way through an action-packed portion of the race that featured numerous full course cautions. He kept the team in a good place as the hours ticked away, and they remained in a competitive position as they prepared for the next stint.
Jonathan Woolridge took command with just under six hours remaining in the race. However, the team began to experience issues once a mechanical problem arose, which saw them drop a few laps behind the lead car. Nevertheless, the crew worked hard to resolve the issue quickly and they were able to return to the track in fourth place.
Thienes got back in the driver’s seat after the halfway mark following a full service pit stop, but the team ran into further troubles once they exited pit lane and returned to the track. A competitor clipped the rear of the #38 car later on the same lap, sending Thienes into the tire barrier. The car sustained rear damage and was brought into the garage in an attempt to complete repairs and return to the track. The team gave it their best efforts to repair the car to be able to return to the track, but the damage was too significant and their Petit Le Mans experience was ultimately ended prematurely.
“After missing out on Qualifying, we had to start at the back of the field,” explained Cameron Shields. “All the crew at Performance Tech Motorsports did a phenomenal job working on the car and they gave me great confidence going into the race. I was able to drive up into first position quite quickly and maintain the lead for the next two hours. Unfortunately, just after the halfway point, Brian got spun by a GTD car and the damage forced the team to retire our #38 Ligier. Everyone worked incredibly hard over the weekend and I wish we could’ve finished with a result that would have properly reflected our work.”
“I feel very grateful for the opportunity to have competed in my first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship endurance race,” said Jonathan Woolridge. “I am incredibly proud of how hard the Performance Tech Motorsports team worked this weekend. We overcame many challenges and even led a good portion of the race. It’s a shame that our race was ended due to some contact from behind by another driver, but we still managed to finish P5 in class despite our retirement. Thank you to everyone who followed along and supported us this weekend!”
“I am very appreciative of all the hard work and dedication from everyone at Performance Tech Motorsports,” added Brian Thienes. “It was great to be able to drive alongside Cameron and Jonathan at one of the most exceptional tracks in the country. We obviously wish the outcome of the race would have played out differently, but we can be proud of the fact that we were very competitive.”