Oak Racing has announced its final driver line-ups for its LMP1 and LMP2 World Endurance Championship entries.
In P1, Oak will campaign a Oak-Pescarolo-Judd. This is a brand-new design from Oak’s Onroak Automotive division, built to the latest P1 specifications.
Guillaume Moreau will return for his fourth season as the lead driver for Oak, partnered with IndyCar driver (and 2009 Formula Renault champ) Bertrand Baguette of Belgium, and 22-year-old Austrian sports car driver Dominik Kraihamer, who drove the Boutsen Energy Oreca 03 LMP2 in the LMS in 2011 and the Boutsen Energy Oreca FLM-09 the two seasons prior.
In P2 Oak has entered a Morgan-Judd, designed by Onroak Automotive and built by Morgan. This car will be piloted by 2009 LMS P2 champion Oliver Pla, with Matthieu Lahaye, back for his fourth season with the team, and team owner Jacques Nicolet.
“We could not have hoped for better driver line-ups in both classes,” said team manager Sébastien Philippe on the team website. “In LMP1, Guillaume will provide the continuity around which Bertrand and Dominik can develop their prototype careers. He will help the new guys find their feet in what will be a very tough category this year.
It is always difficult against the diesels but nevertheless I think we look in good shape, especially with the major aerodynamic developments and Judd engine updates.
“As for LMP2, both Olivier and Matthieu are extremely fast and very experienced. As our silver graded driver, Jacques is undoubtedly the best option that we could have had. He is reliable, consistent and fast enough to fight with the other silver drivers in this class.
“That means we have a great chance of fighting for victories, especially as I strongly believe in the car’s all-round performance and improved reliability. It will be fitted with the all-new 2012 aero package that has demonstrated some fantastic results in the wind tunnel.”
Oak will again be sponsored by Gulf Oil International, and will race on Dunlop tires.
