After two years in the European Le Mans Series, Morand Racing has joined forced with the Japanese Team SARD for a step up to the World Endurance Championship with a two car effort this year.
Team SARD-Morand will race two Morgan LMP2 EVO cars with SARD badged Judd engines. This partnership unites one of the front running teams in the European Le Mans Series over the past two seasons, along with one of the most famous Japanese teams in Team SARD, who are most famous for their close second place in the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hours with a Toyota 94C-V.
SARD then constructed their own car for the next several years, before heading back to Japan with their strong links with Toyota intact. The team are still a Lexus affiliated team in Japanese Super GT series. SARD team principal Katsuyuki Sato explained the partnership "Benoit Morand has the spirit to win and the knowledge needed to be a strong team which seems a usual things for a team manager but it is not occasional case in today’s motor sport. We would also like to demonstrate our new technology in FIA WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans."
On the driving front the team two cars will be piloted by firstly team regular Christian Klien and Super GT and Super Formula stalwart Koki Saga. The team's third driver will be announced shortly. In the other entry Pierre Ragues will be joined by 2014 ELMS LMP2 Co-Champion Oli Webb, with their third driver being the winner of the TV Race to 24 show who will join them for the Le Mans 24 Hours and the remaining WEC rounds. The team will announce a third driver for the opening WEC rounds shortly.
Morand team principal Benoit Morand also gave his thoughts on the partnership "For a young team like us, it is an honour to share our destiny with SARD RACING TEAM. SARD’s long history demonstrates that this team has always been searching for new challenges while combining a professional spirit with a family environment."
The team will be hoping to acclimatise themselves in the WEC this year, before challenging for the LMP2 crown in 2016, although don't be surprised if this team comes good a lot sooner than expected with the talent within the team.
What are your thoughts on this partnership?Please feel free to comment below?
Team SARD-Morand will race two Morgan LMP2 EVO cars with SARD badged Judd engines. This partnership unites one of the front running teams in the European Le Mans Series over the past two seasons, along with one of the most famous Japanese teams in Team SARD, who are most famous for their close second place in the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hours with a Toyota 94C-V.
SARD then constructed their own car for the next several years, before heading back to Japan with their strong links with Toyota intact. The team are still a Lexus affiliated team in Japanese Super GT series. SARD team principal Katsuyuki Sato explained the partnership "Benoit Morand has the spirit to win and the knowledge needed to be a strong team which seems a usual things for a team manager but it is not occasional case in today’s motor sport. We would also like to demonstrate our new technology in FIA WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans."
On the driving front the team two cars will be piloted by firstly team regular Christian Klien and Super GT and Super Formula stalwart Koki Saga. The team's third driver will be announced shortly. In the other entry Pierre Ragues will be joined by 2014 ELMS LMP2 Co-Champion Oli Webb, with their third driver being the winner of the TV Race to 24 show who will join them for the Le Mans 24 Hours and the remaining WEC rounds. The team will announce a third driver for the opening WEC rounds shortly.
Morand team principal Benoit Morand also gave his thoughts on the partnership "For a young team like us, it is an honour to share our destiny with SARD RACING TEAM. SARD’s long history demonstrates that this team has always been searching for new challenges while combining a professional spirit with a family environment."
The team will be hoping to acclimatise themselves in the WEC this year, before challenging for the LMP2 crown in 2016, although don't be surprised if this team comes good a lot sooner than expected with the talent within the team.
What are your thoughts on this partnership?Please feel free to comment below?
