ALGARVE PRO RACING SECURES ELMS SEASON'S BEST

October 19, 2015 by ALGARVE PRO RACING

The difficult weather conditions in free practice and the race did not prevent Algarve Pro Racing being quick on home turf. The #25 Ligier JS P2 clinched the team's third top 10 in three races, finishing seventh overall.

Since its European Le Mans Series (ELMS) debut, the Portuguese team has rapidly made its way into the top 10 of the LMP2 teams, and Estoril was no exception for the three drivers James Winslow, Andrea Roda and Michael Munemann. After P8 and P6 in Saturday's practice sessions, the Ligier qualified 8th on the grid.

The 4hr Race of Estoril was difficult with heavy showers and three-full-course-yellow periods. Winslow started the race in the dry and handed over the Ligier to Roda after 70 minutes of racing 4 laps down after a spin, a nose change after clipping another car and taking the 2 minute penalty imposed for rebuilding the Nissan engine. Roda had the most difficult stint with heavy showers but the teams strategy of delaying the change to intermediate tyres and impressive driving meant he handed the Ligier to Munemann for the final 45 minutes of the race in 7th overall. Munemann completed consistent lap times and took the chequered flag in the team's best finish.

In three race, Algarve Pro Racing have made remarkable progress and this position did not reflect the team's potential in Portugal, a podium finish could have been possible without the 2-minute penalty incurred for an in season rebuild of the engine to be ready to join the grid to battle for the podium in the remaining three rounds of the Asian Le Mans Series.

Andrea Roda: 'In free practice, It was difficult because of the weather conditions, but we qualified in a good position on intermediate tyres. In the race, I was at the wheel on slicks when it first rained, I handled the aquaplaning and when the track started to dry out, I was the fastest LMP2 on the track. When it started raining again, I had to change to intermediates but kept good pace. I am really happy with the team and the car. Things have gone better and better in the three ELMS events we have competed in.'

James Winslow: 'This was a good weekend, the team and drivers did a great job. We could have finished on the podium to be honest, the car was amazing and very quick. I am disappointed that a spin at the start and clipping a Ferrari meant I lost laps for the team. We will be in Malaysia in three weeks for the second round of the Asian Le Mans Series and we are very confident, we will battle for victory on the Sepang circuit.'

Samantha Cox, the Team Manager's final word: 'We are gutted that at our home race, we had to serve a 2-minute penalty because of engine rebuild and lose our position early in the race. The team were amazing and everyone did a fantastic job. I think we are one of the very few teams who did not suffer any issues in the pit stops. The drivers did a brilliant job in both the dry and wet. James was as fast as anyone in the LMP2 grid in the dry. It is so easy to make mistakes in such weather conditions but everybody did a great job. Andrea was the class of the field on the intermediate tyre with an impressive stint in the wet and Michael's lap times were really positive, he was only 1 and half seconds off a platinum driver. I cannot praise the team enough for the last three races. After the ELMS Race, we are packing up to go to Asia, positive that we can start achieving better results.'

Algarve Pro Racing will be competing in Asia for the second round of the 2015/2016 Asian Le Mans Series, to be held on Sunday November 8, 2015 in Sepang (Malaysia).