Sebring frustrates as Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports finish sixth

Sebring, Florida. (March 18, 2024) — Normally, finishing 12 seconds behind the race winner at least requires a trip to the podium, but this weekend at Sebring, for the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Inter Europol by PR Mathiasen Motorsports squad had to be content with sixth position after 12 hours of hard racing.

Nick Boulle, Jakub ‘Kuba’ Śmiechowski and Tom Dillmann travelled to the Florida venue keen to capitalise on the solid fourth-place finish secured at the season-opening Rolex 24. Nick was relatively content with his fourth position in qualifying, believing that the #52 Oreca would come into its own in race conditions.

Indeed, he repeated his Daytona feat by leading the LMP2 field in the opening stint as the first of many Full Course Yellows flew. A pitstop infringement earned a drive-through penalty, but this was soon negated, and by the two-hour mark, Kuba ran sixth, two seconds behind the leader.

The gaps may have been closed, but track position is crucial at this circuit, courtesy of the dirty air generated by the prototypes. By mid-race, the team had worked its way to the head of the LMP2 pack once again, with both Nick and Kuba enjoying brief spells of clear air.

Ultimately, the race result was dependent on the final hour of racing—and FCY. With 38 minutes to go, Tom duly took the final set of fresh Michelins, under FCY, and resumed his race. Two placed were gained but sixth it would be as the battle-scarred Oreca was unable to make further gains in those frantic last few laps.

The car had sustained minor damage in the race, including steering and sidepod. With passing a premium, the team can at least take some satisfaction in securing solid points at the four- and eight-hour points for the Michelin Endurance Cup. The car finished, had no mechanical gremlins – aside from contact – and the crew executed perfect stops throughout.

Fourth in the LMP2 standings, Inter Europol Competition is now preparing for the start of the European Le Mans Series in Barcelona next month, with three entries and two in the Michelin Le Mans Cup. The next IMSA action is in late June at Watkins Glen.