Monday, July 3, 2017 – Fresno, CA – After a tough start to the 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports finished P4 at the Sahlen’s 6 Hours of the Glen. Olivier Pla qualified P2 for Sunday’s enduro and set the fastest lap of the race with a blistering 1:33.314.
“The pace from the car was unbelievable the entire weekend, and the team did an amazing job throughout the weekend,” stated Pla.
Olivier Pla to Join PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports for Six Hours of the Glen
June 21, 2017 – Fresno, CA – Olivier Pla will join PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports in next week’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen in the No. 52 Ligier JS P217. The event marks the third round of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup. Pla will pilot the LMP2 machine with Mexican ace José Gutierrez.
The Ford Factory pilot, who is also an Onroak development driver, tested with PR1 at Sebring in March and was able to bring a lot of knowledge about the car to the team. Team owner Bobby Oergel is looking forward to having the Frenchman on board for the Six Hours of the Glen.
On Track Debris Causes Problems for PR1 on Pace Lap at COTA
Monday, May 8, 2017 – Fresno, CA— The fourth round of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship at Circuit of the Americas started out very promising for the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team. Drivers José Gutierrez and Marco Bonanomi showed competitive times in each of the three practice sessions, and Gutierrez qualified P5 for the start of Saturday's Advanced Auto Parts Sportscar Showdown.
However, before the green flag fell, the No. 52 machine ran into an issue on the pace lap which forced the car to return to the garage before they could even complete a single race lap.
Kimber-Smith to Skip Fourth IMSA Round, Bonanomi to Join PR1 at COTA
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 – Fresno, CA—Veteran PR1 driver Tom Kimber-Smith will miss the fourth round of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship at Circuit of the Americas in two weeks. Kimber-Smith, who finished fifth at the BUBBA Burger Sportscar Grand Prix at Long Beach, has elected to miss the race in order to return to the United Kingdom to take care of his mother who is currently battling cancer.
“Tom will unfortunately miss the next race at Circuit of the Americas. He needs to be able to spend time back in the UK with his mother who is presently undergoing treatment for cancer,” said team principle Bobby Oergel.
Top Five Finish for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports at Long Beach
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 – Fresno, CA – After a difficult start to the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech season, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports scored a top five finish in last weekend’s Bubba Burger Grand Prix of Long Beach with drivers Tom Kimber-Smith and Will Owen behind the wheel.
After struggling with mechanical issues during the first two races of the season, the team was pleased to finish on the lead lap and in the top five of the prototype class. For Kimber-Smith, the Grand Prix marked his second visit to the infamous Southern California street circuit. However, this was the first appearance from his teammate Owen.
Will Owen to Join PR1 at Long Beach Grand Prix
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 – Fresno, CA – European Le Mans Series LMP2 driver Will Owen will join the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team alongside co-driver Tom Kimber-Smith for the BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach. Owen, who has worked and tested with PR1 before, is excited to join the team for the third round of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship on the infamous Southern California street circuit.
“The opportunity to run my first IMSA race came very quickly, but I am so glad we have made it work with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports,” explained Owen.
PR1 Ready for 65th Running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 – Fresno, CA—After completing a productive two-day test at Sebring International Raceway three weeks ago, the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team and drivers are headed back to the 3.74-mile Florida circuit to battle for an overall win at the 65th running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.
With no reports of rain in the forecast for the weekend, unlike the last year’s race, which was red flagged due to torrential downpours and lightening, drivers Mike Guasch, José Gutierrez and Tom Kimber-Smith are ready to get back behind the wheel of the #52 Ligier for a dry 12 Hours of Sebring.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Making Gains at Sebring Test
Monday, February 27, 2017 – Fresno, CA – The PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team completed a successful two-day test at Sebring International Raceway late last week. Although the team still struggled early on with some mechanical issues, and had to replace the engine from the Rolex 24 overnight on Thursday, they were still able to make great progress on Friday in preparation for the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Read morePR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Score Top 10 Finish at the Rolex 24
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 – Fresno, CA – In their debut race in the IMSA WeatherTech P2 Class, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports finishes P9 after facing torrential rains, near freezing temperatures and mechanical gremlins during the 2017 Rolex 24.
The PR1 team and drivers Tom Kimber-Smith, Jose Gutierrez, Michael Guasch and RC Enerson completed a successful pre season test at the Roar earlier in January. Although the test was not free of issues, they were able to use the time between the Roar and the Rolex 24 to remedy those glitches and prepare for the 24 Hour race.
PR1 Set for P2 Debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 – Daytona Beach, FL – PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports is set to return to the biggest stage of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship with their debut in the P2 class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
After completing three successful days of testing at the Roar Before the 24 two weeks ago, the team and drivers Tom Kimber-Smith, José Gutierrez, Michael Guasch and Verizon IndyCar Driver RC Enerson are ready to get back behind of the wheel of their brand new Ligier JS P217 at the twice around the clock endurance race.
PR1 Completes Productive Test at the Roar
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 – Fresno, CA – After three days of testing at the Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway, the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team looking forward to making the final preparations to the #52 machine looking ahead to the Rolex 24. The Roar before the 24 marks the first test for the team with their new Cosworth powered Ligier JS P217. Although they have completed several hours of testing with the Ligier development car at Sebring International Raceway, this was the first outing for the brand new #52 team car.
Read moreRC Enerson to Complete Driver Line-Up for the Rolex 24
Wednesday, January 4, 2017 – Fresno, CA –With the Rolex 24 at Daytona only weeks away, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports is happy to announce Verizon IndyCar driver RC Enerson will complete the driver line-up for the 24-hour endurance race later this month.
“We’re pleased to add RC to the line-up for the Rolex 24. I was able to meet him at Sebring a few weeks ago, and I think he’s going to be a great addition to the team,” said team owner Bobby Oergel.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Completes Successful Test at Sebring
Friday, December 16, 2016 – Fresno, CA –PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports completed a successful three-day test at Sebring International Raceway late last week. This marks the second outing for the team in the new Ligier JS P217 development car following a test in mid-November at Daytona.
Although the team is new to the LMP2 class, they’re quickly getting themselves familiarized and up to speed with the new LMP2 machine.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Win Back-to-Back Petit Le Mans
Monday, October 3, 2016 – Atlanta, GA – In their final race in the PC class, the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team and drivers Robert Alon, Jose Gutierrez and Tom Kimber-Smith won the 2016 Petit Le Mans and took the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup Championship (TPNAECC) for the second year in a row.
On Friday, Alon took the pole position with a qualifying lap of 1:16.411, and on Saturday, the No.52 machine led all but 65 of the 404 laps completed in class.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Ready for Grand Finale at Petit Le Mans
Wednesday, September 28, 2016 – Fresno, CA – The PC Championship battle continues to heat up as we enter the final race of the WeatherTech Sportscar Championship – Petit Le Mans presented by Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort at Road Atlanta. After a P2 finish at Circuit of the Americas, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports enters the season ending race second in the points championship, only ten points behind Starworks Motorsports.
Read morePR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Finishes P2 at Circuit of the Americas
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 – Fresno, CA –After a dominant early race run, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports finished P2 in class in Saturday’s Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of the Americas.
On Friday, driver Robert Alon put the car on pole with a fast lap of 2:01.847.
When the green flag flew for Saturday’s race, Alon took off and never looked back, taking a commanding lead and opening a large gap to the next position in class.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Carries Winning Drive to Lone Star Le Mans
Wednesday, September 14, 2016 – Fresno, CA –After their win at Road America just over a month ago, the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team is taking their winning momentum to Austin, TX for the Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, September 17.
Drivers Robert Alon and Tom Kimber-Smith currently sit second in the PC points championship behind Starworks Motorsports drivers Alex Popow and Renger van der Zande. However, after their win at Road America, Alon and Kimber-Smith are only behind by seven points. With only two races remaining, Alon and Kimber-Smith have their sights set on a podium finish and closing in on the championship.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Win at Road America
Tuesday, August 9, 2016 – Fresno, CA – After a third place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park two races ago, and a second place finish at Lime Rock Park, PR1 drivers Robert Alon and Tom Kimber-Smith took the checkered flag at the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America and climbed to the top step of the podium over the weekend.
Both Alon and Kimber-Smith showed impressive times throughout the weekend finishing in the top five at all of the practice sessions. Alon, who qualified the car for Sunday’s race, qualified P4 but was able to make his way to the front of the pack after only a few race laps on Sunday.
Read morePR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Ready to Take On Road America
Thursday, August 4, 2016 – Fresno, CA – Coming off of their sixth podium finish of the season, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports drivers Robert Alon and Tom Kimber-Smith are looking forward to continuing their podium streak at round 9 of the WeatherTech sports car championship this weekend at the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America.
With only three prototype challenge races remaining, both Kimber-Smith and Alon have set their sights to finish as best as possible as the event could play a major role in the eventual championship. Alon and Kimber-Smith are currently second in the PC point’s championship, only 17 points behind Alex Popow and Renger van der Zande of Starworks Motorsports.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Finishes P2 at Northeast Grand Prix
Tuesday, July 26, 2016 – Fresno, CA – The PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team scored their sixth podium finish of the season after a P2 finish at the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park last weekend. The two-day weekend kicked off with a pair of practices and qualifying on Friday where drivers Robert Alon and Tom Kimber-Smith put down impressive times around the 1.5-mile Connecticut road course.
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