Performance Tech Motorsports is teaming up with Charles Wicht Racing (CWR) to field a full season LMP3 effort in the IMSA Prototype Challenge.
The entry is the No. 7 Ligier JS P3 driven by Leo Lamelas and Charles Wicht at Daytona International Speedway in the season-opening event. Lamelas and Wicht finished seventh in the first ever endurance event for the series, which took place during the Roar Before the Rolex 24 weekend. A solid debut, but Wicht wanted to grow his effort to better support his talented driver, Lamelas.
Wicht turned to longtime friend and Performance Tech team principal Brent O’Neill.
“Brent has sort of been an open book whenever I have had questions,” Wicht said. “We’ve known each other for 25 years, and in racing, there are people out there that will try to take your clients or your business. Brent is a great guy. When we were sharing notes after the Roar on the P3 car, he said let’s join forces for a two-car LMP3 effort.
“I’m looking forward to having engineers and data guys accessible to me,” Wicht said. “Really, I’m looking most forward to working alongside a friend. Doing this with a friend makes it more special. We’re teammates now. I’m honored and thrilled to work with Brent.”
Which brings 30 years of racing experience into the CWR Performance Tech Motorsports entry.
Lamelas will compliment Cameron Cassels in the No. 75 P3. The two will share data and strategy. However, unlike Cassels, Lamelas is hoping to find a driver to share seat time with for the season. A driver that ideally matches Lamelas quick and consistent lap times.
O’Neill is happy to have his longtime friend share his tent for the 2018 season of IMSA Prototype Challenge Presented by Mazda. Not only does he have another friend in the paddock but he instantly has a stronger P3 lineup. Running two LMP3 cars has been O’Neill’s goal since the introduction of the car in 2017.
“I think it’ll be really good to have Charles and Leo with us this year,” O’Neill said. “Charles is a really great guy. He’s faced ups and downs in this business just like the rest of us, but he’s always stayed trustworthy. He ran Trans Am for a while and then last year made the switch to IMSA. He actually leased us a P3 car last year.
“I’m happy to help him out. It’ll be good for Cameron to have a teammate he can share data with each race. I think it’ll make everyone better. Leo will benefit from it too. Hopefully, we can get another driver with him in that seat. We’ll have a really solid team.”