PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Rapidly Preparing for Long Beach
Late afternoon on March 31, 2010, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports took possession of the #52 Corsa Car Care/ Autosport Design Oreca FLM09. After a few snapshots of the brand-new Le Mans Prototype Challenge machine, the technicians and engineers began preparing for the 2010 Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach event. With only a few weeks until the car takes its first laps around the glamorous, but grueling, 11 turn 1.968 mile street circuit, the late afternoon continued into a late night. The first of many to come as the team readies the car for competition.
The 100 minute race will not only be the first event for the #52 entry, it will also be the first American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón event for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports. For Team Principal Bobby Oergel, entering into an all new series with a currently unfamiliar car is an exciting challenge.
“Throughout the team’s history, we’ve competed in several different classes at all levels of the sport,” Oergel said.
“The LMPC chassis is a lot different than the open wheel and GT cars we’ve worked with in the past, but we’re all looking forward to learning the nuances of this new car. I have every confidence that our crew can get it ready to run up front at Long Beach. We’re also happy to have support from Corsa Car Care. They make great products and it’s an honor to be associated with them.”
Ray Mathiasen, Oergel’s business partner and co-owner of PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, is pleased with the team’s driver lineup for their inaugural LMPC race.
“PR1 Motorsports and Mathiasen Motorsports have competed against each other at Long Beach in the Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship,” Mathiasen said. “But now we’re on the same team, competing in an all new series for us. By consolidating efforts, I have already seen an immediate gain leading up to our first event together, and it will give me a tremendous source of pride to see Johnny Mowlem and Tom Papadopoulos going flat out down Shoreline Drive. Both Tom and Johnny are world class racers, so we’ll make sure we give them something to fight with at Long Beach.”
Sports car veterans, and long time teammates, Tom Papadopoulos, of Long Island , New York, and Johnny Mowlem, of Berkshire, England, will have to acclimate themselves to the LMPC car’s characteristics quickly as the drivers will have less than three hours in the car before the green flag flies on Saturday’s main event. The unique challenges of the LMPC class and the Long Beach circuit are an enticing combination for Papadopoulos.
“I absolutely love the idea of the LMPC class and the use of professional/fast gentleman driver combinations,” Papadopoulos explained. “I think this will bring wonderful and competitive racing to ALMS. I also love street circuits. You must always have an excellent set up and be confident in your abilities. The walls are unforgiving and the race can be over immediately, so we have to stay clean as finishing is the first part of winning. I am very much looking forward to working with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, they have an excellent reputation and I am confident in Johnny’s ability as well as my own. Together, I believe Long Beach will be favorable for us.”
Once Mowlem takes to the track in the LMPC car, he will have the distinct honor of possessing experience in nearly every ALMS category.
“Having watched the first LMPC race at Sebring and the quality of drivers that it attracted, both professional and amateur, I saw that LMPC has immediately established itself as a very competitive and worthwhile prototype class,” Mowlem said. “I am very much looking forward to racing in this new class as I have already raced in GT2, GT1 and LMP1. This will be a great addition to my ALMS experience.”
“I love Long Beach and I’ve been constantly training for the event as well as the London Marathon on the 25th of April,” Mowlem continued. “I have been doing a few more neck exercises and I’m looking forward to the prototype, as nothing gets you prototype sharp better than actually driving one. It’s great that we are the Saturday evening race, we should attract a great crowd. I will thoroughly enjoy driving for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports and hopefully we’ll have some great results at the same time!”
Drivers and potential partners interested in the PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón LMPC program can contact the team directly at pr1motorsports@aol.com or at (559) 277-1300.
Corsa Car Care manufactures professional grade automotive detailing products including cleaners, polishes and protective sealants for exterior finishes, interior leathers & textiles, glass, vinyl and rubber applications. As a division of Miracle Sealants Company, Corsa Car Care draws on over 25 years of knowledge and experience in advanced polymer chemistry. For more details, visit corsacarcare.com.
Autosport Designs' 30,000 sq. ft. facility performs all mechanical services from basic maintenance and repairs to performance upgrades, modern improvements, mechanical rebuilds and restorations. The in house body shop performs panel, sheet metal fabrication, chassis, collision and dent repairs plus partial and complete repaints and insurance repairs. Autosport Designs also performs all interior and trim work including leather and wood repairs, interior upgrades to complete interior re-upholstery. From start to finish, all work is performed under one roof. As a Registered Importer, Autosport Designs can import and conform (whether for Full Importation or Show and Display) unusual cars for USA compliance. Autosport Designs' storage facility offers secure & maintained storage for your vehicle. For more information, search out www.autosportdesigns.com or call (631) 425-1555.
In paddocks packed with excellent teams and quality drivers, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports has established itself as one of the top driver development programs. Based in Fresno, CA, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports occupies an expansive facility housing a stable of F2000 Zetec and professional sports cars. Team drivers enjoy the benefits of a completely professional program including engineering support, state-of-the art data acquisition, and a race winning experienced crew. PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports drivers, and partners, also enjoy first-class trackside hospitality and comprehensive marketing support.
PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team information can be found at www.PR1Motorsports.com.
For more information please contact Eric Wildt at (707) 480-7350 or Eric@MotorsportsCG.com