| Michael Andretti Is Eager for His Team to Be Part of the New Prototype Class November 30, 2021By Jeff OlsonIMSA Wire Service  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Even as the team announced plans to continue competing in the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) class in 2022, Andretti Autosport is still pursuing a manufacturer to participate in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s planned LMDh category, team CEO and chairman Michael Andretti said Monday. “We definitely want to do it,” Andretti said during an interview for Online Racing Industry Week presented by epartrade.com and racer.com. “Obviously, it wouldn’t be a (2023) program. It would be a ’24 program. We’re very interested in it and hopefully we can put something together soon.” In the meantime, Andretti Autosport announced Tuesday that Jarett Andretti and Josh Burdon will be the 2022 full-season drivers of the No. 36 Gallant-sponsored Ligier JS P320 in the LMP3 class. Gabby Chaves and Rasmus Lindh will join them for the season opener, the Rolex 24 At Daytona. LMDh will replace Daytona Prototype international (DPi) as the series’ top division in 2023. Five manufacturers and four teams have committed so far to the hybrid-based class. The series’ specifications are in line with Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) specs, allowing competitors to race LMDh cars in other series and events in addition to the WeatherTech Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “They did a great job working together with the FIA in Europe to come up with a package that you’ll be able to go and run Le Mans,” Michael Andretti said. “I think that was very important that we have equal rules for that.” Andretti Autosport has programs in seven racing series, including its LMP3 program in the WeatherTech Championship. It has won the Indianapolis 500 five times and has four IndyCar Series championships. Michael Andretti’s storied racing career includes four attempts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In addition to IMSA, his team currently competes in IndyCar, Indy Lights, Formula E, Australian Supercars, Extreme E and Mexican Super Copa. The structure of the LMDh program is attractive to his team’s future, Andretti said. “I think they did a great job,” he said. “It’s very cost-effective for a manufacturer to come in now, where before it was a ‘he who has the most money is going to win’ type of thing. Now it’s going to be limited as to what they can spend and do. I think it’s going to make for a better series. There’s going to be a lot of interest.” Jarett Andretti Anchors LMP3 Program Andretti Autosport debuted the LMP3 program earlier this year in the IMSA Prototype Challenge, then moved to the WeatherTech Championship at mid-season. Jarett Andretti finished eighth in the final LMP3 standings. The LMP3 program was a promise Michael Andretti made to his cousin John Andretti, who died of cancer in January 2020. Jarett Andretti, John’s son, is in charge of the operation. “I’m there to support him,” Michael Andretti said. “I promised John I would support Jarett in whatever he was going to do. Also, it’s been good for us to learn for when we do get into the series in a bigger way. It’s been a good learning experience from that standpoint. “Basically, it is Jarett’s program. He gets 100 percent credit for what’s being done there. We’re trying to support it as much as we can, but it’s his baby.” Jarett Andretti’s best finish in 2021 was fourth place in the IMSA WeatherTech 240 at Watkins Glen International in July. Burdon joined the team for the season finale, the Motul Petit Le Mans, where they retired early and finished 10th in class. “I’m looking forward to the experience,” Jarett Andretti said. “I think we have a great driver lineup and the team is ready. This is a historic competition and we are all excited to be a part of it.” Chaves is the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge co-champion in the Touring Car (TCR) class. He has 10 career WeatherTech Championship starts, all in prototypes including in an LMP3 in this year’s Rolex 24. Lindh finished fifth in the LMP3 standings this season with a pair of second-place finishes driving for Performance Tech Motorsports. |
