No finish for Ho-Pin Tung and Oak Racing Team in USC-Petit Le Mans race Atlanta

In spite of setting fastest lap time in the race by Ho-Pin Tung the Oak Racing Team Ligier Honda did not see the finish line in the ten hours race ´Petit Le Mans´, in the United Sportscar Championship, at Road Atlanta. Ho-Pin Tung, Gustavo Yacaman and Alex Brundle lost their high hopes for a good result when Yacaman crashed the Ligier JS P-2 Honda into the barrier.

The race weekend at Road Atlanta started with al kinds of technical woes. Engine problems in free practise 1, an engine change in free practise 2, a very promising third free practise when Ho-Pin Tung set third fastest lap time and a fourth free practise which was red flagged due to horrible wheater conditions. In quali there were again engine problems, leading to a last place on the starting grid. First stint was for Alex Brundle and he did very well, he managed to claim a full lap back from the leaders. When Ho-Pin Tung took over he was cutting through the field like a razor and drove fastest lap time. He fought his way up, gained two whole laps and ended up in the same lap as the leaders of the race.   Than he gave the wheel to Gustavo Yacaman. The latter was hit by a Delta Wing-car and crashed the car into the barrier. Ho-Pin Tung stated right after the race: ´The team deserves the greatest compliment for all the good and swift work during the weekend. In spite of all technical woes the team managed to field a car which could battle with with the quickests. We came till 7th position in the race and there was more to expect. But the crash made an end to all high hopes.´

Already next weekend Ho-Pin Tung will be found in Shanghai for a next race in the Asian Le Mans Series.

Atlanta, October 5th, 2014.