RGR Sport by Morand announced today that it will debut in the 2016 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship with drivers Ricardo Gonzalez, Bruno Senna, and Filipe Albuquerque in the LMP2 category.* The squad will become the only Mexican team in the WEC, hot off the heels of the world championship announcing a new round in Mexico City, Mexico in 2016. Gonzalez’s responsibilities with RGR Sport by Morand go beyond the steering wheel. After making a name for himself as a driver in the global racing community, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the LMP2 world championship in 2013, he now will add Team Owner to his resumé.
The owner/driver joins forces in 2016 with Morand Racing to operate the #43 RGR Sport by Morand Ligier JSP2/Nissan/Dunlop machine. Joining Gonzalez on his crusade to claim another world championship title are two of the top drivers in the world. Senna returns to the FIA WEC for the first time since 2014. Along with keeping his race craft sharp with a full FIA Formula E schedule and as a factory driver for McLaren, Senna’s extensive experience as a Formula One driver and various starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans are what made him an obvious choice for RGR Sport by Morand.
Albuquerque was another must for the team due to his roots on the European circuit and success in endurance racing; winning the 24 Hours of Daytona and two 24 Hours of Le Mans starts in the LMP1 class with Audi Sport Team Joest. The Audi factory driver will be keeping his race gloves warm in 2016 with by also competing in the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup.
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Ricardo Gonzalez : “I’m very excited to finally be able to announce this project, which has been in the works for quite a while. After the WEC announced that we would have the 6 Hours of Mexico in 2016, starting our own Mexican team was the obvious next choice. “I want to thank Benoit Morand and Onroak Automotive for making this opportunity possible, I really do believe that we’ve put together a dream team. With the experience that Bruno and Filipe have, and proven speed of the Ligier JS P2, I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be able to fight for the championship and victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “I’m extremely proud to be carrying the Mexico colors and flag on my car, we will do everything in our power to make sure Mexico is at the top of the podium and that we make our people proud!”
Bruno Senna : “I’m very excited to come back to the WEC in the super-competitive LMP2 class. It’s a fantastic opportunity to race alongside Ricardo Gonzalez and Filipe Albuquerque and I’m sure we’ll challenge for wins with the Ligier-Nissan prepared by Morand and the first race can’t come soon enough!”
Filipe Albuquerque : “I am really happy to join RGR by Morand in the WEC. I want to thank them for the opportunity. To do the world championship with such a competitive team it’s great! After doing two consecutive years in the ELMS, definitely the WEC was my main goal for 2016. With Ricardo’s WEC experience, Bruno’s Formula 1 and my experience as an Audi Factory driver I think we make a good and balanced team. With all this there is no reason why we shouldn’t aim at Le Mans and the World Championship title. I am looking forward to drive the Ligier as it will be my first time driving an LMP2 closed car.”
Benoit Morand Team Manager : “It’s a honor for Team Morand to be able to manage the RGR Sport by Morand team. Not just as a business, but also because of the motorsports passion that everyone involved has shown. I have not known Ricardo for a long time, but from the beginning our relationship has always been simple and fair and I’m really looking forward to working with him this year. I want to thank Jacques Nicolet and Philippe Dumas for helping us put this deal together. Duka Gervalla, myself and everyone at team Morand are proud to be part of this fantastic program, and I’m sure that with Ricardo, Bruno and Filipe we’ll be fighting for the top place of the podium everywhere.”
Press release RGR Sport by Morand
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RGR Sport by Morand announced today that it will debut in the 2016 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship with drivers Ricardo Gonzalez, Bruno Senna, and Filipe Albuquerque in the LMP2 category.* The squad will become the only Mexican team in the WEC, hot off the heels of the world championship announcing a new round in Mexico City, Mexico in 2016. Gonzalez’s responsibilities with RGR Sport by Morand go beyond the steering wheel. After making a name for himself as a driver in the global racing community, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the LMP2 world championship in 2013, he now will add Team Owner to his resumé.
