Tequila Patrón ESM Endures to Finish 24 Hours of Le Mans

This week, in Le Mans France, Tequila Patrón ESM showed a monumental effort at the 84th annual 24 Hours of Le Mans. The two-car LMP2 team performed well all week long in every session, promising to again be a podium contender in the third FIA World Endurance Championship race of the season, also the longest on the 2016 calendar. As the world's oldest active sports car endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has always been a force to be reckoned with, unpredictable in who survives the adversity to come out on top. For Tequila Patrón ESM, the team endured hardship not to finish on the podium but to still complete the grueling 24 hours in 11th and 16th positions.

The opening practice as well as the first qualifying session were only under dry conditions, allowing the six drivers the opportunity to become more confident on track. Torrential downpour hampered the last two remaining qualifying sessions, restricting the chances of the Tequila Patrón cars to better their starting positions. The No. 31 of Ryan Dalziel, Pipo Derani and Chris Cumming qualified in sixth position, and the sister No. 30 car of Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek 16th. Unfortunately, Ed Brown's qualifying stint was during one of the monsoons, not allowing him to get close enough to the required 110% within the pole position. Per FIA WEC rules, the No. 30 car was sent to the back of the field to start in 21st position.

The skies opened to present sunny skies on the pre-race grid, but as the final ceremonies came to an end, the rain clouds rolled in. The field took the green under the safety car, as the downpour made for slick racing conditions and dangerous spots of standing water. Knowing the race would be under safety car for an extended period of time, the engineers of the No. 31 car called in Pipo Derani to give the driving duties to Chris Cumming, the car's required bronze rated driver. Under the safety car, Cumming was able to get one of six required hours in on controlled conditions. The field went to green and Cumming pitted, allowing Ryan Dalziel to take his turn at the wheel. By the end of the first hour, Dalziel and Johannes van Overbeek were two of the fastest LMP2 cars on track, both with full tanks, running 21st and 22nd. Dalziel carved his way through the field, breaking into the top ten before the end of his stint. Van Overbeek climbed to 20th before passing the torch to Scott Sharp and the rain returned to the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Trouble came for Sharp in the beginning of hour three, when he reported to the team he had been hit. The No. 30 came in with nose damage, and the team quickly brought him in and replaced the necessary bodywork. As Scott rejoined the field in 19th, his pace improved, gaining back the lost time in the pits, climbing up to 15th. Meanwhile, Dalziel and the No. 31 advanced up to fifth, keeping the car in the top five for the rest of his run until he passed the car to Chris Cumming. Ed Brown took over from Sharp just past the four hour mark, and worked his way up to 14th as dusk descended upon the track.

In the start of the sixth hour, Chris Cumming suffered a spin in a slow zone, but was able to skillfully save the car from contact. Shortly after, the No. 31 driver reported a puncture, and safely returned the track to the crew to repair the resulting suspension damage. He rejoined in 12th, alongside teammate Ed Brown who had advanced to 13th during a triple stint. Just before the hour seven mark, Derani and van Overbeek resumed the driving duties, running 14th and 15th as the sun set over the track. The first major accidents of the event occurred during the opening night hours, deploying the safety car on several occasions. Dalziel and Sharp both ran triple stints, keeping the cars near the top ten and safe from damage. After the halfway point, Cumming and Johannes took over, finishing the final pre-sunrise stints.

Derani and Brown look over in the early dawn hours, with the No. 31 making it back into the top ten and the No. 30 close by in 12th position. Contact from another car sent Brown off track, but he was able to get the car restarted and back to pit lane. The team made quick repairs and got Brown back on track in 12th with seven hours to go. He maintained position for three stints before giving the wheel back to Sharp. Cumming ran strong in eighth, staying on the same lap as the two LMP2 cars ahead of him. With less than six hours to go, he had advanced to seventh, giving the car back to Ryan Dalziel.

With four hours remaining, as Sharp passed the No. 30 back to van Overbeek, Dalziel reported a vibration on the No. 31. The right rear rocker broke, requiring Dalziel to pit for repairs. The team quickly got to work, and sent Derani back out in the No. 31, only to call him back in shortly after. Roughly two hours later, the repairs were complete and Derani rejoined the field in an effort to finish with championship points. For the rest of his run, Derani and the team continued to feel a vibration, calling the car back to the garage for lengthy inspections and repairs.

With just two hours left on the clock, Ed Brown returned to the driver seat for the No. 30 Tequila Patrón ESM car to finish out the legendary event. Brown and Derani crossed the checker flag after 24 long hours, with the No. 30 finishing 11th in class, and the No. 31 16th in class.

The team sported special edition liveries for the legendary race, taking John Paul Mitchell Systems on as a primary sponsor. Following the race, Tequila Patrón ESM will return to its regular liveries, boasting the black and bright green look that has become a fan favorite in the WEC paddock. Next month, the WEC championship resumes at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, July 24th. First, the team will journey back to the states for the IMSA WeatherTech Championship 6 Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen International,

June 30 - July 3.

Contact:

kelly@kbrucommunications.com

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