With two Morgan-Nissan LM P2s battling for the title in the FIA WEC this weekend, and two Morgan LM P2s in the running for the Asian Le Mans Series crown, Onroak Automotive is in the spotlight as the year draws to a close. Like the team, the OAK Racing construction department is working flat out on all fronts. The 2013 season has been a very busy one for the French squad, and this looks set to continue next year. The subjects for discussion with Jacques Nicolet are legion, and for sure the OAK Racing President is one of the most sought-after people by journalists at the end of the 2013 endurance season. Interview.

Jacques, before looking ahead to 2014, the main aim is the FIA WEC title, isn’t it? And it’s the same story in a week’s time in the Asian Le Mans Series…

JN: “You’re spot on! In both cases a Morgan must win. This weekend each car will be given free rein. Once again we’ll be up against very tough opposition, but we’ve got all the right elements to score a good result on the Bahrain circuit. In two weekends OAK Racing is fighting for two major titles and we’re giving a great deal of importance to both. They represent heavy investments from both a human and financial point of view. In the same season we’ve entered three cars in the FIA WEC and one in the Asian Le Mans Series. For us 2013 has been a very interesting and busy year. What’s great is that it’s been positive for the team and for Morgan too. We’ve shown that our Morgans are cut out for endurance. There’s been great responsiveness in terms of reliability and everybody’s done a fault-free job.”

Before going to Sepang are you happy with the result in the Asian Le Mans Series?

JN: “In agreement with KCMG we decided to enter a Morgan LM P2 ourselves. Thanks to that, Onroak Automotive has been able to supply a real constructor’s service. KCMG’s exceptional sporting spirit deserves the highest praise. This championship is very new and it has to be set up bit by bit. Although it’s true that the start has been difficult, we believe in it. At our level we’ve really done the maximum we could. I sincerely think that Asia is a great market for endurance, because as things stand at present it’s completely unexplored territory. You can feel that it could develop into something really big, especially in China. However, it’s a huge challenge. OAK Racing’s aim has been to run only Asian drivers, and our driver line-ups are almost all Chinese. The OAK Racing Team Total has put its trust in youngsters. There’s the perspective of forging very strong links between Endurance and Asia with the highlight being the Le Mans 24 Hours. After the Sepang event we’re staying on the spot to test drivers. Even if there are still a few places available there’s been a lot of interest in the test. Motor sport culture is being implanted on the Asian continent little by little.” 

Is the arrival of the LM P3s a positive step?

JN: “Mark Thomas and the ACO should be congratulated on their decision to allow the CN prototypes to race in the Asian Le Mans Series. It’s a very pragmatic choice as it integrates the need to construct a motor sport ladder in Asia. It’s a big step to move up into LM P2 in terms of budget, driving and technology. Accepting the CNs with carbon monocoques is very positive, especially for gentlemen drivers. It’s a great step to implant motor sport in Asia even more deeply.”  

Is Onroak Automotive interested by this market?

JN: “It does interest Onroak Automotive as a racing car constructor. Onroak is already involved at the top of the pyramid and going to the base of this pyramid is part of the future prospects. We’ve seen that these cars have met with considerable success in the VdV Endurance Series. Gentlemen drivers like the CNs. The fact of changing to carbon monocoques is a very important step.”