Despite a disappointing 2015 season, owner-drivers Scott Sharp and Ed Brown are persevering for another WEC season and have entered a car in the North American Endurance Cup (NAEC), which comprises the four long races in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It is turning out to be a good move. Largely thanks to a talented young Brazilian by the name of Luis Felipe “Pipo” Derani, their Ligier JS P2 won the Rolex 24 at Daytona – a first for a French constructor – and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The first part of the WEC season was not quite as dazzling, but the Dalziel-Derani-Cumming crew came second in LM P2 in two races, less than a lap behind the winners. The 24 Hours of Le Mans was particularly disappointing for the Florida-based outfit. Their cars came 11th and 16th in class while the first seven LM P2 teams all ran on Dunlops. However, several non-WEC LM P2 competitors used Michelins for Le Mans.

The other Ligier JS P2, fielded by RGR Sport by Morand will be keeping its Dunlops but ESM who changed their Honda Performance Development engine for a Nissan this winter will be working with Michelin for the rest of the WEC season. However, for the last NAEC race, Petit Le Mans, the team will have to use the championship’s official Continental tyres.

Photo: The two Extreme Speed Motorsports Ligier JS P2s had a special livery for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At Nürburgring, they will be back in their usual colours, but with Michelin tyres instead of Dunlops.