October 25, 2017- Guy Cosmo and Patrick Byrne will join the Le Mans 24-winning Jackie Chan DC Racing squad, which has partnered with Jota Sport for the 2017-201818 Asian Le Mans Series. Cosmo and Byrne, who have raced together Stateside in the past, will target the LMP3 championship on board a Ligier JS P3 Nissan in the four-round championship.
The team dominated the 2016 Asian Le Mans Series, launched a World Endurance Championship effort for 2017, and now looks for another big season of Asian Le Mans Series competition, which will launch this weekend at Zhuhai International Circuit.
Cosmo and Byrne both have LMP3 experience as co-drivers, having shared a Ligier JS P3 last year in the LMP3 Cup UK as well as raced to victory in the FARA Miami 500 last November as they look forward to combining their skill set for the four Asian Le Mans endurance races.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Jackie Chan DC Racing x Jota for this season’s Asian Le Mans Series,” said Cosmo. “The team has proven they are winners at the highest levels and I’m looking forward to helping them continue their winning ways. Patrick (Byrne) and I have been looking for a full championship to contest together and these four races making up the 2017-2018 Asian Le Mans Series provides us a great opportunity to do just that.”
Byrne also has a wide variety of racing experience ranging from IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge competition to vintage Alfa Romeo GTA racing. Byrne is eager to share a race seat with Cosmo after the two have hunted for the perfect full series ride.
"I am very excited and honored to be driving for Jackie Chan DC Racing x Jota Sport,” said Byrne. “Guy (Cosmo) and I have been looking for an international LMP3 series where we can contribute our driving style and expand our partnership with top-level teams. Winter is fast approaching in North America and Europe and so we are very happy to be racing in the warmer Asian climate during what we have always thought of as the off-season! The Asian continent has some amazing destinations, racetracks, and fantastic fans; the Asian Le Mans Series will provide a truly brilliant experience for Guy and I.”
Cosmo, who contested the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge with TeamTGM this season, will look to add on to his LMP3 resume. Cosmo has logged countless laps on board the Ligier LMP3 as a test driver for Continental Tire and Dunlop tires, and also set a track record in his 2016 Le Mans Michelin Challenge debut for United Autosports.
“We are excited to be racing in this highly competitive series with the added element of traveling to incredible destinations, experiencing new cultures and driving iconic race tracks," said Cosmo. "We are both quite familiar with the Ligier JS P3, having tested and raced it together in the past, and we look forward to collaborating with DCR to contend for the LMP3 championship.”
Cosmo and Bryne will be joined by the team’s two car LMP2 line up piloted by Stephane Richelmi, Thomas Laurent and Harrison Newey in the No. 7 Oreca 05 Nissan and David Cheng and Ho-Pin Tung in the No. 5 Oreca 05 Nissan.
The four-race Asian Le Mans Series kicks off on October 27th-29th at Zhuhai.
Asian Le Mans Series Schedule
October 27-29 Zhuhai
December 1-3 Fuji
January 11-13 Buriram
February 2-4 Sepang.