Strakka Racing confirms move into LMP1
Peter Hardman's EDM Motorsport, formed at the end of 2005, evolved into Strakka Racing in 2007. Last season Strakka Racing came to prominence as a result of strong runs in the Le Mans 24 Hours – in collaboration with Vitaphone Racing – and in selected rounds of the Le Mans Series. For the past four years Peter has not only managed and directed the team, but has also mentored his protégé Nick Leventis, forging the relationship into strong driving partnership that combines experience and talent.
Strakka contested GT1 in the Spa and Silverstone rounds of the 2008 Le Mans Series with their Aston Martin DBR9, but the move into prototypes had not been widely anticipated. “We were always going to get there in the end, this is just a bit earlier than originally planned," suggests Peter Hardman. “There were certain elements associated with running another season in GT1 that needed to come together, and that prospect was looking increasingly unlikely. We decided to check out other options, and while the elements we required for GT1 proved elusive, they gelled very neatly for an LMP1 project."
“From where we were four years ago, this is a huge step, and if someone had asked me then if we’d be racing in LMP1 now, I’d have laughed at them!" continues Hardman. “But we were already geared up for the Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hours in 2009, and this merely represents a change of car. From a team and logistics point of view, it makes little difference. Whatever level we run at, my philosophy is that we should always aim to operate to the best possible standards, so those will remain exactly the same – very high!"