Dillmann Aiming for Continued ‘Good Execution’ in LMP2

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Tom Dillmann is hopeful of continuing his recent top form with Inter Europol Competition this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, as the French driver seeks back-to-back overall wins in the Chevrolet Grand Prix.

Dillmmann and then co-driver Nick Boulle came out on top in the LMP2 headline race last year in their Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen-run Oreca 07 Gibson, which helped propel them to the drivers’ championship.

Twelve months later, Dillmann is coming off LMP2 class victory in last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as a runner-up finish in last weekend’s European Le Mans Series round at Imola, both with the Polish squad.

Add to that, the team also took LMP2 class honors in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.

“I think the team has been [filled with momentum] every weekend,” said Dillmann. “Actually, we were we kind of joking yesterday that every race that we had no technical issue we won, or we finished second this year.

“We had three technical issues, two in IMSA and one in Europe, and all the other races with one or we finished second. “We know that well, usually we have a quick car, and we execute good races, so I expect the same in Canada.”

Returning to CTMP, but now with his car under the full operation of Inter Europol, Dillmann is confident about their chances in Sunday’s two-hour and 40-minute contest with new-for-2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship co-driver Jeremy Clarke.

“It was my first time on the track last year, without any testing and what a track,” he explained. “Especially with a LMP2 car, it’s a really great combo. I had a lot of fun and with Nick, we managed to win the race.

“Overall, the season we were very consistent. It’s called good points every races. And yet Canadian Tire [Motorsport Park] was over the top with a win.

“So now I go there this year with a new co-driver; this will be his first time as well on the track on Friday, and we will try to repeat.”

With GTP cars not taking part in the race for the second consecutive year, Dillmann admitted it’s “a little bit cooler” to be able to go for the overall win, something he’s used to in ELMS competition but usually in the WeatherTech Championship.

“First of all it makes it a bit easier for us, especially on the restarts, we don’t have to deal with the GTP struggling a little bit on cold tires,” he said.

“It’s always a bit difficult for the LMP2 to keep up, if you the leading LMP2, it’s difficult to hold the lead or if you’re fighting with a GTP, so it makes it a bit easier.

“Of course, it’s a little bit a little bit cooler to be able to win overall.”

Bronze-rated driver Clarke, meanwhile, is set for only his third WeatherTech Championship start, after claiming victory in his series debut at Sebring alongside Dillmann and Bijoy Garg in the No. 43 entry.

“I saw Jeremy for the first time in in Asian Le Mans, and he surprised a lot of people, and it was it was great that he could join us and me in the car.

“He’s so new to motorsport. I guess he has a natural ability; he has some talent for it and he is flat out every day on his simulator, trying to learn the tracks, compare the data with me, trying to get ready before being on track.

“I think he has natural ability and then he also found maybe a new passion with motorsport and he is taking a lot of time to catch up.”

Source: Sports Car 365