IDEC Sport "motivated" and "united" on LMP2 championship push in Portimão
- Ghazlan Atqiya Firmansyah
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
IDEC Sport's No.18 GMR-branded Oreca 07 car remained in the LMP2 championship hunt for the final race on the 2025 European Le Mans Series calendar with the 4 Hours of Portimão this Saturday.
After the No.18 car took a convincing win during the previous 4 Hours of Silverstone round, capitalising on a poor result by the championship-leading No.48 VDS Panis Racing car, it has closed the gap to the top of the LMP2 Teams' Championship to just six points.
The sister No.28 car, at the hands of Paul-Loup Chatin, Paul Lafargue and Memo Rojas, won the 2019 edition by less than a second. While the car has yet to feature on the podium this season, it is banking on a strong back-to-back fourth-place finish.
IDEC Sport Team Principal Nicolas Minassian revealed that the team is motivated to seal the title in Portugal. The goal is to minimise mistakes both on the track and in the pits.
"It's already the last race, and the intensity remains as high as ever.
"The whole team is motivated and united, and the drivers are eager to get back behind the wheel on this magnificent circuit. Despite the ups and downs of the season, the No.18 car is still in contention for the championship, and the No.28 car is coming off two strong fourth-place finishes.
"We're heading to Portimão with the same fighting spirit we've had all season, in attack mode with the goal of making as few mistakes as possible on the track and in the pits."
On the back of his first Hypercar win during the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)'s round in Fuji, Paul-Loup Chatin felt excited to be back at the Algarve International Circuit. The Frenchman, alongside co-drivers Lafargue and Job van Uitert, loved the track.
"I'm really excited about this final race in Portimão.
"After a difficult start to the season, we're back at the front of the pack with two fourth places in a row, and we're going to do everything we can to get a great result in this final round with Paul and Job.
"All three of us love this track, and I know we can do well together. I can only hope to do justice to this special 10th anniversary livery."
The 33-year-old pledged that the No.28 squad will do everything they can to assist the sister car in the championship hunt.
"It's important that we work as hard as possible as a team to help the sister car as much as we can in the championship."
No.18's Dani Juncadella lamented the penalty in Spa-Francorchamps and his mistake in Imola. The Spaniard praised just how far the No.18 car goes with himself, Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert, the three rookies at the helm.
"It's already incredible for the three rookies that we are.
"It's very difficult to say today who will emerge victorious from this highly competitive championship, as there are so many variables. The Portimão circuit is fantastic, but not the easiest to find the right settings for [the car].
"What is certain is that we will take it step by step, as we always do, and we will do our best to ensure the best possible outcome for the season. I can't wait to join my teammates and the whole IDEC Sport team for this final round."
