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Defending ALMS P1 champions Muscle Milk Pickett Racing announced they would be taking a hiatus over the Long Beach and Monterey rounds to better sort their new ORECA 03-Nissan P2 car, and was expected to return at Detroit.

RACER has confirmed the Greg Pickett-owned team will now conclude its TUDOR United SportsCar Series program, effective immediately. MMPR has also reduced its staff size, leaving the team's immediate future direction open. MMPR will keep its chassis, either for addition to Pickett's collection, or for possible use at a later date.

It's believed Pickett (ABOVE LEFT) was interested in fielding a works GT program, either in the TUDOR Championship or in the Pirelli World Challenge series for 2014, but with the late demise of a rumored deal with Nissan to run a GT3-spec GTR, the Indianapolis-based outfit was forced to assemble a last-minute privateer P2 effort. MMPR acquired a French ORECA chassis and an engine supply from Nissan weeks before the TUDOR Championship season opener at Daytona, turning its first laps during the Roar Before the 24.

Mechanical and competitive balance issues plagued the team at Daytona and again at Sebring, leading Pickett to halt the program and re-evaluate his options. The veteran racer and team owner was rarely seen enjoying himself this season, which likely played a role in Pickett's decision to alter the team's course at such an early stage.

The choice to end MMPR's P2 effort after two rounds leave question marks over if and where the team will return, although it's known drivers Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr will remain under contract with the team.

MMPR's exit from the TUDOR Championship follows a turbulent two months where Rolex 24 at Daytona GTD class winners Level 5 Motorsports withdrew from the series and Sebring GTD polesitters Turner Motorsport have taken a step back to sample running in PWC.

Minus MMPR, the TUDOR Championship’s P2 chassis count is reduced to five with dual entries from Extreme Speed Motorsports, SpeedSource, and a single car from Oak Racing.

I RickyTan I

Apr 18 2014, 08:21:01 AM

thought il throw this on here an stir sugar up

silenzze

May 19 2014, 03:53:46 PM

galeforce97

May 17 2014, 06:54:51 PM

i dont under stand how an endurance series can run a class with 5 cars. It makes me think that they might aswell remove the class altogether. The truth is how good can the racing be with only 5 cars.

What class are you talking about?

Both PC and P in IMSA had 2x that amount at a non NAEC race. The US endurance field is quite strong right now.

Hug My Toad

May 21 2014, 06:37:49 PM

Great we are all screwed if that really happens. I really hope this doesnt go through.

silenzze

May 21 2014, 07:55:49 PM

Hug My Toad

May 21 2014, 06:37:49 PM

Great we are all screwed if that really happens. I really hope this doesnt go through.

Well you can always rely on the enjoyment of the screaming engines of F1....wait

silenzze

May 21 2014, 06:30:43 PM

The reason why is that manufacturers don't want to drop the money into getting their own tub homologated. Cost caps have nothing to do with all of the ancillary R&D costs.

It's clear the ACO recognizes this as well as IMSA, which why they want to go the DP route where manufacturers provide an engine + aero package + components for a spec tub.

F4H bandicoot

May 24 2014, 02:11:40 PM

BMW and another manufacturer

gen3ral ts0

May 25 2014, 12:40:40 AM

please bring the P1 cars back to america for more than one weekend a year.

plzzzzzzzzzzzz