Era Motorsport’s #18 Oreca 07 Gibson claimed its first LMP2 win at the Battle on the Bricks, finishing 15.004 seconds ahead of the PR1/Mathiasen entry after a calculated fuel‑saving push that kept the class lead to the end.
Strategic fuel management steers the race to victory
Nick Boulle, debuting for Era in 2026 LMP2 and starting seventh after a minor qualifying hiccup, avoided a multi‑car Turn 1 collision and immediately began tracking stringent fuel targets while filtering traffic. His stint kept the car at the front of class until he handed over to co‑driver Christian Rasmussen in third place.
Rasmussen, normally on the IndyCar grid with ECR, wove a mixture of aggressive early laps and disciplined late‑race fuel awareness. A full‑course yellow and a strategically timed pit stop forced the team to adjust the final fuel triangle, but Rasmussen’s Kaplan‑level throttle work kept the Oreca within reach of the front. With fifty minutes still on the clock, he intensified the conservation mantra, keeping the running advantage intact until the checkered flag.
Turn‑by‑turn insights and winning reactions
Boulle later praised his teammate’s “awesome” strategy, noting that fuel targets were the cornerstone of the day’s plan after a shaky qualifying result. He highlighted the team’s rapid problem‑solving, citing the work with owner Kyle Tilley in assembling the winning package.
“We talked about fuel targets from the start,” Boulle said. “It was a huge part of our strategy. We made up for the qualifying issue, and Christian delivered.”
Rasmussen echoed the sentiment, noting the reward of returning to the P2 car that once clinched Daytona’s 24‑hours in 2024. He congratulated Boulle’s smooth debut and praised the crew’s execution of the strategy that “kept us ahead” at Indy.
“Nick did a great job in his first stint, built us a good spot, and then the fuel save kept the lead,” Rasmussen explained. “It feels great to be back with Era and to bring a win to own track.”
Tilley acknowledged the historic nature of the triumph, stating it was his first IMSA victory at home. He underscored the team’s cohesion and the role of accurate fuel preservation in “showcasing our car and crew truly for the first time at our home circuit.”
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