TheLigier Nissan DPi, also known as theOnroak Nissan DPi is a Daytona Prototype car built byLigier Automotive. The car is based on theLigier JS P217, which was built to meet the 2017FIA andACO regulations for 2017 for the LMP2 category in theFIA World Endurance Championship. The prototype made its racing debut at the 201724 Hours of Daytona, with theTequila Patrón ESM team, finishing 4th on its debut.[2]
On 21 September 2016, it was announced byScott Sharp, the team owner ofTequila Patrón ESM, that the team would be returning to theIMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship full time for 2017, and departing theFIA World Endurance Championship. Simultaneously, it was announced that the team would be renewing its agreement withOAK Racing, andOnroak Automotive, and signing a new multi-year partnership withNissanNismo, who would supply the team theVR38DETT 3.8L V6 engine used in the Nissan GT-R GT3.[3] It had been earlier rumored that the team would be running the VRX30A that had been run in the ill-fatedNissan GT-R LM Nismo, which was later refuted by the announcement.[4] The programme would be a non-works supported, customer effort, and it was later revealed that ESM had signed an exclusivity agreement with Nissan for 2 years.[5] The car had its unveiling and shakedown at theSebring International Raceway inFlorida, on 22 December 2016.[6] Between the JS P217 and the DPi, a number of differences were noted, with a large front panel covering the nose area, alongside revised side panels.[7] The final design of the car was also noted to be different from the initial proposals to the Championship governing body, theInternational Motor Sports Association.[8]
The car was noted to be overweight, compared to its base sibling, theLigier JS P217, owing to the Nissan VR38DETT engine being over 50 kilograms heavier than theGibson Technology powerplant utilized in the JS P217.[9]
The 2017 season began at the2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona, with both cars showing strong pace, with the #2 car even leading the race during the rainy night portion of the race, but a number of electrical problems, a penalty as well as a number of spins in the wet saw the team finish just outside the podium, in 4th.[10] At the2017 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix, held at theLong Beach Street Circuit, the team would score its first podium with the car, with the #2 car scoring a 2nd-place finish, and the fastest lap of the race.[11] At the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen,Pipo Derani scored the firstPole position for the car.[12] The #22 car would secure the first win for the car at the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase, held atRoad America, with the team scoring a 1-3 finish and breaking the 7-race win streak for theCadillac DPi-V.R.[13][14] This first win for the car came following a change in the car's electronics fromCosworth to Motec, which had been made in an attempt to increase the reliability of the car.[15] Later, at the season endingPetit Le Mans, the #2 car would benefit from late penalties for the sister #22 car, and the #5Mustang Sampling Racing cars to win.[16]
The 2018 season started with a double retirement at the2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona, in spite of the #22 car leading the race for several laps.[17] At the following race, the12 Hours of Sebring, the team would bounce back, scoring a win, following a strong late-race drive byPipo Derani.[18] Following the disastrous weekend during the6 Hours of Watkins Glen, where the team had used 3 engines, and suffered 2 engine failures, the team scaled down its entry to a single car at theCanadian Tire Motorsport Park.[19] Even after the announcement byPatrón that they were to end its involvement in motorsports,Extreme Speed Motorsports had still aimed and intended to continue its participation in the 2019 season with the car.[20] The team later announced it was to relinquish its exclusivity deal withOnroak Automotive, making the car available for purchase with other teams through Onroak.[21] At the America's Tire 250, held at theWeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the car would score its 4th and final win under ESM,[22] and while Derani would score a pole for his final race with the team at the2018 Petit Le Mans, the team was unable to repeat its win in the previous edition of the race, with the #22 finishing in 6th, while the #2 car would finish 11th.[23] Following the end of the season, ESM would sell both cars to CORE Autosport, before closing its doors.
Due to the withdrawal of title sponsorPatrón Spirits, ESM was forced to shut its doors in November 2018.[24] Subsequently,CORE Autosport announced it would run one car, having acquired both ESM chassis.[25] On 23 August 2019, it was announced by CORE Autosport, that due to the retirement of team owner/driver Jon Bennett, the team would be ceasing its Daytona Prototype International programme, following the season ending2019 Petit Le Mans, and solely shift its focus on thePorsche factory GT Le Mans Programme.[26] It has also been said that the discontinuation of the programme at CORE Autosport would likely mean an end to racing for the car, as it was known thatNissan had previously shown little interest in supporting the effort.[27][28]
(key) Races inbold indicatespole position. Races initalics indicates fastest lap.(key) Races inbold indicatespole position. Races initalics indicates fastest lap.
| Year | Entrant | Class | Drivers | No. | Rds. | Rounds | Pts. | Pos. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||
| 2017 |  Tequila Patrón ESM | P |  Ryan DalzielScott Sharp Pipo Derani Brendon Hartley | 2 | All All 1-2, 6 1, 12 | DAY 4 | SEB 11 | LBH 2 | COA 6 | BEL 8 | WGL 7 | MOS 3 | ELK 3 | LGA 6 | ATL 1 | 273 | 5th |
| Johannes van Overbeek | 22 | All 1-5 1-2, 6, 12 1-2 7, 9, 11–12 | DAY 7 | SEB 10 | LBH 9 | COA 5 | BEL 7 | WGL 8 | MOS 9 | ELK 1 | LGA 8 | ATL 4 | 249 | 6th | |||
| 2018 | Tequila Patrón ESM | P | Ryan DalzielScott Sharp Olivier PlaNorman Nato | 2 | 1-6, 9, 11–12 1-2, 6 12 | DAY 19 | SEB 16 | LBH 2 | MOH 10 | BEL 4 | WGL 15 | MOS | ELK 9 | LGA 11 | ATL 11 | 186 | 13rd |
Pipo DeraniJohannes van OverbeekNicolas LapierreRyan Dalziel Timo Bernhard | 22 | All 1-6, 9, 11–12 1-2, 6 7 12 | DAY 18 | SEB 1 | LBH 12 | MOH 9 | BEL 7 | WGL 16 | MOS 12 | ELK 6 | LGA 1 | ATL 6 | 232 | 9th | |||
| 2019 | CORE Autosport | DPi | Jon BennettColin BraunRomain DumasLoïc Duval | 54 | All All 1-2, 6, 12 1 | DAY 4 | SEB 5 | LBH 11 | MOH 11 | BEL 7 | WGL 11 | MOS 7 | ELK 10 | LGA 7 | ATL 8 | 230 | 9th |
| Sources:[29][30][31][32] | |||||||||||||||||
