Over the weekend I was in Austin, Texas, at Circuit of the Americas for a final shakedown test with Forbush Performance in their LMP3 Ligier.
It was our last test before the 2026 season begins. Not only was it a chance to get seat time at CotA for the upcoming race there in May, but the test also allowed us to do our final systems tests and make sure everything is in good order as we head into the first round of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge endurance series that we’ll be competing in. That first race is coming up at Sebring International Raceway in a few short weeks.
Friday’s weather was ideal for testing, with temperatures in the low 70s and plenty of sun. We first focused on optimizing the car for the circuit, then later, it was all about getting my co-driver Matt Forbush seat time to familiarize himself with driving the track in this incredibly high-performance car.
Matt is familiar with CotA, having raced there many times in the GT4 category, but it’s a whole other perspective with the performance level of a P3 car, including all the downforce and grip this car creates.
After a very successful first day, we were greeted on day two with rainy conditions. Although this wasn’t necessarily part of our test plan, it provided a perfect opportunity for Matt to get familiar with the car in the rain. If we face rainy conditions this season, it won’t be his first time driving the Ligier in the wet.
Matt got to gain confidence in the rain during the test, and since there are a lot of setting adjustments that can be made to this car in the case of rain, it was a valuable chance to get our heads wrapped around optimizing the Ligier for wet conditions.
I’m really excited for this series to start, and I don’t have to wait long: it’s just around the corner at Sebring in the beginning of March. I’m looking forward to racing with Matt again in this LMP3 platform. With the two-hour endurance format, it will offer great seat time and a fun challenge for me.