Strakka Racing team boss Piers Phillips has hailed his team's remarkable LMP2 class win at the 78th Le Mans 24 Hours as "amazing."
The British team defeated pre-event favorite Highcroft Racing to win the class, recording the highest-ever finish for an LMP2 car at Le Mans by taking fifth overall.
Strakka, which used a similar HPD ARX-01c to that of works development squad (and reigning American Le Mans Series champion) Highcroft, scored pole position, set a new class lap record in the race, and also recorded a new distance record for an LMP2 car.
Team manager and technical director Phillips said: "To be the highest-placed LMP2 car at Le Mans means everything. In our current guise, we've only been around for a year or so. For us to turn up here, against heavily favored opposition, and show them a clean pair of heels is just fantastic.
"It's been 12 months of hard work – getting fantastic staff, the right driver package, the right car, the right engineering team – and this is our reward."
The Strakka HPD, driven by Danny Watts, ex-British Formula 3 champion Jonny Kane, and team owner Nick Leventis, enjoyed a near faultless run at Le Mans – allowing it to lead all but three laps (when it dropped behind Highcroft during a round of pit stops) and claim the Michelin Green X Challenge, a prize for the most efficient performance at the event.
"There's been nobody quicker than us," added Phillips. "To take pole, get fastest lap, and a lights-to-flag win, without any issue whatsoever, is amazing – the engine cover was never off once.
"HPD is a fantastic organization and this [result] is due to them – the car was fast and fuel efficient.
"A huge amount of credit to Michelin as well – the tire was absolutely fantastic. We work very closely with them, but they turn up with something that blows your socks off every time."