Performance Tech Motorsports has elected to skip next weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle, with the team citing a focus on a “rigorous testing” program prior to its return to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition next month at Watkins Glen.

The Brent O’Neill-led team has had mixed results in its first year in the Prototype class, with James French and Kyle Masson coming off an 11th place finish at Mid-Ohio with their Oreca 07 Gibson, in what has generally been a struggle for all LMP2 competitors so far this year.

“Detroit is a great event but we’re going to skip the race this year in favor of more testing,” O’Neill said. “Being that Detroit is a street course and a non IMSA weekend it just doesn’t get us the quality track time we are wanting right now.

“I spoke with Kyle and James and they agreed we could make better use of our time if we spent the budget on testing and prepared for Watkins Glen.”

A team spokesperson told Sportscar365 they have testing planned in the build-up to the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. However, it is not currently listed in IMSA’s private testing declaration form.

O’Neill said they plan to complete the remainder of the season.

“We’re excited to go back to The Glen this year because its Centinel Spine’s home race and they have a few special things planned for the race, he said.

“We look forward to doing the remainder of the WeatherTech season and will miss the great fans at Detroit. But we’re excited to see the results testing can bring.”