British GT outfit Optimum Motorsport has confirmed that it will enter its Audi R8 LMS into the 2017 Michelin Le Mans Cup, with Joe Osborne and Flick Haigh set to share driving duties.

The Optimum team’s entry centres around the opportunity to win an automatic invite to the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours. It completed in the Le Mans Cup last year when it featured GT3-only format at Circuit Paul Ricard.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity with Optimum Motorsport,” said Haigh. “I took a step back from wheel-to-wheel racing after I left Caterhams in 2013 and endurance racing is something I’ve loved and enjoyed immensely. However, when the opportunity arose to get back into sprint format racing, I felt a desire to sharpen up my racecraft and I feel ready to tap back into that mindset and get some results. Joe (Osborne) and I have worked together for a few years now.

“He is not only a friend but a great driver coach and we work well. I have a huge amount of respect for him, which I believe makes for a great driver pairing.”

Osborne added: “I’m really looking forward to getting this campaign underway. We visit some very cool circuits to drive in a GT3. Flick (Haigh) is currently driving better than ever in the Audi and is still improving. Optimum Motorsport is proving to engineer one of the fastest Audi R8 LMS GT3s out there, so bring on the fun.”