FCP Euro is a company for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. That may not be our slogan, but the sentiment rings true every day we operate. Take a peek at our parking lot on a work day, and you’ll see all sorts of Euro metal parked in various states of condition and modification. That passion we have for our cars is the same we put into delivering the service that brings you the parts for yours and is a core reason behind our incredible growth and success.
Through that growth and success, we’ve partnered with Lime Rock Park, built wild project vehicles, and upped our motorsports game to nearly the highest level. It’s been an incredible journey fueled by dedicated team members throughout the entire company and the support from one of the greatest communities there is. Thanks to all of that, we were able to experience our Company Picnic and showcase our passion in front of that community at the FCP Euro Northeast Grand Prix.
View The 2022 FCP Euro Company Picnic Photo Gallery
Tucked into the rolling hills of Northwest Connecticut, Lime Rock Park’s short and challenging layout makes for great racing and a stunning backdrop. FCP Euro was incredibly proud to partner with the track in 2021 and act as title sponsor for this year’s IMSA race, providing plenty of interaction with fans and employees alike. Speaking of the fans, this year’s race attendance was the largest in the Park’s recent history, thanks to a competitive field and close racing. On top of that, FCP Euro had nearly 700 employees, family, and friends from partners like Corteco, Bilstein, LIQUI MOLY, and Schaeffler to celebrate the shared success, culminating in the largest company picnic to date!
Along with the picnic, FCP Euro employees supported the company through fan interaction. Employee and company project vehicles lined the entry to the Midway, where spectators traversed to soak in all Lime Rock Park had to offer. Familiar faces from our DIYs, like JR Huntington’s E46 M3 and Mike Hidalgo’s 996 Carrera, were joined by Jamie Orr’s Mk4 VW GTI, the Yippie Cayenne project, and Michael Essa’s fire-spitting BMW F30 drift machine. FCP Euro’s supporters also brought out their European vehicles, filling the parking lots with some of the best Europe has ever offered. “Best” is subjective, but there was plenty for everyone to enjoy, including a B5 Audi S4 Avant, a few BMW E9 3.0CSs, a smattering of modern and vintage Porsches, a handful of hot Volkswagens, and a multitude of AMG-built Mercedes.
Over at the FCP Euro booth, FCP Euro Event Coordinator, Jess Raison, was on hand to inform and interact with the public looking for some insight into the company. Once their questions were answered, many took part in the Blue Tape Box challenge. With the first prize of $500 in FCP Euro credit, spectators battled it out to see who could pack and seal a shipping box with assorted FCP Euro swag and parts in the shortest amount of time. Back over at the LRP Chalet, FCP Euro guests were treated to prime seating on the hill overlooking the Start/Finish line as a large tent full of tables, chairs, food, and shade awaited them whenever they wanted. From there, they watched FCP Euro’s motorsports team battle it out in the “Lime Rock 120.”
Like the picnic, the Motorsports Team is a badge of the company’s success. Starting in club racing and moving through AER and SRO to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge wasn’t easy, but the fruits of all of that work were fully displayed for the picnic.
Trevor Andrusko piloted the #55 Mercedes-AMG GT4 to fifth position in qualifying in the GS class, giving the team a great starting position. At the race start, the #55 FCP Euro entry held its own before getting forced off the track at the lefthander. With plenty of time to go, Mike Skeen, the second driver in the FCP Euro Motorsport stable, found himself on his back foot and at the back of their class. Undeterred by the incident, the team pushed on with a new race strategy. While competitors, unfortunately, met their match with walls of The Bull Ring, or one another, our Mercedes-AMG GT4 ran fast and clean laps to claw back position.
With a little under 30-minutes left, a full course yellow brought out the safety car to bunch up the field, allowing teams to dive into the pits for fuel and tires. Thanks to the revised strategy, the FCP Euro by Ricca Autosport team stayed on track with enough fuel to last the rest of the race. Driver Mike Skeen battled through the closing half-hour against an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 and a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS CS until the team checkered to secure a fourth-place finish.
Beyond the motorsports team, many other employees worked hard to ensure the picnic went off without a hitch. Under the leadership of Events Director Nathan Brown, everyone on the Events Team was moving at full tilt to prep the infield for maximum guest enjoyment and company presence. While most employees ate and enjoyed the race, a dedicated bunch were out working booths, interacting with customers, covering the race team, and working the social channels for those watching through social media. Even on days of celebration, FCP Euro’s commitment to service and success shines above all else in their pursuit of quality.
Again, a big "Thank You" to everyone who helped make this year's company picnic a huge success as well as every customer and fan that came out!
If you would like to become part of the team and enjoy FCP Euro's 2023 company picnic from the inside, check out our careers page at careers.fcpeuro.com.
