ALMS news

[Rob]

Posted 12.18.09
DR. ULLRICH: AUDI R8 LMS FOR 2011 CHALLENGE CLASS?
Audi Motorsport chief says plans are to sell cars in US for 2011


Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: "If we can do something to support (the GT Challenge class), we would like to do it."

Audi Sport chief Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich says plans are under way to bring Audi’s R8 LMS production car to North America, perhaps as early as 2011. On this week’s Midweek Motorsport radio show, he told host John Hindhaugh that having the R8 LMS in the American Le Mans Series’ GT Challenge class is an intriguing idea.

“From 2011 on, we want to the cars available to customers in the United States,” Ulrich said. “We will have to build up a customer service that provides the good service that is expected from an Audi car in the United States. I think it would be interesting for IMSA to open (the GT Challenge) class. If we can do something to support it, we would like to do it. We have been working with IMSA for some time in building up the American Le Mans Series. I think a GT3 class (or similar) in the American Le Mans Series is something positive.”

[Rob]

Series spotlight - Chris Dyson 2009-12-16
Racing series ALMS
Date 2009-12-16

CHRIS DYSON: A DRIVEN MAN

Chris Dyson is a very driven man. Both in and out the cockpit, Dyson exudes passion and professionalism in his unique position as head of Dyson Racing and as one of its drivers in the No. 20 BP Lola-Mazda. Flat out, even in the offseason, the 31-year-old still had time to speak with Lola-Group.com this week on his teams 2009 season and also looking ahead impatiently towards 2010.

Looking at the season as a whole, how satisfied were you in the progress made with the Lola-Mazda package in 2009?

"We were really delighted with the performance gains we saw throughout 2009. We always knew the package had potential, and we saw this quite early in the season. By the end of the season we had the fastest car in our category, and that was very satisfying - especially given the strength of our competition in the form of the Acura and Porsche Spyder teams."

What is it specifically that attracts Dyson to Lola sports cars?

"The cars are always fundamentally extremely well conceived at the cutting edge of technology. From a safety standpoint, there's no other sports car constructor who builds better cars. From Martin Birrane on down, everyone at Lola is massively committed to achieving sports car racing success, and we wholeheartedly share their philosophy. It's a wonderful partnership."

You sampled Le Mans for the first time in a Lola this year. You must have ambitions to bring the Dyson team to La Sarthe?

"I had a great experience with the RML Mazda team at Le Mans. We were very competitive throughout the event in all conditions. We remain highly interested in taking our team to Le Mans, but we also recognize that all the pieces need to be in place for a proper effort. It is a logistical and financial commitment that requires full commitment from sponsors and we are always weighing the timing of taking our team to Le Mans. It's a fantastic event. For the time being, however, our priority for 2010 is achieving success in the American Le Mans Series."

Do you believe in the Coupe concept for modern day LMPs and do you think they have a clear future?

"I certainly hope so! There's no more evocative and defining machinery racing anywhere in the world than the current LMP coupes. I grew up during the IMSA GTP era so I'm inherently biased towards closed-top prototypes. I think they have an amazing resonance with both manufacturers and fans alike. The following for the Lola-Mazda is far beyond any other car I've driven. The cars look like they are doing 200mph sitting still, and that for me is the essence of a racing car. I think it would be foolish for the organizers to not embrace the coupe concept for the long-term as the shapes of these cars make them truly unique in the world of motorsport and ensure that our style of racing is instantly recognizable. Thankfully, Lola understands this quite clearly."

[Rob]

Posted 12.22.09
SERIES TEAMS TALK ABOUT THE INTERCONTINENTAL CUP
International acclaim and competition spurs interest from American Le Mans Series teams following the newly innovative and highly anticipated Intercontinental Cup, a creation by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest that will debut on the world’s stage in 2010.



The ACO recently announced that Silverstone (September), Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans (October) and an Asian site (Novermber, venue TBA) will be the three host sites for the Intercontinental Cup. The competition is strictly for LMP1 teams and is geared toward factory entries. But will American Le Mans Series’ fans see Autocon, Drayson Racing or Intersport confirming an entry?



Autocon Racing:

“There is unfortunately no way we can do it as a small privateer team with a volunteer crew. … but if someone would get my car there, I would do the rest.

“I have been a racing fan since I was five years old and I would love to go to Silverstone - my family is from there - but the logistics in the short term, being 2010, do not make it possible.

“I am certainly aware of the (remarkable) tracks around the world, but it’s a long way to travel.”

- Mike Lewis, Driver/Owner



Drayson Racing:

“The Intercontinental Cup is a terrific idea that provides a global stage for world class factory and private sports car teams to compete at the highest level. Drayson Racing's ‘world tour’ of races in the American Le Mans Series, LMS and Asian Le Mans Series in 2009 gave me a clear sense of the potential for such a global championship. We will compete with our LMP1 Lola Coupe Judd V10 in the ACO’s Intercontinental Cup in 2010. I hope that, in time, this will lead to a full world championship for LMP1 sports cars emphasising speed, endurance, energy efficiency and technological innovation. In other words, a global motorsport series that is relevant in the 21st century. It is an exciting prospect.”

- Paul Drayson, Driver/Owner



“We have been looking forward to the ACO’s announcement about the Intercontinental Cup. The Intercontinental Cup fits perfectly into the strategy of Paul and Elspeth Drayson to take our team and its message to the great venues of the world. We had our own ‘world tour’ last year and got to race at all three of these venues and enjoyed considerable success. With much more P1 experience under our belt entering these races next year, we feel we have a good shot at what I think will become a prestigious championship. To compete in a world championship has always been a personal goal for me and I am looking forward to what the future will hold if the sport returns to a true, international championship for LMP1 cars.”
- Dale White, Team Manager



Intersport Racing:

“In these economic times, it’s probably not the best idea for us; however, bearing some sponsorship, we would reconsider.

“As we are running in the American Le Mans Series, you will be seeing us at Petit Le Mans - one hundred percent.

“I’m supportive of any kind of racing, but at this moment, it doesn’t fit our business model and our team. It would be worthwhile more for a factory team because they can showcase their car and do some R&D around the world.”

Clint Field, Drivers/Owner

[Rob]

Posted 12.22.09
AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION DISPLAYS RARE, HAND CARVED TIRE AT NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM
Michelin Tire featured by the Series' GT1 Series Championship Winning Corvette Racing Team
The Austin Hatcher Foundation's one-of-a-kind, hand-carved Michelin tire is now on display, along with the rear wheel from the 2007 American Le Mans Series GT1 Championship Corvette, at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This piece of motorsports history was part of the General Motors display at the 2009 SEMA show and will remain at the museum until mid-January, and will be auctioned later in the year to raise monies for children and families affected by pediatric cancer.

During the 2009 American Le Mans Series Petite Le Mans, drivers from Corvette Racing's Championship team, Austin Hatcher Foundation guests, and celebrities had the rare opportunity to help carve this unique tread onto the Michelin tire, mounted on a BBS wheel at the American Le Mans Series/Michelin/Corvette Racing "Tire Groove" Event. The tread, which showcases the logos of Michelin, Corvette Racing, the American Le Mans Series, the Austin Hatcher Foundation and the Foundation's Hatch's house of hope, made its transformation over the course of the weekend, with many people getting a chance to carve this piece of history.

The Corvette Racing rear wheel was provided by Pratt Miller/Corvette Racing and was on the #4 GT1 Corvette during every one of the eleven races the car won during the 2007 American Le Mans Series.

Participating drivers from the Championship Corvette Team, which boasts six 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins, as well as eight American Le Mans Series GT1 Manufacturers Championships, eight American Le Mans Series GT1 Team Championships and seven American Le Mans Series GT1 Drivers Championships, included Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Johnny O'Connell from the Compuware Corvette C6.R No. 3 and Olivier Beretta, Marcel Fassler and Oliver Gavin from the Compuware Corvette C6.R No. 4 car. Also taking the time out to make his mark on the tire was Corvette Racing Program Manager and well known Corvette icon, Doug Fehan.

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for a carefree childhood was formed in 2006 after Amy Jo and Jim Osborn lost their infant son Hatch to a rare form of pediatric cancer. The foundation's mission is to support research towards the diagnosis, treatment and development of a cure for pediatric cancer, and to provide support and hope to children and families undergoing treatment as well as those who have lost children due to cancer. The foundation has developed a landmark group of programs and services essential to help cancer stricken children and their families function within their community. All services provided by the Foundation are free of charge, funded solely by the generous donations of its supporters.

Hatch's house of hope is a unique concept designed to keep the family unit whole when dealing with pediatric cancer. Specifically, these services include Comprehensive Psychological/Neuropsychological testing, educational programming to help effected children overcome their cognitive and learning deficits, emotional counseling for the cancer affected child, their siblings and parents, and marital and financial counseling to ensure a safe environment to maximize the family growth as a whole. All services at Hatch's are free to its guests, funded entirely by donations. Erlanger Medical Mall in Chattanooga, TN is the site of the first Hatch's house of hope, which opened September18, 2009. For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org <http://www.hatcherfoundation.org/> .

The Austin Hatcher Foundation and the American Le Mans Series
In an effort to help support children and families dealing with issues resulting from pediatric cancer, the American Le Mans Series has partnered with the Austin Hatcher Foundation as an official charity of the Series. During each season, many of the world’s top sports car drivers will visit pediatric wards in various race markets nationwide to directly interact and support the children with pediatric cancer and their families.

The National Corvette Museum, known as home to Corvette enthusiasts all over the world, is located in Bowling Green, KY. Established as a 501(c)3not-for-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette and preserving its past, present and future, the museum serves as an educational and research model open to the public. The Corvette, whose first model rolled out in 1953, is known as America's Sports Car.

[Rob]

Posted 12.23.09
CORVETTE RACING 2009 REVIEW: DOUG FEHAN Q&A
The First in a Series of Conversations with Corvette Racing
Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan has seen it all in motorsports, and he had to rely on every element of that hard-earned experience to navigate through a tumultuous 2009 season. In the midst of a global economic storm, Fehan steered Corvette Racing to the team's sixth win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the successful mid-year introduction of the GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R in the American Le Mans Series.

Corvette Racing's 10th anniversary season was a year of transition. The championship-winning GT1 Compuware Corvettes secured a seventh win in the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 21, and made their farewell appearance in the ALMS in Long Beach, Calif., on April 18. The curtain fell on the GT1 era on June 13-14 with a GT1 victory in Le Mans, France, as Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia stood on the top step of the podium. Seven weeks later, two new-generation Corvette C6.Rs made their competition debut in the GT2 class at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

As the team conducted a five-race test program in preparation for a unified GT class in 2010, Corvette Racing posted five podium finishes and notched its first GT2 win at Mosport International Raceway on August 30. In the series' final five rounds, Corvette Racing scored more team and manufacturer points than any other GT2 entry, and O'Connell and Magnussen tallied the most points in the GT2 drivers championship. The season ended with fireworks at Laguna Seca as Magnussen walked away from his battered race car after a high-speed crash on the final lap of the season.

Under Fehan's leadership, Corvette Racing has become one of the world's premier production sports car teams. An ardent advocate for the Corvette cause and an icon for legions of faithful Corvette fans; Fehan received the ALMS "From the Fans" award in 2004, 2008, and 2009. In the following Q&A, he looks back at the 2009 season and looks ahead to 2010.

Q: Looking in the rearview mirror, what stands out in 2009?

Fehan: "There were really two parts to the season – our final races in GT1 leading up to Le Mans, followed by the debut of the GT2 program. Our focus was and will always be the 24 Hours of Le Mans. When GM was going through its restructuring, our greatest concern was that some might not understand the importance and significance of that event. It was a heartening moment when we were able to get past that point.

"In spite of many uncertainties, the team focused its energy on running the first round at Sebring, which we knew would be a great test of the engineering improvements we'd made in the race cars. And then going to Long Beach, we fulfilled the second half of our mission, which is marketing the Corvette and Chevrolet brands and representing our team sponsors.

"Everyone felt the importance of writing the final chapter of GT1 at Le Mans. They dedicated themselves to succeed, and it was absolutely amazing to see them embrace that idea. It fueled their fire because they knew the team was undergoing its most significant challenge, and concurrently they were designing, planning and building the GT2 cars. The preparation was almost as much fun as the race."

Q: And the highlight of the GT2 portion?

Fehan: "The win at Mosport. Watching the new cars' first laps at Mid-Ohio and knowing that we'd be competitive was certainly exciting, but the victory at Mosport was overwhelming. It happened much sooner than we expected, and it showed ALMS fans what they have to look forward to in 2010 with competition between Corvette, Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, and Ford.

"I think by any measure, the GT2 Corvette introduction was successful. Our objective was to focus on Corvette Racing's core strengths: preparation, durability and reliability. We've learned that is what scores points – it's not always the fastest car that wins races and championships. In five events, we had zero mechanical issues, and the cars were on pace. That was very encouraging."

Q: Surely one of the highlights of 2009 was your stunning victory over Jan "The Flying Viking" Magnussen in the Tour de Road America Bike Ride to Fight Cancer?

Fehan: "That certainly ranks right at the top, but in a different category (laughs). We had some fun, and the race benefited a good cause, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I challenge the pit crews to improve continuously, and the bike race demonstrated to our drivers that there is going to be continuous improvement in their level of physical preparation as well. I mean, they ought to be able to keep up with the program manager!"

Q: On a serious note, what were the lessons learned in Jan's last-lap crash at Laguna Seca?

Fehan: "Unfortunately the hardest lessons you learn in this sport are always safety related. You never want to put your safety systems to the test, but when that moment arrives, it's very reassuring to know that they are validated. That's what we learned at Laguna Seca.

"Initially we had concerns about running an aluminum chassis, and we had concerns about how the roll cage was integrated into the chassis. The force of the impact exceeded 50 g's, and yet Jan walked away. When we analyzed the chassis after the crash, the safety systems worked just as they were designed, and the aluminum chassis did a marvelous job of absorbing the energy and protecting Jan from serious injury.

"The extent of Jan's injuries was a broken tailbone, which we attribute to the seat design. We have redesigned that part to prevent a reoccurrence in the future, so that is the upside of the incident. Despite the severity of the crash, the crew had the No. 3 Corvette repaired and fully operational within a couple of weeks."

Q: What is the status of the GT-spec Corvette customer car program for 2010?

Fehan: "We currently have two customer cars under construction, but we don't yet have confirmed buyers for them. There has been tremendous interest in the GT-spec Corvette C6.Rs, and we think with continued improvement in the global economy, the interested parties will be able to make a commitment. We'd be delighted to see more Corvettes racing in the ALMS or overseas."

Q: While there will be a single GT class in the ALMS in 2010, GT1 will continue in the FIA series and at Le Mans. What's your perspective on the two classes?

Fehan: "A year ago, there was general agreement regarding a unified GT class, which we will see in the ALMS in 2010. The intention at that time was to base the FIA GT1 class on GT cars, with limited modifications to the engine and aerodynamics. Since then, however, Europe has encountered the same economic issues that we have faced in the U.S., and many members of the racing community understandably wish to retain their current cars for financial reasons. Consequently some of the older GT1 cars will now be converted to the new regulations, including several privately owned Corvette C6.Rs, and the ACO has invited these cars to participate at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the economic climate improves, I hope that the decision makers will recognize the benefits of running one GT class at Le Mans and other venues."

Q: Corvette Racing will introduce a production-based 5.5-liter small-block V-8 engine in 2010 in place of the 7.0-liter and 6.0-liter engines used previously. What's the outlook for the engine program?

Fehan: "GM Powertrain has completed the initial dynamometer tests of the 5.5-liter small-block V8, and the race team has conducted the first track test with the new engine. We are quite satisfied with its performance level at this point. We plan to continue development and introduce the 5.5-liter engine package in competition at Sebring."

Q: What are Corvette Racing's goals for 2010?

Fehan: "The ALMS GT championship and victory at Le Mans."

[Rob]

Merry Christmas from Risi Competizione.We'll be back on track in 2010 in the new Ferrari 430 Evoluzione. See you at Sebring!!!

[Rob]

Posted 12.29.09
ENDURANCE OF ANOTHER KIND FOR GAVIN, MOWLEM, SMITH
Running in London Marathon to support children's cancer
American Le Mans Series stars Oliver Gavin, Johnny Mowlem and Guy Smith are among the membership of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) that will contest this year's London Marathon on April 25 in support of the children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent in the UK. All three are avid runners, and not surprisingly long-distance running is part of their training program for endurance racing.

Corvette Racing’s Gavin, in particular, is a marathon man having raced in both the Paris and London marathons since his first race in 2002.

A number of fellow BRDC participants are familiar names to American Le Mans Series fans – Andy Priaulx, Darren Turner, Peter Dumbreck and Richard Westbrook among them.

[Rob]

Posted 01.05.10
CORVETTE’S FEHAN: EFFICIENCY IS THE BUZZWORD
Corvette’s green innovations and other random thoughts


Doug Fehan educating the masses on Corvette Racing's green philosophy.

When it comes to preaching the gospel of GM and green racing, there’s no better messenger than Doug Fehan. Corvette Racing’s immensely popular program manager will be on his way to Daytona Beach, Fla., for a Thursday night address to participants in the EcoCAR Challenge. The program is a three-year collegiate advanced vehicle technology engineering competition established by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM), and is being managed by Argonne National Laboratory.

“The plan is to talk to them about what GM’s initiatives are and what we do at Corvette Racing – our association with E85 and the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge,” said Fehan, who oversaw Corvette’s 2009 effort that netted the Green Challenge GT championship as well as American Le Mans Series victories in both GT1 and GT2. “From a pure racing standpoint, we’ll be looking at things like our use of E85 in the C6.R, aerodynamic advancements, ceramic wheel bearings, zero viscosity lubricants and working with Michelin on rolling resistance in tires.”


The new 5.5-liter V8 that will power Corvette Racing's two Corvette C6.Rs will have one final test before debuting at Sebring.

The competition challenges 17 universities across North America to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles by minimizing the vehicle’s fuel consumption and reducing its emissions while retaining the vehicle’s performance, safety and consumer appeal. Students use a real-world engineering process to design and integrate their advanced technology solutions into a GM-donated vehicle.

“Efficiency is the buzzword,” Fehan said. “The same things we look at in race cars are the same ones we look at in production cars. Manufacturers are looking at those things like components and wind resistances, not just fuel and energy. The ZR1 (the car on which the GT Corvette is homologated) is a living, breathing testament to what we call cascade engineering. We went from C5 to C6 to Z06 to now the ZR1, sharing information and developments with the production side of GM.

“This is going to progress in steps,” he said of the continual push for automotive efficiency and innovation. “You know, Edison looked at more than 2,000 iterations of the light bulb that didn’t work. He was interviewed and said he was encouraged because he found 2,000 ways it didn’t work and was that much closer to having something that did work. You have to go through these processes in order to eliminate ideas that aren’t practical.”

Fehan also answered a couple of other Corvette Racing-related queries…

Testing of new Corvette 5.5-liter GT motor?
“We had one of the cars testing at Road Atlanta in November with the 5.5-liter. The feedback was very, very good. The dyno work has been continuous. We will be back on track again in February for the final test before we debut it at Sebring for the 12 Hours.”

Corvette customer prospects?
“We’ve had a tremendous amount of interest. Admittedly, it’s tough in these times. But both in North America and Europe, people are genuinely excited and we’ve fielded a lot of calls.”

Will the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix be back?
“I would certainly hope so. That is strictly up to Roger (Penske) but I think every competitor would like to see that brought back on the schedule. Roger said he would take a two-year hiatus and evaluate things (Ed. Note: Indeed, event chairman Bud Denker is optimistic for a 2011 return). He has made a terrific investment in the infrastructure on Belle Isle.”

The importance of the Detroit Auto Show to the city and GM?
“It is still a massive event. Clearly, the extravagance in the displays across the board has been dramatically reduced. That’s Toyota, Mercedes, GM, Ford - everyone is taking a serious look at where they are. But Detroit is still the motor capital of the world, and the importance of the show hasn’t changed a bit.”

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Posted 01.08.10

NEW TEAM. VETERAN DRIVER

Johannes van Overbeek, one of the world’s top independent Porsche drivers, promotes the challenges and accolades that come from building and being part of a new team. Now the latest member of Extreme Speed Motorsports, van Overbeek talks about how this GT entry has and continues to prepare its two Ferrari F430 GTs to be competition-ready for the 2010 American Le Mans Series.

Let's get to the heart of your new team, Extreme Speed Motorsports. What has the team been recently doing to prepare for its first year in the American Le Mans Series?

“Currently we are in the process of building a new team headquarters in Florida, and our team owner Scott (Sharp) has been hard at it for more than a month. I have seen a few photos and it is really going to be something amazing.”

You have been with the Flying Lizard Motorsports team since its groundbreaking. What is it like to go through this experience with Extreme Speed Motorsports?

“Yes, it is true. I was with [Flying Lizard] since the very, very beginning, so I am well aware of all the hard work that Scott and Derek (Granison) have done and need to continue to do going forward. They have done an exceptional job putting all the pieces together – with building the shop, the car and organizing a team of people. Most fans only see the shiny cars that go around the race track, but there is a huge amount of pieces that have to be properly put into place.”



Van Overbeek: "I look forward to this new challenge and couldn’t be happier to join Extreme (Speed Motorsports)."


Also, in your Series career, you have piloted Porsches and BMWs. This will be the first time in a Ferrari. Is there a lot of excitement surrounding learning a new car?

“I have to say that I am going to be sad not being able to work with all the friends I’ve made at Porsche in the more recent years, but I am excited to meet new friends in Ferrari. I look forward to this new challenge and couldn’t be happier to join Extreme, Scott, Ed (Brown), and Guy (Cosmo), and having Patrón a part of the project. I am excited about 2010.”

What about your new teammates – are you familiar yet with their driving styles and preferences?

“I was around Scott, Ed and Guy a lot last year during the American Le Mans Series season, but haven’t driven with any of them before.”

In 2009, you were honored with the winning of the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge award, has Extreme Speed Motorsports also been showing signs of embracing the green initiatives of the Series?

“I felt honored to win the first annual MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge award. At Extreme Speed Motorsports, we want to operate everything as efficiently as possible because there is a time and money component as well as the desire to be a good steward of the earth.

“From my position, I will certainly work toward being as efficient as possible while improving our impacts on the earth as much as we can and without sacrificing any performance. It’s nice because the two are really linked together – there is a synergy. You can’t really do one without the other.”

Will we expect to see you at Winter Test?

“Our team will be there. It will be a great time to fine tune our internal processes to allow us to be as competitive as we can possibly be.”

Van Overbeek also answered a couple additional personality questions for the fans:

What was your first race car and how old were you?

“I drove a Z-28 Camaro at 22 years old.”

What car do you currently drive on a daily basis?

“My passenger car is a Subaru station wagon.”

How do you stay in the peak physical shape?

“I like to go longdistance cycling.”

What is one thing fans might not know about you?

“I'm left handed.”

Name one living person you would like to meet and why?

“***** Yeager. I've always been an aviation fan.”

Who is the Series personality (driver, owner, crew member) you admire the most?

“Don Panoz (Founder of American Le Mans Series). Without him the Series wouldn't exist.”

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. For ticket and accommodation information, see sebringraceway.com

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Marino Franchitti joins Patrón Highcroft Racing
By Team Update ⋅ January 14, 2010

© Patrón Highcroft Racing

Highcroft Racing has locked in another American Le Mans Series race winner for its 2010 driver line-up with Marino Franchitti joining forces with David Brabham and Simon Pagenaud.

Franchitti took two LMP2 class victories for Dyson Racing in 2009, but will now line-up aboard the Honda Performance Development factory-backed ARX-01c Patrón Highcroft Racing entry for the 2010 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the Monterey Sports Car Championship at Laguna Seca and the season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

Marino will have a significantly enhanced scope of responsibilities to those given to his brother, Dario, by the team last season. Alongside his three confirmed race outings, the popular Scotsman will be behind the wheel for additional test duties as well as attending each round of the ALMS championship.

Franchitti took three pole positions, three fastest race laps and 10 podiums from 10 races last season, two of which were ALMS LMP2 class victories alongside Butch Leitzinger at Lime Rock Park and at Petit Le Mans with Leitzinger and Ben Devlin.

The 31-year-old originally made his American Le Mans Series debut aboard a Ferrari 360 in 2001. After several seasons in GT machinery, Franchitti graduated to the LMP2 class in 2007 with Andretti Green Racing (AGR).

Strong results for the factory Acura AGR squad earned Franchitti a full-time ride with Dyson Racing in 2008 which grew into a factory Mazda entry last season.

The three Patrón Highcroft Racing stars will join the team in Danbury next week for their pre-season seat-fitting.

Franchitti, Brabham and Pagenaud will then undertake their first laps aboard the newly-revised ARX-01c the following week.

The team’s 2010 livery will be revealed at the annual Wheels Down Winter Test at Sebring on February 22-23. The opening round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series at Sebring is scheduled for March 20.

Marino Franchitti
“It’s great to be joining the championship winning team and linking up not only with last year’s two fastest drivers in LMP1 in the American Le Mans Series, but also two good friends who will be my teammates. Brabs I’ve known and admired for years, and Simon became a friend almost from the time he came to the ALMS.
“I’m very excited about my role with the team because I will not only be doing the long races at Sebring, Laguna Seca and Petit Le Mans, but I will also be attending all the other races.
“My job will be to sit in on all our team briefings and hopefully be able to learn and also lean on some of the experience I’ve gained in recent years in order to have a positive input into the development of the car. There are also a lot of test miles planned in preparation for the championship defense so I know I won’t be idle.
“Duncan has made no secret of his desire to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also expand the team into a second car, so obviously there are some great opportunities ahead.
“We’ve been friends for a long time and you can’t help but be impressed by what Duncan and his team have accomplished in recent years.”

Duncan Dayton
“The calendar clash with Petit Le Mans and IndyCar forced us to look for a new third driver for this year and we were very fortunate to be able to keep it in the family.
“But Marino’s surname really had nothing to do with the decision. He has been extremely impressive over the past couple of seasons and we jumped at the opportunity to grab him when he became available.
“We’ve been friends for quite a few years and he shares the same passion for the sport that we all have here in Danbury - both for modern and historic racing.
“We’re excited about his role for Patrón Highcroft Racing. We’re looking to build for the future and as we expand program, we’d like Marino to be a part of that.
“Brabs has played an integral role for our team and we want him to be a part our organization for many years to come - but he may not want still to be behind the wheel in 10 years time.
“Bringing younger guys on board like Simon and Marino is important for securing our future.
“I’m truly excited about our line-up for the 2010 season and can’t wait to kick off our championship defense.”

[Rob]

FEINBERG AND MARCELLI TO LMP FOR 2010
Primetime Race Group has signed 19-year-old Canadian driver Kyle Marcelli to race alongside team owner Joel Feinberg in the 2010 American Le Mans Series in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class (LMPC). After clinching the 2009 IMSA Lites championship, the Florida-based team has decided to build on its success and transition from IMSA Lites and the American Le Mans Series’ GT2 class to LMPC.

Throughout 2009, Feinberg and Marcelli competed head-to-head in IMSA Lites, one of the sanctioning body’s premier development championships. Recognizing each other’s abilities behind the wheel as well as sharing the same aspirations as drivers, the two will team up for a run at the LMPC season championship in 2010.

Together they will co-drive the Primetime Race Group entry through the pre-season testing and in each of the nine events on the American Le Mans Series race schedule. Their goal is to improve upon Primetime’s 2009 championships and claim a 2010 season championships in the LMPC class, which would make Marcelli the youngest American Le Mans Series champion in history.

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Marcelli. “When I was 13, my dad and I used to go to Mosport International Raceway each year when the American Le Mans Series arrived in late August. We would sit on top of Turn 2 with thousands of others and watch the prototypes and GT cars race by. Six years later, I have found myself behind the wheel. I’m excited to team up with Joel and Primetime. He is a quick driver with a good amount of experience in the American Le Mans Series, and the team has shown a great track record over the years. I know we will both be pushing each other all season long.”

Primetime is no stranger to the big show. The team campaigned its Dodge Viper GT2 program in the American Le Mans Series full time for the past two years as an independent team and Feinberg was recently awarded the 2009 Founders Cup Championship as the No. 1 gentleman driver in the Series.

“This move is a true testament to all of our hard work over the past few years,” said Feinberg. “Our goal as a team since day one was to start at the bottom and work our way to the top. We’ve proven ourselves thus far and have established a team that can compete anywhere, against anyone. Racing at this level is a serious commitment and it takes the effort of the entire team to win races. After racing against Kyle last year and getting to know him I feel that he will be a great addition to our team and I look forward to winning lots of races with him this year.”

“When we announced the formation of the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class in August, Joel was one of the first to express interest in participating for the 2010 season. The announcement of Primetime Race Group’s involvement in the Series is a textbook example of what we envisioned – an opportunity for existing teams to advance into the prototype category. Joel’s and Primetime’s experience both as GT competitors in the American Le Mans Series and also IMSA Lites will benefit them significantly in this exciting new category” stated American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton. “We offer Joel and everyone at Primetime our sincere thanks for their past involvement and best wishes for a successful 2010 LMPC campaign.”

The team will attend the Series’ annual Winter Test on February 22-23 at Sebring International Raceway. Drivers Feinberg and Marcelli will use testing time to develop the car and be race-ready for the start of the 2010 American Le Mans Series season, which kicks off on March 20th with the 58th Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida.

[Rob]

PATRÓN HIGHCROFT RACING'S MARINO FRANCHITTI Q&A
More from newest part of Duncan Dayton's 'Dream Team'
Patrón Highcroft Racing's newest signing Marino Franchitti will hit the track at Autosport International in the UK today, doing battle in teammate David Brabham's Celebrity Karting Challenge.

Franchitti will also appear on the Autosport Stage at 10:30am this morning alongside team boss Duncan Dayton. David Brabham will follow on stage at 11:00am.

While they will be rivals in today's event benefiting Malaria No More, Franchitti and Brabham will team up at Sebring, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta for Patrón Highcroft Racing in 2010. The Scottish star looks forward to season ahead in this Q&A.

Q: How much are you looking forward to joining David Brabham and Simon Pagenaud in the ALMS championship-winning team?

A: "I can't wait to get started. We're all going to meet up at the end of January for a seat fitting and for me, it can't come quick enough.
"It's great to be joining the championship winning team and linking up not only with last year's two fastest drivers in in LMP1 in the American Le Mans Series, but also two good friends who will be my teammates. Brabs I've known and admired for years, and Simon became a friend almost from the time he came to the ALMS.
"I think together we should make a really good team. There are a lot of guys at Patron Highcroft who I have worked with before in other programs so it really feels like home for me."

Q: How did the opportunity come about to join Patrón Highcroft Racing for 2010?

A: "I've had a great couple of years with Dyson Racing and they had one car confirmed for next year but were still working on the second car. Rob and Chris (Dyson) were very up-front with me and allowed me to go and pursue other opportunities.
"Simon was already locked in as Brabs' season-long teammate, but now Duncan has given me a fantastic chance to not only contest the long-distance races this year, but also play a role with the team going forward into the future.
"It was something I really couldn't turn down. I have to thank Dyson Racing for the opportunities they provided me over the past two years and allowing me to show what I could do. That really opened doors for me."

Q: What will your role be with the team throughout the 2010 season?

A: "I'm very excited about my role with the team because I will not only be doing the long races at Sebring, Laguna Seca and Petit Le Mans, but I will also be attending all the other races.
"My job will be to sit in on all our engineering briefings and hopefully be able to learn and also lean on some of the experience I've gained in recent years in order to have a positive input into the development of the car. There are also a lot of test miles planned in preparation for the championship defense so I know I won't be idle.
"For me, it will also be a great opportunity to learn from Brabs, who has tremendous experience in sportscar racing, and also the outstanding group of guys the team has in every department. I'll be just as busy as any other season, but with slightly less racing miles in 2010."

Q: Have you set your sights on other potential opportunities at Patrón Highcroft Racing in the future?

A: "Duncan has made no secret of his desire to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also expand the team into a second car, so obviously there are some great opportunities ahead.
"We've been friends for a long time and you can't help but be impressed by what Duncan and his team have accomplished in recent years.
"I think they have become the envy of the pit lane and it is now fantastic to be a part of that program.
"Duncan and I share a lot of the same passions - both in modern and historic racing - so there is a great opportunity for me to grow and expand with the team going forward."

Q: After several seasons in GT machinery early in your career, does the chance to go on and drive for organizations like Andretti Green Racing, Dyson Racing and now Patrón Highcroft Racing seem like a dream?

A: "I've had some great opportunities and been able to make the most of them; drive and determination have been crucial in my career. I always knew I could do the job given the right circumstances and I've been fortunate to have the equipment and the chance to do that.
"A few years ago I had to try and talk people into believing I could do the job, but fortunately the results have come which made it much easier and that is a nice progression to have made.
Brabs and I being where we are now, it's funny looking back to when we were both part of the Panoz GT program, myself in 2005 and Brabs a year later.
"Brabs has shown his determination, skill and complete focus to put him in this position. Simon is the same. After Champ Car went away he has gone on to show he is one of the fastest LMP drivers in the series.
"For me it has been about hunger and striving to achieve my goals. I'm not quite there yet, but moving to Patrón Highcroft Racing is a big step in the right direction."

Q: Your brother Dario has obviously had a great career, but do you feel you're starting to make a name for yourself as Marino Franchitti, not just Dario's brother?

A: "I really felt I began to make a name for myself back in 2007 in the AGR car. At the end of the day, I am my own man and I drive a completely different discipline of motorsport to my brother.
"When I moved to Dyson people really started to recognize me as an individual, and my second name really didn't come into it which is really nice."

Q: What have you been able to learn about the team from guys who you have worked with before and your brother?

A: "I got to observe the team in action from close quarters, so even when I was a rival, everyone was very welcoming at all times.
"The team has a very impressive set-up and you only have to look at the job that they did over the three years of the Acura program to be impressed.
"Knowing a few of the guys at Patron Highcroft I know Duncan has given them the resources to get the job done and looking at the effort they put in at Petit Le Mans over the past two years - rebuilding those cars was nothing short of remarkable.
"Dyson Racing has that same kind of spirit so it is really nice to again be racing with a bunch of guys who love the sport as much as I do.
"Duncan's passion knows no bounds and that spreads right throughout the team."

Q: How competitive do you feel the overall prototype class will be next year with LMP1 and LMP2 combined in the American Le Man Series?

A: "There are a few cars out there which are going to be very strong including the Drayson Lola. My old friends at Dyson Racing will also be fast because I know they have been working very hard on new developments.
"It is going to be very interesting to see where everybody is after the rules come out and everybody gets a couple of races under their belt.
"Getting points at every race will be critical and the Patrón Highcroft guys showed that last year, but with all the prototypes in together, it won't be a matter of just getting points, you're going to have to be right up the front at every race to be strong in the championship chase."

[Rob]

McNish disappointed to miss Sebring

Sunday, January 17th 2010, 11:12 GMT


Allan McNish has admitted he is disappointed that Audi will not be racing at this season's Sebring 12 Hours, an event it has won for nine of the last ten years.

Audi did not mention Sebring when it announced its 2010 programme last month as it did not feel it had time to convert its R15 to the revised Le Mans regulations ready for the mid-March race. A bid to run an interim car in the American Le Mans opener was vetoed by main rival Peugeot just before Christmas.

"Sebring has historically been the Le Mans preparation for us," said McNish on stage at AUTOSPORT International.

"Even though it is part of the ALMS, even when we were doing the full championship over there, it was a separate crew, separate team, of engineers, mechanics who ran Sebring because it was linked to Le Mans and it was our Le Mans preparation.

"This year because of the late change of the ACO regulations, we basically had to dump quite a lot of our development work and start again, which means the car is not going to be ready in time for that particular race. We had the option to run an interim car, but one of the competitors basically did not agree to that, so we are not in a position to do anything about it.

"It is disappointing because I think the 180,000 fans who front up at Sebring got a titanic battle in the last few years and would have had again in 2010."

Audi is still expected to hold an endurance test at Sebring even though it will not contest the race itself.

Although Audi beat Peugeot at Sebring last year, the French squad turned the tables in the Le Mans 24 Hours and ended Audi's winning streak. But McNish says his team has learned from that loss and will be harder to beat in 2010.

"It's actually quite an exciting programme this year because we obviously have the fourth year of the direct head-to-head banging session with our French friends," he said.

"We have an updated car and we've understood quite a lot of the reasons that we missed it all at Le Mans. That loss has fired everybody up quite considerably. It has been quite a good thing for everybody, a shake and reminder."

As well as Le Mans, Audi will also contest the new Intercontinental Cup, which kicks off with the AUTOSPORT 1000km at Silverstone, and the Spa round of the Le Mans Series

[Rob]

Porsche places Henzler at Falken team

By Matt Beer Wednesday, January 20th 2010, 16:16 GMT


Porsche has placed factory driver and former GT2 champion Wolf Henzler at the Falken team for the 2010 American Le Mans Series.

After winning the 2008 ALMS GT2 title with Jorg Bergmeister at Flying Lizard, Henzler moved to Farnbacher Loles last season. But with that team's future in doubt, the German will partner Bryan Sellers at the Falken Porsche squad, which is backed by and uses rubber from the tyre manufacturer of the same name.

Henzler will be one of three factory Porsche drivers in the ALMS, with 2009 GT2 champions Bergmeister and Patrick Long already confirmed for another season with Flying Lizard.

Porsche has also announced that its Le Mans Series GT2 champions Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz will stay with Felbermayr-Proton, with Patrick Pilet remaining at IMSA Performance.

But it has dropped Emmanuel Collard and Sascha Maassen from its line-up of factory-supported drivers, and does not currently have a full-time programme for its former ALMS LMP2 champions Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, who raced in Grand-Am with Penske last year.

The pair remain contracted to Porsche and will focus on test and development work initially, but are confirmed to race in the Nurburgring 24 Hours.

[Rob]

Goossens to race RSR Jaguar again

By Matt Beer Wednesday, January 20th 2010, 16:23 GMT


Marc Goossens is to continue with the RSR Jaguar project for the 2010 American Le Mans Series season.

The Belgian will partner team boss Paul Gentilozzi at the squad, which launched its new GT2 Jaguar late last year. Goossens was part of team's test programme and also drove the car in its competition debut in the season finale at Laguna Seca.

"I have great respect for Marc," said Gentilozzi. "He is a very talented driver that has a lot to offer to this Jaguar programme.

"He provided valuable feedback during our initial testing and development in 2009, and drove flawlessly at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

"Moving forward for 2010 and fighting for a championship title we know Marc is going to be a key factor both on and off track."

RSR will also add a third, yet to be named, driver for the ALMS' longer-distance events

[Testarossa6000]

And the winning team WILL be :

Endurance racing champions, Risi Competizione, will boast a Championship-winning GT driver line up for its assault on the forthcoming 2010 American Le Mans Series season, it is announced today.

In reuniting 2007 ALMS Champion, Jaime Melo, with 2008 FIA GT Champion, Gianmaria Bruni, the Houston-based Ferrari team will front one of the strongest pairings in GT racing today.


Good to have Jimmy Bruni on board. Bring it on - Sebring we are ready!
Forza Risi! Forza Ferrari!

[Rob]

Posted 01.21.10 SPHERION PARTNERS WITH KYLE MARCELLI FOR 2010

Spherion Staffing Solutions - Barrie (Ontario) branch has partnered with 19-year-old international racing car driver Kyle Marcelli for 2010 as he competes at the pinnacle level of sports car racing in the world, the American Le Mans Series. Marcelli will drive an ORECA FLM09 with Joel Feinberg in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class, new for the coming season.

Together the duo will be exploring many strategic marketing and promotional avenues locally within the City of Barrie and abroad all to gain exposure, awareness and create a following locally within the city of 150,000.

Barrie Spherion office regional manager, BonnieSue Cuppage, is very proud to announce their support and excitement.

“Kyle’s determination, leadership, loyalty and commitment mirror the core elements that we incorporate at Spherion in achieving our business goals. Kyle’s dedication to his craft is honourable, and we salute him in his venture. We believe that supporting sports, arts and culture at the local level enriches the lives of everyone in the community.” Says Bonnie.

“I’m very happy to have Spherion on board for 2010. It means so much to have to have the local support within my home city that I do. Spherion’s excitement and energy to be involved is very pleasing. I know we both have the same goals in giving back to the community and generating more awareness and a fan following. Giving the local Barrie residents someone to cheer for!” Marcelli said.

[Rob]

BRABHAM HOPING TO BUILD NEXT GENERATION OF BRITISH RACING CHAMPIONS

David Brabham (Henley-on-Thames) has long been regarded as one of motorsport’s leading sportscar drivers but the Le Mans 24 Hours winner and American Le Mans Series Champion is also an established driving force in developing the next generation of racing stars.

During his recent action-packed visit to Autosport International, Brabham was announced as the National Race Coach for the new MSA Team UK driver education and development scheme, which forms the pinnacle of the MSA Academy structure created in 2009.

The MSA Academy is designed to guide young drivers from eight years old through to world championship level, while the new Team UK designation reflects the creation of a national squad of the country’s most promising drivers, aged 17-24, from the previous Elite Race and Rally schemes.

Through his Brabham Performance Clinic company, Brabham will help equip drivers with the race preparation and on-track skills to perform at the highest level, while delivering individual fitness programmes, dietary consultations and the application of advanced sports psychology.

As well as taking the opportunity to celebrate his outstanding 2009 racing achievements with his British fans at Autosport International, the sportscar legend gave 20 young karters and their parents his top tips for success in a free Karting Workshop on Saturday.

With an extensive racing career spanning from karting, British Formula 3 to Formula One, F3000, touring cars, GT and sports prototype racing, Brabham relayed his pearls of wisdom in the session which aimed to help karters aged 12-17 to develop the mental attitude for success.

Max Coates, aged 16 from Scorton, North Yorkshire, who moves from the Junior Max karting category to the Ginetta Junior series in 2010, attended the special session and commented, “Thank you very much, I really enjoyed the course and got a lot from it. I am going to put some of David’s principles to the test and hopefully use them to my benefit.”

Henry Fletcher, from Eastleigh in Hampshire, started his first full season karting in the Junior Max class in 2008, racing at Dorset kart circuits, Forest Edge and Clay Pigeon. Henry attended the Karting Workshop during what was his first ever visit to Autosport International and found the session invaluable.

Henry’s mum Emma found the topics discussed equally inspiring and commented, “David’s session gave a really good overview of all of the skills that are required, not only in helping aspiring drivers progress through the sport, but in life itself. Although the workshop was for young karters, I think parents and children took something away from this session. Particularly relevant for me was the importance of setting achievable targets and applying a positive mental attitude.”

Brabham was delighted at the response to the second ever Karting Workshop held in partnership with the Karting Show at Autosport International. He commented: “I’m over the moon with how well the Karting Workshop was received by all who attended. We had a full house and I was able to keep young minds focussed for nearly 90 minutes.

“When we hold these special sessions, we also invite drivers’ parents to attend, as the things I’m teaching are relevant to them as well. That showed in the Q&A afterwards where I answered quite a few questions from parents on topics not just relating to their child but to themselves as well. It was terrific to get such positive feedback from all who attended and it was rewarding to share such an interactive session from which I think both the children and the parents benefitted.”

With a constant keen eye on the future stars of motorsport, Brabham followed his Autosport International duties with a special visit to meet the first intake of candidates for the MSA-backed Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) in motorsport.

Designed to develop the broad range of competences required in elite sport, AASE will help drivers (aged 16-24) develop a mix of transferable skills and qualifications, aiding their progress as a competitor and encouraging the pursuit of further/higher education and/or employment.

Held at the Porsche Human Performance Centre at Silverstone, the chance to glean expert advice from one of the world’s best sportscar drivers didn’t go unmissed by the gathered drivers who one day hope to progress to the Team UK scheme.

“Now with the MSA’s new programme structure, with Team UK at the pinnacle and the Academy underneath, I wanted to take the chance to meet the first intake of AASE candidates at Silverstone and see how the scheme is working for them,” said Brabham.

“A lot of those young people will be hoping to become a member of Team UK in the future and it’s important for us to know who is coming through the ranks. This is an area that the MSA wants us to focus on, in terms of searching for potential drivers. The AASE drivers will get a fantastic understanding of what is required before they get to that level, making our jobs a lot easier in helping them move forward.”

After helping scores of young drivers to realise their racing dreams over the past week, it’s now time for Brabham to return to his own driving duties and look forward to the exciting season ahead defending his ALMS crown with Patrón Highcroft Racing.

“It was fantastic to play such an active role at Autosport International but now I’m heading back to the States and my Highcroft duties. Planning for the 2010 season is well underway - I’ll be having my seat fitting with my two teammates Simon [Pagenaud] and Marino [Franchitti] and then it’s on to begin our pre-season testing campaign. I can’t wait.”

[Rob]

Posted 01.22.10 Share IN HIS OWN WORDS: DRAYSON RACING’S JONNY COCKER

If Jonny Cocker’s 2010 season continues like 2009 ended, it will be a banner year for Drayson Racing’s young ace pilot. The team’s move to LMP racing late in 2009 and confirmation of a full American Le Mans Series entry for this year have fans buzzing on both sides of the Atlantic. Lolacars.com caught up with Cocker for a brief Q&A.

Q: Jonny, since that great weekend in Okayama last autumn (his first career pole position in Le Mans-style racing) what’s been happening –how have you been preparing for this year?

JC: Unfortunately there is not a lot that you can do really over the last month but I have been doing as much as I can be - especially in the gym - to ensure that I am as fit as possible in preparation for next year. You also get other things sorted as well, all the little bits really; getting your kit sorted, that sort of thing.

I really just can’t wait for 2010 to begin, I think Okoyama proved that the Lola-Judd LMP1 is an out-of-the-box quick package. I am really looking forward to the upgrades for 2010 because if we can build on what we already had it will be terrific. I am really looking forward to driving the new car to see how it feels but I am still very much in the learning stage with this car only having driven the car twice in a proper event. Laguna we obviously had the incident, so we didn’t get much time in the race unfortunately, but Japan couldn’t have gone any better. I think we built from the first session and in the last free practice we did a new tire run in preparation for qualifying and didn’t really kind of hook the lap up. We had traffic, but what was good was that we didn’t really show our true pace. So, going into qualifying I had in the back of my mind that it’s possible, we can challenge for a front row or maybe even pole, so to get pole was absolutely incredible. You know, it was a moment I will never forget.


Cocker: Actually, physically driving the car is far less physical than the GT2 car but in the high-speed corners extra strength in your arms and upper body and neck is where it makes the difference.

Q: In terms of the change from racing a GT Aston Martin to an LMP, I guess there are certain physical changes: tell us about any extra training. Is there an area that you feel the LMP is more physical to drive that a GT?

JC: Yes, I think it’s surprising actually to people. I find, having only ever driven GT cars, I have zero experience with any cars with any proper level of downforce. Single seaters I have never had anything to do with, so for me to jump from a GT2 car into an LMP1 car - and an LMP1 car that everyone knows has got absolutely superb downforce - I was a little bit apprehensive going into it, thinking “Oh my God, am I going to cope with it?” Actually, physically driving the car is far less physical than the GT2 car but in the high-speed corners extra strength in your arms and upper body and neck is where it makes the difference.

Actually, you know, a circuit like Le Mans, I would expect it would be easier to do a stint there in a P1 car than it would (in a GT). That is because you get a proper rest, you really don’t need to move an awful lot, you’re really comfortable in the car, you have got a proper seat in a really nice position and you rarely have to worry about your mirrors. It’s actually the first car that I really cannot wait to get back into driving because as soon as I’m out of it, I’m missing it. The car is just absolutely amazing to drive. For me to get my head around how quickly it can go was the biggest thing really and once that started to fall into place, I felt I can relax and then we started going quickly. I think everybody involved has done a fantastic job.

Q: Being in the LMP1 Lola-Judd you’re looking forward for the traffic rather than looking back, does that take a lot of getting used to?

JC: I think it’s just a little less pressure really. In the GT2 car it’s not just a case of looking behind you to make sure you look after the P1 guys, it’s to make sure that you look after yourself as well and, collectively you work together to create a fast lap time for both of you. In the same sense you can use the P1 cars when you’re in a GT car to help you with traffic; in a P1 car you can use GT2 cars almost like a block if you are fighting with people. So it’s very much tactical from that point of view but I think having had experience in GT cars for the last few years, driving with both types around me all the time, I think it certainly is an advantage jumping into the other side, because you know what the GT2 drivers are thinking, you know where they are going to want you to pass and you know the best way to get past them cleanly, safely and not lose time.

Q: Do you think that not racing in single seaters is an advantage for you when it comes to LMP racing?

JC: I’d argue the other way really. I would say that having done no single seaters it’s probably more difficult for me to jump into something with downforce and be able to properly adjust to it. But saying that, it’s a race car and at the end of the day, it’s got four wheels and a steering wheel. There is a certain set of things that you do. Yes, it’s a different driving style and there are different priorities that you need to look for when you’re driving the car to get a fast lap time, but as long as you understand how to extract the time, then I don’t think it’s an issue.

Q: How do you enjoy working with the engineers? Is there a difference of working on the GT to working on an LMP like the Lola?

JC: With the GT car you are always tuning the dampers, the tire pressures and basically the dynamics of the car to use the car’s weight and weight transfer because you are obviously relying mainly on mechanical grip. With the Lola we find the base, we run it as low as you can get away with, which is what everyone does and tune it with little fine touches on aero, using maybe different packages front to rear. I think what’s really important with the Drayson Lola is that we have got a proper idea of what things do and you can quantify that with numbers, so when we make a change we know that’s what we are going to get, so we can turn up to a race meeting, having done the simulations, and be very much in the ball park. Then it’s starting to find a suitable set-up really, you need to arrive with a set up and tune it for the day and that’s what we did in Japan and it really worked.



Q: Part of the structure of Drayson Racing of course is the green initiatives that the team are involved with. Do you enjoy being involved in this kind of initiative?

JC: Yes, absolutely. I believe, as does Paul, that things do have to change in motorsport. We cannot continue in the way it has been going. Something has to change and the important thing is that people like Paul and people like the American Le Mans Series, the ACO and Lola want to make changes to set a precedent and make motorsport more sustainable. Being involved in a team which is passionate about being green, driving technology forward and pioneering new technologies is very stimulating. Outside of the actual racing my passion is very much engineering . I enjoy learning how things work and that’s something that I find really good fun as well, so I think it’s a perfect kind of balance between performance and green initiatives. I think that’s what Drayson Racing is all about.

Q: Finally, Johnny, I am not going to ask you about any predictions for 2010 but what are your aims for this season, especially the classic races like Sebring and Le Mans?

JC: Well, I think if we can repeat Japan throughout 2010 and have weekends like that, I see no reason why we are not going to put ourselves at the top of the map. We are going to have more experience, have more testing, we should have a better car and everybody collectively is going to be in a better position so I don’t see any reason why we can’t challenge the guys that are established and more experienced than ourselves. I think everybody loves an underdog , we kind of are at the minute, but I think that’s going to change very quickly.

Find more on Jonny Cocker at jonathancocker.com or draysonracing.com.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. For ticket and accommodation information, see sebringraceway.com.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

[Rob]

ATHERTON HEADLINES ALTERNATIVE FUELS PANEL

Scott Atherton will headline a discussion Saturday in Toronto on racing's role in developing alternative energies for race cars and road cars.

American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton will headline a panel at the Canadian Motorsports Expo on Saturday in Toronto that will discuss the sport’s role in the development of practical and relevant fuels for race cars and road cars.

The American Le Mans Series, the Global Leader of Green Racing, already has proven itself as a pioneer in the area of alternative energies. Its rulebook allows and encourages the use of multiple fuels including E10, cellulosic E85, sulfur-free diesel and hybrid power. Participating teams and manufacturers use the Series’ platform to develop and test new automotive technologies that eventually will find their way to dealer showrooms around the globe.

Saturday’s discussion will begin at noon on The Canadian Tire Stage, where Atherton will be joined by several experts for talks on energy issues and motorsports-related solutions for the future.

The American Le Mans Series will make its annual visit to Mosport International Raceway, just outside Toronto, on August 27-29 for the Mobil 1 presents Grand Prix of Mosport.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. For ticket and accommodation information, see sebringraceway.com.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Posted 01.28.10

BLACK SWAN RACING CONFIRMS PORSCHE ENTRY FOR 2010 GT CLASS
Team owner Pappas teaming with Porsche ace Bleekemolen for full season


A Tim Pappas-owned Porsche - from Black Swan Racing - will return to the American Le Mans Series' grid in 2010.

Tim Pappas’ Black Swan Racing announced officially today that it is returning to the American Le Mans Series in 2010 with a full-season effort. The Harvard, Mass.-based squad will enter a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GT class, perhaps the most competitive one in Series history.

Pappas-owned entries are no stranger to the American Le Mans Series. The first, coincidentally, was a Porsche in GT2 that competed under the banner of Team Trans Sport in 2007. The car’s best finish was fourth in class at Petit Le Mans with Pappas, Terry Borcheller and Marc Basseng driving. Black Swan hit the track in 2008 with a Falken-shod Doran-Ford GT that competed in the second half of the season.

“The 2010 American Le Mans Series GT class will showcase the best endurance racing in the world, and I am proud that Black Swan will be a part of it,” Pappas said. “The American Le Mans Series continues to do a fantastic job advancing its Green Racing initiatives, which is exactly in line with my business and the business of our partners. I am also very excited to be back with Porsche, the brand that I began my Series career with and most of my club racing.”

On the driver front, Black Swan has signed Porsche ace Jeroen Bleekemolen as Pappas’ full-time co-driver. Though he has made only one career start in the Series – eighth place in GT2 at Sebring in 2006 with Spyker – Bleekemolen has an impressive résumé. The Dutchman won the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 – with a Porsche RS Spyder - and was crowned Porsche Supercup Champion in 2008 and 2009. Bleekemolen comes from a family of racers, his father Michael a past Formula 1 driver, raised Jeroen and his brother Sebastian on a strict diet of karting. The team will announce its third driver for Sebring, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Petit Le Mans in the near future.


Tim Pappas: "The 2010 American Le Mans Series GT class will showcase the best endurance racing in the world, and I am proud that Black Swan will be a part of it."

Black Swan has teamed with Dunlop Motorsport for tires and plans to help develop a Dunlop tire for the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that is suited to the rigors of U.S. racing circuits, which can be more trying than European venues. More on the team’s Dunlop partnership and Black Swan’s corporate partners will be released at the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, the first round of the American Le Mans Series.

Green and environmental issues are at the core of Pappas’ business practices, and that philosophy will fit in well with the Series’ platform of advancing energy efficient technologies and developments in production automobiles through motorsports. His firm is committed to be at the forefront of the green building movement with multiple construction developments in the Boston area. Most notable is the Macallen Building Condominiums, a 140-unit complex in south Boston developed by Pappas, which received the American Institute of Architects Committee on The Environment Award (“COTE” Top Ten Award) and a Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system (LEED).

“We are pleased to say ‘Welcome Back’ to Tim Pappas and Black Swan Racing,” said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series. “From our conversations with Tim it is clear that he has put together the equipment and personnel to tackle what is without question the most competitive and diverse class we have ever seen in the American Le Mans Series. Plus, Tim’s background and award-winning involvement with environmental initiatives make him and his team an ideal match for the Series. As we go forward as the Global Leader of Green Racing, Tim’s work both on and off the track will make him - as well as the entire Black Swan Racing team - key players in the American Le Mans Series paddock.”

Black Swan will test its new Porsche for the first time in early February at Palm Beach International Raceway and will take part in the annual Winter Test at Sebring later in the month.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. For ticket and accommodation information, see sebringraceway.com.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Posted 01.28.10 LMPC DELIVERIES ARE PROGRESSING FOR 2010

Primetime FLM09 bound for team shop, Genoa entry flying from Paris
Primetime Race Group's ORECA FLM09 is now in the team's hands following its arrival to Panoz Motor Sports Group headquarters in Braselton, Ga.

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Also, Genoa Racing's FLM09 is awaiting flight from Paris to Atlanta, with the team expecting to take delivery the middle of next week.
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[Rob]

Posted 02.04.10 Share |

JAGUAR MAKES RETURN TO ICONIC LE MANS
The year 2010 marks 75 years of the Jaguar name on both road and race cars. As a continuation of this great heritage, Jaguar can confirm it will return to the famed Le Mans 24 hours. With a total of seven wins at Le Mans 24 hours between 1951 and 1990, Jaguar is the single most successful British make in the race's history. Jaguar will return to its favourite hunting ground and will line up on the starting grid on 12th June 2010 with an XKR GT2 run by JaguarRSR.

Paul Gentilozzi, Principal Partner, JaguarRSR commented: "We are delighted the ACO has granted us entry in the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans. It is a race that is held dearly in the hearts of motorsport fans across the world and for Jaguar to be racing again is something special.

"We are fortunate to bring an international line up of the world's finest driving talent including Scott Pruett and Marc Goossens as our pilots for this race."

Gentilozzi, who is also set to drive the JaguarRSR XKR GT2 in the 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) added, "Spirits will be high around Jaguar's return to Le Mans but we must remember the incredibly high level of competition - a podium place will not fall into our hands. That said, I can guarantee 100 per cent commitment from JaguarRSR and urge fans of Jaguar and Britain's racing heritage to support the team whole heartedly."

C.J. O'Donnell, Global Marketing Director of Jaguar Cars said: "Motorsport has always been important to the Jaguar brand. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on which the company was developed. It was twenty years ago that Jaguar last won Le Mans with a TWR Jaguar Sport entry driven by John Nielsen, Price Cobb, Martin Brundle. Returning to Le Mans will reignite excitement for the marque across the globe, all the more poignant in our 75th year."

"With the introduction of the new XK, XF and XJ, the Jaguar brand has advanced cutting-edge technology, stunning design and our 'R' performance driving experience. We now return to motorsport to demonstrate this achievement and the prowess of the Jaguar XKR."

In 1951, the C-type won Le Mans at its first attempt, with a further victory in 1953. The D-type took Le Mans wins in 1955, 1956 and 1957 while this racing success was followed in 1988 with the Jaguar XJR-9LM, a V12-powered Group C car. Another outright victory would follow in 1990 with the Jaguar XJR-12.

[Nova]

Great articles for sure...Cant wait to see Risi back.

Any news if the Nissan GT-R will be showing up this year? I read that someone was preparing 1.

[Nova]

Hey Rob, found the GT-R info in the Lemans thread....Thanks for posting the great articles and pix.

[Rob]

Posted 02.04.10

SEBRING ADVANCE TICKET DISCOUNT DEADLINE IS FEB. 15

Tickets to the 58th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida are available at advance purchase discounts until Feb. 15th.

America's greatest sports car endurance race takes the green flag at 10:30 am ET on Saturday, March 20th, kicking off the 2010 American Le Mans Series. Gates open at 6 am on March 17th, and remain open 24 hours a day through Saturday.

In addition to the popular four-day and Saturday only Supertickets, Sebring International Raceway has introduced a two-day ticket (Friday/Saturday) for race fans unable to attend all four days but want to catch Friday's supporting events and the big endurance classic on Saturday.

All Supertickets purchased by Feb. 15th result in a $10 savings per ticket. After that date, gate prices apply.

Sebring International Raceway is America's oldest road racing circuit. The legendary 3.7-mile circuit offers a wide variety of camping, viewing and hospitality options. For more information call 800-626-7223 or visit sebringraceway.com.

[Rob]

Posted 02.05.10
ALEX JOB MAKING AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES RETURN IN 2010

Two Cars in new GTC class at Sebring with strong driver lineup

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Alex Job: "In the time that we were in the series we were very successful with the Porsche factory, as well as on our own."

Alex Job Racing, one of the most successful teams in American Le Mans Series history, announced Friday that it will make a return to full-time Series competition for the 2010 season as part of the new GT Challenge class with a two-car entry.

The Tavaras, Fla.,-based team will rejoin the championship starting at the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, a race AJR won six times – including five in GT between 1999 and 2004.

“We are looking forward to returning to the American Le Mans Series and running the full schedule,” said team owner Alex Job. “In the time that we were in the series we were very successful with the Porsche factory, as well as on our own.”

In the team’s first GTC entry for 2010, the No. 23 Battery Tender/Patrón/Alex Job Racing/Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entry will be driven by Bill Sweedler (New York, NY) and Romeo Kapudija (Chicago, Ill.). Sweedler has a lot of laps behind the wheel of the 911 with an eighth place championship finish in the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama last season. He also made four American Le Mans Series starts in the 2009 GT Challenge class with a runner-up finish at Lime Rock Park and two other podium finishes. Kapudija's racing résumé includes four Series starts with a pair of seventh-place GT finishes in 2003.

In the No. 81 Mission Foods/Alex Job Racing/Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car will be Juan Gonzalez (Irving, Texas) and Butch Leitzinger (Rebersburg, Pa.). Gonzalez is a veteran Porsche road racer. Leitzinger is a household name among sports car fans with seven prototype victories and 83 starts in the American Le Mans Series to his credit.


Bill Sweedler and Romeo Kapudija will drive one AJR Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for AJR with Juan Gonzalez and Series star Butch Leitzinger in the other.


“We have assembled two strong cars and four great drivers to run for the GTC championship,” Job continued. “We will be introducing three new sponsors along with our program for 2010. Battery Tender will be featured along with Tequila Patrón and Mission Foods. We have taken delivery of two brand new 911 GT3 Cup cars and have signed four fast drivers to run for the GTC championship. We will be announcing the third drivers for Sebring in the coming weeks.”

AJR has amassed a total of 37 class victories with 45 pole positions and 75 podium finishes. The team also won three GT class championships with drivers such as Jörg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Marc Lieb, Lucas Luhr, Sascha Maassen, Dirk Müller and many of Porsche’s other top sports car drivers. AJR also has won in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice.

The GTC category is specific to one of the most popular factory-produced racing cars in the world, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Developed for Porsche’s one-make series around the world, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the road going 911 GT3 RS. The power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm. The GTC Porsche racers will run on spec Yokohama tires.

“GTC is sure to be the most competitive class on the track all year,” Job said. “The cars are identical and that leaves it to the driver and the team to be the difference. I am looking forward to kicking off the season at Sebring. It has been since 2006 when we last competed in the 12 Hours. We are really looking forward to the third weekend in March.”

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. For ticket and accommodation information, see sebringraceway.com.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports join ALMS in LMPC
Team Update ⋅ February 8, 2010

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PR1 Motorsports and Mathiasen Motorsports are proud to announce that they have joined forces and will be campaigning a brand-new Oreca-Courage FLM09 in the 2010 American Le Mans Series LMPC class.

Formed from two former Formula Atlantic Championship top-tier competitors, the team will be known as PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports and will take possession of the car in early March. The team will promptly began preparing the car in anticipation of a full 2010 season.

PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports season-long driver lineup for their new LMPC program is being finalized. However, Jonathan Bomarito has been named as the team’s third driver for the longer endurance races on the schedule. Bomarito has extensive ties to the team having competed with the organization since his days in karting over a decade ago.

The new LMPC class features the Oreca-Courage FLM09 chassis mated to a V8 engine with an Xtrac six-speed-sequential gearbox. All LMPC cars will have Michelin tires and will race alongside the established LMP, GT2, and GTC classes in the nine race ALMS series.

Bobby Oergel, co-owner of PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, is excited to be expanding his team’s sports car program and to be working with Bomarito again. Oergel will be partnering with Mathiasen Motorsports for the first time with this endeavor.

“Being from California, our team sponsors are very interested in the West Coast events,” Oergel said. “We always enjoyed Long Beach and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, so it’ll be great to race there in the prototype. We’re still working on the final touches but I can tell you this much, we’re all thrilled to be working with Jonathan and Ray Mathiasen. Ray knows how to run a top-tier team, and Jonathan is a real professional in and out of the car. He always runs up front, and we know he’ll be a great addition to our endurance racing efforts.”

The new Oreca-Courage FLM09 will be fresh from the factory when the team takes ownership early next month.

“When we looked at our options, we decided to buy new rather than used,” Oergel explained. “The cars that ran seven races in Europe are perfectly fine, we just wanted to build our program up 100% from the start. Everyone here is really looking forward to getting the car in the shop. It’s fast, great for racing, and can easily be incorporated into our driver development programs.”

Ray Mathiasen, Oergel’s business partner and co-owner of PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, is eager to get back into racing after a one year hiatus.

“I decided to suspend our racing activities in 2009 after a very successful 2008 season,” Mathiasen said. “In the 2008 Formula Atlantic Championship, with Jonathan Bomarito, we came so close to winning the championship. I’ve spent the last 10 months considering several possible directions for my team. I decided that the right course was to affiliate with another well established racing team that had a strong driver development program, and that the new LMPC car would be the ideal choice for our future racing activities.”

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to join forces with PR1 Motorsports,” Mathiasen continued. “We’ve enjoyed competing against Bobby Oergel and are now looking forward to competing with him in this new sports car racing venture. I am closing down our race shop in Brownsburg, Indiana and will be consolidating our equipment at PR1’s shop in Fresno. Although my role in the racing operations will be more passive than it has been in prior years, I remain just as committed to winning a championship in this new series as we have been in our past activities. The car will run at some my favorite venues and this should be fun for everyone involved.”

The 2010 American Le Mans Series begins at the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on March 17-20, 2010.

[Rob]

Posted 02.08.10
JAGUAR NAMED OFFICIAL CAR OF SEBRING
Track’s pit structure also renamed ‘Jaguar Tower’


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Sebring International Raceway named Jaguar the Official Car of the historic track.

Jaguar has been named the Official Car of Sebring International Raceway, home of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. The 58th edition of America’s premier endurance race runs on Saturday, March 20th, kicking-off the 2010 American Le Mans Series season.

A legend of motorsports, Jaguar has a long and successful history in sports car racing. Jaguar first won Le Mans in 1951 with the debut of the C-TYPE, and captured four more wins during the 1950s as well as in 1988 and 1990 at the famous French endurance classic. Jaguar scored its first major victory in North America by winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1955.

“Two of the most storied names in motor racing have joined together to form an ideal marketing partnership,” stated Sebring Raceway President and General Manager Tres Stephenson. “We look forward to working with Jaguar to forge a solid long-term relationship.”

“Jaguar is excited to enter the very competitive American Le Mans Series and return to Sebring, where we have a great history,” added Richard Beattie, Jaguar North American Executive Vice President for Marketing and Sales. “With a competition record in the U.S. reaching back to 1938, it is important that we compete at the highest levels of motorsport.”


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JaguarRSR will make its Sebring debut with its Jaguar XKRS in the American Le Mans Series' highly competitive GT class.

As part of the agreement, the circuit’s Pit Tower has been named the “Jaguar Tower,” honoring the marque’s heritage at Sebring. During the 1950s and ’60s, the race control tower of the circuit’s original pit structure was also named the “Jaguar Tower.”

“We are pleased to bring back this legendary landmark,” added Stephenson. “The Jaguar name adds even more prestige and tradition to our historic facility.”

The new RSR Jaguar XKR GT will make its Sebring debut in March. The car took its first green flag last October in the American Le Mans Series finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and is set for a full-season championship effort in 2010. Paul Gentilozzi, Principal Partner of JaguarRSR, has a stellar record at Sebring including a class victory in 1992 and the overall pole position in 1994.

It also has been invited to compete at this year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in GT2.

Mike O’Driscoll, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars said: “Our designers and engineers have taken the best of our standard road-going XKR. With Paul Gentilozzi’s motorsport expertise, we've created a first-class competition car.

“Motorsport has always been important to the Jaguar brand,” he added. “Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on which the company was developed. As we look to the future with our new range of high-performance ‘R’ branded cars, we aim to make the Jaguar brand synonymous with motorsports once again.”

Sebring is America’s oldest road racing circuit, established in 1950. Since 1952, Sebring’s 12-hour classic has attracted the world’s best sports car racing teams.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. For ticket and accommodation information, see sebringraceway.com.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

SEBRING UNVEILS 2010 EVENT POSTER
Drayson Racing, Patrón Highcroft, JaguarRSR lead charge to Turn 10


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Sebring International Raceway has unveiled the poster for the 58th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. America’s greatest sports car race runs on Saturday, March 20th, kicking-off the 2010 American Le Mans Series season.

Painted by motorsports artist Roger Warrick, the poster features three of the leading teams competing in this year’s American Le Mans Series entering Cunningham Corner (Turn 10): The Drayson Racing Lola, Patrón Highcroft Racing Honda Performance Development ARX-01c and the new JaguarRSR Jaguar XKR GT. Sebring posters have been produced since the first Sebring 12-hour classic in 1952, and many have become valuable collectibles.

Tickets to the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida are available by calling 800-626-7223 or visiting Sebringraceway.com. Gates open at 6 am on Wednesday, March 17, and remain open 24 hours a day through Saturday. The green flag will fall at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. Tickets are $10 per day with no overnight camping or public paddock access allowed.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

CORVETTE RACING SET FOR LE MANS GT2 DEBUT IN 2010
Confirms Full-Season ALMS Schedule, Revises Endurance Racing Driver Lineup
Corvette Racing will take on its most formidable challenge to date when it competes in the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Le Mans, France, on June 12-13. The twin Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars are among the 17 entries in the GT2 class invited by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), organizers of the classic endurance race.

Corvette Racing has scored six wins in the GTS/GT1 class at Le Mans since 2001, including a victory in last year's race. The GT2 version of the Corvette C6.R, which is based on the production Corvette ZR1, made its competition debut in August 2009, competing in five American Le Mans Series events and scoring the team's first GT2 win at Mosport International Raceway. The list of invitees in the GT2 class for Le Mans includes two Corvettes C6.Rs, five Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs, two BMW M3s, a Jaguar XKRS, five Ferrari 430 GTs, an Aston Martin Vantage, and a Spyker C8.

"We are pleased and honored that the new GT2 Corvette C6.R has been invited by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest to compete in the world's most prestigious sports car race," said GM Racing manager Mark Kent. "Our objective is to carry forward Corvette's legacy of success as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Corvette's first participation at Le Mans. This year's race will certainly be a challenge because of the depth and quality of the competition in the GT2 division. The entries represent the world's most storied sports car brands and underscore the relevance and value of racing production-based cars."

Corvette Racing will also compete with two cars in the full nine-race ALMS schedule in 2010, starting with the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20.

"While Corvette is truly a global brand, our most important market is North America," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "Our participation in the American Le Mans Series is both a proving ground for our technology and a showcase to demonstrate Corvette's capabilities for our customers and fans."

Corvette Racing's driver lineup has been revised with the addition of Emmanuel Collard alongside Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta for three long-distance races (Sebring, Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans). Antonio Garcia will return as the third driver with Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen in endurance events. Canadian Ron Fellows, a charter member of Corvette Racing, will continue with the team in an ambassadorial role.

Collard, 38, of Champs sur Marne, France, has scored multiple victories in the Sebring 12-hour, Daytona 24-hour, Le Mans 24-hour, and Spa 24-hour races. He is a two-time Le Mans Series champion, and drove for the Cadillac LMP team in 2000-02.

"We are pleased to welcome Emmanuel back to the GM Racing family," said Fehan. "He has proven his ability at all levels of racing, and he understands the demands and discipline of endurance racing. He will be a valuable addition to our international lineup of championship-winning drivers."

"I'm very happy to join Corvette Racing for the 2010 endurance classics," said Collard. "Corvette has been the most successful car make and team in GT racing for over ten years now, so I'm obviously thrilled to be a part of this team. The Corvette C5-R and C6.R have been the absolute benchmarks in GT1 racing, and the new GT2 Corvette C6.R is already heading in that same successful direction. I hope my experience with GT2s from the past seasons can help Corvette secure class wins in the three endurance races."

Corvette Racing also is continuing its longstanding relationships with its sponsors and technical partners in the new season. Compuware is the team's primary sponsor for the eighth consecutive season, and Michelin, Mobil 1, XM Satellite Radio, UAW-GM, Genuine Corvette Accessories, Bose, Motorola, PRS Guitars, and BBS are continuing their support for America's premier production sports car team.

"Compuware software and experts ensure that our customers' most demanding business applications perform at their best," said Compuware Chairman and CEO Peter Karmanos, Jr. "Partnering with General Motors, Chevy and the Corvette Racing team gives Compuware another dynamic opportunity to deliver peak performance and winning results. Like the Corvette Racing team, Compuware stands for uninterrupted, optimal performance – whatever the environment – and we look forward to producing another great year on the track."

Corvette Racing’s next event is the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla., on March 20, 2010. The 12-hour endurance race will be televised live on SPEED.

[Rob]

Twenty-seven entries for Sebring Winter Test
February 10, 2010

A healthy grid of 27 cars will be in action in two weeks time at the official American Le Mans Series Sebring Winter Test at the Sebring International Raceway. Two LMP1s, three LMP2s, eleven GT2s, five LMPCs and six GTCs will test at the Florida race track before kicking off its season at the same track one month later.

In LMP1 Jon and Clint Field will field the Lenco Mobile sponsored Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER and the Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston of Chris Buncombe, Harold Primat, Adrian Fernandez and Stefan Mücke will join them for the two days of testing. Peugeot nor Audi will be present during the official test days.

Patrón Highcroft Racing will enter its ‘new’ HPD ARX-01c for its three drivers: David Brabham, Simon Pagenaud and Marino Franchitti. Greg Pickett and Klaus Graf are back in action with the Muscle Milk Team Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder, the only Porsche RS Spyder in competition this year, while Chris Dyson and Guy Smith will run the Lola B09/86 Mazda for Dyson Racing Team.

In the GT2 class there are several unconfirmed drivers on the entry list. Flying Lizard Motorsports will run both the #44 and #45 Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, but no drivers are named yet. And also at BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team we still have TBAs on the both cars.

Next to the two Lizard Porsches there will be two other Porsches in action during the test days. Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler will race the brand new Team Falken Tire car, while Tim Pappas and newly-signed Jeroen Bleekemolen will make their first laps around Sebring in the Black Swan Racing car.
Three Ferrari F430 GT2s will also join in. Jaime Melo is the only confirmed driver on the Risi Competizione entry, while Scott Sharp, Johannes van Overbeek, Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo will be behind the wheel of the Extreme Speed Motorsports cars.

Jaguar RSR will bring one car to Florida for the Winter Test, but four drivers will be taking part. Tomy Drissi will join the already confirmed Paul Gentilozzi, Marc Goossens and Scott Pruett. Robertson Racing is also expected to be at Sebring with its regular line up of David and Andrea Robertson as well as David Murry. Corvette Motorsports will not join the test days.

The new LMPC and GTC classes will see five and six cars. Primetime Race Group, Genoa Racing, Level 5 Motorsports, Intersport Racing and Green Earth Team Gunnar will all enter their Oreca FLM09 cars, while in GTC P7 Racing will enter 1 car, GMG Racing will enter two cars and Kelly-Moss Racing will run three Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars.

LMP1
37 // Intersport Racing // Lola B06/10 AER // Field - Field
009 // Aston Martin Racing // Lola Aston Martin // Buncombe – Primat - Fernandez-Mücke

LMP2
1 // Patrón Highcroft Racing // HPD ARX-01c // Brabham – Pagenaud - Franchitti
6 // Team Cytosport // Porsche RS Spyder // Pickett - Graf
16 // Dyson Racing Team // Lola B09/86 Mazda // Dyson – Smith

GT2
17 // Team Falken Tire // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Sellers – Henzler
33 // Jaguar RSR // Jaguar XKRS // Gentilozzi – Goossens – Pruett – Drissi
40 // Robertson Racing // Doran Ford GT // Robertson – Robertson – Murry
44 // Flying Lizard Motorsports // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // TBA – TBA
45 // Flying Lizard Motorsports // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // TBA - TBA
54 // Black Swan Racing // Porsche 997 GT3 RSR // Pappas – Bleekemolen
62 // Risi Competizione // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Melo – TBA
90 // BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team // BMW E92 M3 // TBA – TBA
92 // BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team // BMW E92 M3 // TBA - TBA
01 // Extreme Speed Motorsports // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Sharp – van Overbeek
02 // Extreme Speed Motorsports // Ferrari F430 GT2 // Brown – Cosmo

LMPC
11 // Primetime Race Group // Oreca FLM09 // Feinberg – Marcelli
36 // Genoa Racing // Oreca FLM09 // Connor – TBA
55 // Level 5 Motorsports // Oreca FLM09 // Tucker – Bouchut
89 // Intersport Racing // Oreca FLM09 // Pagerey – Wong
99 // Green Earth Team Gunnar // Oreca FLM09 // Zugel – Jeannette – Julian

GTC
32 // GMG Racing // Porsche 997 GT3 Cup // Curtis – Sofronas
33x // Kelly-Moss Racing // Porsche 997 GT3 Cup // LeSaffre – TBA
44x // GMG Racing // Porsche 997 GT3 Cup // Holden
65 // Kelly–Moss Racing // Porsche 997 GT3 Cup // Walton
69 // P7 Racing // Porsche 997 GT3 Cup // Rodriquez – Bieker
92x // Kelly-Moss Racing // Porsche 997 GT3 Cup // Carlisle - TBA

[Rob]

LEVEL 5 TO TAKE UP LMPC ‘CHALLENGE’ IN 2010
Tucker, Bouchut to pilot FLM09 for full-season effort

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Level 5's Scott Tucker already has gotten a taste of competition in ORECA's FLM09 during the Le Mans Winter Racing Series at Paul Ricard.

Level 5 Motorsports is the latest championship-winning team to confirm its entry into the American Le Mans Series’ Le Mans Prototype Challenge class for 2010. Based in Madison, Wis., Level 5 will compete in the full nine-round championship with ORECA’s FLM09 prototype.

Team owner Scott Tucker and former Le Mans 24 Hours winner Christophe Bouchut will compete for the full season. The pairing also is entered for the Series’ annual Winter Test on February 22-23 at Sebring International Raceway. Level 5 expects to take delivery of its FLM09 today and is the sixth team to purchase an ORECA-built racer.


Scott Tucker: "“The car is an impressive proven racing package. ... We are looking forward to the strong competition at Sebring and throughout the year.”

“We are excited to be racing at Sebring this year in the new Le Mans Prototype Challenge class,” said team manager David Stone, who has an extensive history of competing in the International Motor Sports Association, which sanctions the American Le Mans Series. “The new LMPC class has certainly been intriguing since it was announced last year. The number of cars continues to increase each week, which should make for some great competition.”

New for 2010, the FLM09 has a minimum weight of 900 kilograms and produces approximately 430 hp. The FLM09 features a full carbon fiber chassis, carbon brakes, and an Xtrac sequential gearbox with paddle shifting. All LMPC cars will race on single-supply Michelin tires.

Already, Tucker has spent considerable time behind the wheel of an FLM09. He posted two second-place finishes at Paul Ricard in the Le Mans Winter Racing Series despite never having set foot inside the car.

“The car is an impressive proven racing package,” Tucker said. “Carbon brakes, paddle shift Xtrac gearboxes … all the boxes are checked. Everyone on the team has been pleasantly surprised at the growing field of car and the job the American Le Mans Series’ management has done. We are looking forward to the strong competition at Sebring and throughout the year.”

Level 5 brings an impressive pedigree of motorsports championships on a number of levels. Most recently, the team placed third overall at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Its Wisconsin headquarters houses a 60,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art racing, engineering and fabrication facility with a full time dedicated staff of over 20 professionals. In short, it is well-equipped to handle the start of its LMPC program.


Former Le Mans 24 Hours winner Christophe Bouchut will join Tucker for Level 5's full-season LMPC campaign.

“The aims of this season are to be as competitive as we can,” Bouchut said. “With Scott, we make a very homogenous and solid team, which will be a vital factor.”

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for ticket and accomodation information.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

SIX LMPC PROTOTYPES FIND A HOME IN THE AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES
Set to debut with the American Le Mans Series on some of the most demanding road courses and street circuits in North America, the ORECA-Courage FLM09 arrives ready for the 2010 season.

The FLM09 was introduced in 2009 as part of the Le Mans Series in Europe through the collaborative effort of the ACO and ORECA/DPPI. In August, IMSA, the sanctioning body for the American Le Mans Series, announced the LMPC class and the FLM09 would be part of the full nine-race schedule.

The prototype is a highly sophisticated race car with a full carbon fiber chassis, carbon brakes and an Xtrac sequential gearbox with paddle shifting. It has a minimum weight of 900 kilograms and a horsepower of 450 hp, and will run on single-supply Michelin tires.

The six entries scheduled to debut on the American Le Mans Series grid at the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida include:

•Intersport Racing, which was one of the first teams to commit to the class, will compete with Mitch Pagery, a former 2009 Velox Racing GTC contender, and 2009 Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama standout Brian Wong in the cockpit.
•Genoa Racing, with a recent history in Indy Lights and Atlantics, will feature Larry Connor in the No. 36 entry.
•Green Earth Team Gunnar, in its first year as an organization, will be led by Series veteran Gunnar Jeannette, alongside Christian Zugel and Jay Cochran.
•Primetime Race Group, the 2009 championship entry in IMSA Lites and GT2 competitor, enters its new No. 11 LMPC car with team owner/driver Joel Feinnberg and Kyle Marcelli.
•Level 5 Motorsports, recently claiming the third place at the 24 Hours of Daytona, will compete with driving duo Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut.
•PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, formed from two former Formula Atlantic Championship top-tier competitors, will run all nine races with its driver lineup soon to be announced.
For more information about these new entries, visit:

•Intersport Racing – www.intersportracing.com
•Green Earth Team Gunnar – www.getitracing.com
•Primetime Race Group – www.primetimeracegroup.com
•Level 5 Motorsports – www.level5motorsports.com
The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for ticket and accomodation information.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Posted 02.12.10

IN HIS OWN WORDS: GIANMARIA BRUNI
Welcoming one of Ferrari’s best for a full-season run with Risi
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Gimmi Bruni: "I was really attracted by the championship when I experienced it before. One or two races in a season weren’t enough!" Photo: Regis Lefebure


Gianmaria “Gimmi” Bruni is one of the world’s best GT pilots, and he will compete full-time in the American Le Mans Series for the first time in 2010. Teaming with fellow Ferrari standout and former GT2 champion Jaime Melo, the duo is eager to bring the American Le Mans Series GT championship back to Risi and Ferrari. Oh, there’s also the matter of a third straight class title at Le Mans for the team.

Question: How much easier will it be rejoining Risi Competizione full-time having competed with the team in 2007 and 2008?

Answer: The first race I did with the Risi team, I immediately felt at home. This is the reason why, for the last two years, I strongly yearned to have one full season in the American Le Mans Series. Therefore it’s about the most important thing I can do now. Moreover, I was really attracted by the championship when I experienced it before. One or two races in a season weren’t enough!

Q: Is there a stronger Ferrari pairing in the world than yourself and Jaime?

A: I think Jaime and I could be the hardest pairing for our competitors to be up against. Jaime is one of the best GT drivers we’ve ever seen and I’m sure that together we can achieve great results. We already know each other well, and will also be racing together in Europe so our partnership in the car will be very strong.

Q: Having competed mostly in FIA GT and LMS, what is the international perception of the competition within the American Le Mans Series’ GT2 class?

A: I think most people in Europe don’t know how hard it is to race in the American Le Mans Series. It is definitely one of the harder championships for endurance races, very competitive, with lots of different manufacturers and top drivers. I am glad to be one of those in 2010.

Q: With the career of the F430 GT winding down, how will it be remembered by those who drove it?

A: I have a very good feeling with the F430GT and with the Ferrari family. It has brought me and Jaime some fantastic victories and Championships. I am sure we will try to put this fast and fantastic car as high as possible in the championship for its last big season, and this way all our other competitors will remember all about it!

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Bruni won in GT2 at Le Mans in 2008 with Risi in the Ferrari F430 GT. Photo: Regis Lefebure

Q: Does having a background in a sprint format such as FIA GT make the transition to standard-length American Le Mans Series races easier?

A: I feel profoundly easy with this GT2 car so I can face any format with it.

Q: Outside of Sebring, what event on the calendar are you looking forward to most in North America?

A: Most of the other events are a big challenge to me as I will face them for the first time, although I am looking forward to going back to Mid-Ohio, Road America and Mosport. I will need to be very professional and concentrate hard to be as ready by race time as my competitors.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for ticket and accommodation information.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Tommy_F]

Q: With the career of the F430 GT winding down, how will it be remembered by those who drove it?

A: I have a very good feeling with the F430GT and with the Ferrari family. It has brought me and Jaime some fantastic victories and Championships. I am sure we will try to put this fast and fantastic car as high as possible in the championship for its last big season, and this way all our other competitors will remember all about it!

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Bruni won in GT2 at Le Mans in 2008 with Risi in the Ferrari F430 GT. Photo: Regis Lefebure


This means the 458 Italia race version will be ready for the 2011 season? Can't wait to see it!!

[Rob]

havent heard anything about it,yet, will keep eyes n ears out, and post any news.

[Rob]

Posted 02.15.10

ASTON MARTIN PROTOTYPE POWER BACK AT SEBRING AFTER 27 YEARS
Will AMR beat Nimrod’s fifth place finish in 1983?
Aston Martin Racing’s entry to the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida is significant for a number of reasons. One of the more interesting aspects is the length of time since an Aston Martin-powered prototype last competed in America’s greatest sports car race.

The 1983 running of the 12 Hours saw a fifth-place overall finish for the fabled Nimrod-Aston Martin C2 prototype that was third in the GTP class. Reggie Smith Jr., Lynn St. James and Drake Olson drove the car (an interesting note…Olson also drove the sister Nimrod GTP, which retired after 86 laps). A year later, the car competed for the final time in the US at the Daytona 24 Hours which also was the last time an Aston Martin-powered prototype has competed on the professional level in North America.

Today, the American Le Mans Series is asking its fans for their predictions. How will AMR’s Aston Martin-powered Lola coupe match up to its predecessor from 27 years ago: Better, worse or the same? Adrian Fernandez, Stefan Mücke, Harold Primat and Chris Buncombe are slated to drive the car in next week’s annual Sebring Winter Test.


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Aston Martin Racing's Lola-Aston Martin (above) will race at Sebring for the first time, 27 years after the Nimrod-Aston Martin finished fifth overall in the 1983 event.

American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for ticket and accommodation information.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Posted 02.15.10

TEAM CYTOSPORT MUSCLE MILK SQUAD RETURNS FOR FULL-SEASON LMP2 EFFORT
Pickett/Graf behind wheel of Porsche RS Spyder from Sebring onward
The Team CytoSport Muscle Milk squad is set to return to the American Le Mans Series in 2010 - this time for a full season championship assault. The No. 6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder will contest the new combined LMP class with owner/driver Greg Pickett and German star Klaus Graf behind the wheel.

Team CytoSport is moving up to a full season of competition following a very successful partial season in 2009. The Benicia, Calif.,-based team claimed four consecutive LMP2 podium finishes in its four races in 2009. After competing in the LMP2 class last season, the Muscle Milk team will be joining the new combined LMP class for the 2010 championship. The major endurance events at Sebring and Petit Le Mans will continue to be run to the full ACO LMP1 and LMP2 rules.

“We're really excited to be taking on our first full season of American Le Mans Series competition,” said team owner Pickett. “I’m so proud of what we've accomplished with our team so far and it's very encouraging for us heading into 2010. We know that it will be a new challenge for us in the combined LMP class but it’s one we can't wait to face.

“I look forward to having Klaus (Graf) drive for us again,” Pickett added. “He had such amazing performances last season. It’s an honor to have him on the team and as part of the CytoSport family.

“Obviously this wouldn't be possible without the support from the people at Porsche who were so great to work with last season as well as everyone at Michelin who have given us superb tires at every race. We’re thrilled to be working with them again this upcoming season.”

Having originally driven together in the American Le Mans Series in 2007, Pickett and Graf are eagerly awaiting the chance to contest the complete season. The German impressed many last year with his outstanding performances aboard the Porsche RS Spyder, notably by setting an LMP2 race lap record at Road Atlanta as well as making his way through the field and to an in-class podium finish at the historic Petit Le Mans.

“I’m really looking forward to the 2010 season to compete with the Porsche RS Spyder and Team Cytosport,” said Graf, a former Series winner in GT2 competition in a Porsche. “After our successful start in 2009 with four podium finishes in four races you would think this would be a natural progression to compete again in 2010. But I know that a program like ours requires a big commitment from all parties involved.

“I’d like to thank Greg Pickett and everyone involved at Team CytoSport and Muscle Milk who made this happen. To go into our first full season of competition with our Porsche RS Spyder is a tremendous achievement for our team and we look forward to that challenge. I can’t wait for our first race of the year, the famous 12 Hours of Sebring.

“Finally, coming from Germany it personally makes me proud to be involved in such a prestigious partnership with Porsche Motorsport. We built a great relationship with our partners Porsche and Michelin in 2009 and we hope we can transform that into great race results this season.”

Once again this season the Team CytoSport Muscle Milk squad will benefit from the support and expertise of the professionals at Porsche Motorsport.

"We are very excited that Team CytoSport will be back for a full season in 2010 in the Porsche RS Spyder LMP car,” said Paul Ritchie, president of Porsche Motorsport North America. “Last year, Greg Pickett and his crew surprised most of the LMP2 competitors with their success right out of the box, and Pickett and co-driver Klaus Graf were comfortable in the Porsche prototype from the first test. Porsche Motorsport is extremely happy to have such a great squad as Team CytoSport representing the Porsche brand in a Prototype next season.”

Prior to the start of the season, the Muscle Milk squad will be on track next week at Sebring to take part in the annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test scheduled for February 22-23. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

INTERSPORT EXTENDS OPERATIONS TO UK
Impressive expansion for Series' longest-running entrant
Intersport Racing, the longest running privateer team in the American Le Mans Series, has retained the services of Martin Dixon. Dixon will serve as Sporting Director for Intersport Racing for the upcoming 2010 American Le Mans Series season. As one of the original and founding members of Intersport Racing, Dixon is no stranger to the team or the American Le Mans Series.

In conjunction with his responsibilities at Intersport, Dixon will partner with former A1 GP Technical Director, John Travis, to coordinate and operate Intersport Racing UK. Intersport Racing UK intends to run 2 cars in the single seater series “Super League.” The Super League Series is supported by major soccer teams in the UK and Europe.

"I’m very excited to be returning to Intersport Racing with Jon and Clint Field, and the American Le Mans Series." Martin said. "Intersport Racing has seen fantastic growth as a team and have truly become a force to be reckoned with. Jon and Clint have become very close friends of mine. I have always admired both of them for what they have achieved and I'm confident that with their support the formulation of Intersport Racing UK with will benefit both programs."

"With John Travis in charge of the engineering and technical issues for Intersport Racing UK," expressed Dixon, "it will create an opportunity for the Intersport Racing brand to provide services to drivers on either side of the Atlantic. This has been a dream of ours for quite some time."

Travis is a highly experienced race car designer and race engineer. He has worked with notable teams such as Penske, Lola Cars and Epsilon. His role with Penske was that of Chief designer and race engineer. With both Martin and John at the helm, Intersport UK, will prove to be a formidable team.

Martin brings with him a wealth of knowledge and over 30 years of racing experience. After many years as part of the Intersport family, Martin was recruited by AER to run their Nissan World series engine program. More recently Dixon was Project Manager for A1 Grand Prix in charge of production for the new A1 Grand Prix car used in the 2009 season.

Through out his career in motorsports, Martin Dixon has headed up numerous race teams including; Onyx Race Engineering’s Formula One Team, Bettenhausen Motorsport and A1 GP Teams Lebanon and Canada.

One of the founding teams of the American Le Mans Series, Intersport Racing has established itself as a premier independent team in sports car racing. The Dublin, Ohio-based team has taken on mightiest of factory prototype teams in recent seasons and posted noteworthy class victories in that span including an LMP1 triumph at Detroit in 2008 and 2006 at Sebring.

Team owner Clint Field won 2005 P2 class championship, three years after father Jon accomplished the same feat. Clint also reigns as the youngest prototype champion in Series and IMSA history.

In 2008, became first prototype team in Series history to campaign on cellulosic E85, a pioneering effort in the Series’ Green Racing initiative and the first privateer team to start in 100 American Le Mans races.

The team campaigned the full-season in 2009 with a Lola B06/10-AER with the father-son combination serving as the primary drivers.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway.

[Rob]

Posted 02.18.10

AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES SUPPORTING GLOBAL ReLEAF
A Greener Footprint for the Global Leader of Green Racing


In an effort to support environmental efforts globally, the American Le Mans Series will join forces with American Forests to support its “dollar-a-tree” Global ReLeaf campaign.

Throughout the 2010 season, Series’ teams, manufacturers, corporate partners and fans will have multiple ways to learn about the Series’ green racing initiatives and to contribute to the program. In support of American Forests’ goal to plant 100 million trees by 2020, the Series pledges to plant more than 5,000 trees in 2010 to restore ecosystems that have been damaged by fire, disease, other natural disasters and overdevelopment.

This global outreach initiative acts in conjunction with the Series’ progressive “green” leadership on-track – namely through its affiliation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy and SAE International, and the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge, a season-long competition that measures each race car’s efficiency and greenhouse gas emission levels during competition.


Scott Atherton: "Our involvement with American Forests enables us to contribute to similar solutions away from the race track and is another way the American Le Mans Series can advocate for a greener tomorrow."

“Since its inception, the American Le Mans Series has been at the forefront of developing green initiatives and solutions in motorsports,” said American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton. “We are very proud of our efforts with the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy as they relate to our on-track efforts. Our involvement with American Forests enables us to contribute to similar solutions away from the race track and is another way the American Le Mans Series can advocate for a greener tomorrow.”

With the implementation of the Global ReLeaf campaign, the Series will begin every race weekend by displaying a tree in the paddock. The native tree - donated by the Series and its teams through American Forests’ Historic Tree program – will encourage fans to do their part for the planet in a number of ways:

• Purchase the Series’ “To a Greener Tomorrow. Faster” organic t-shirt and its 2010 Spotters Guide Poster, where all proceeds go to Global ReLeaf
• Donate and win a hot lap around the track at select races
• Donate at-track and online at americanlemans.com

For every three trees planted, one ton of carbon will be sequestered allowing for more than 1,600 tons of CO2 to be taken out of the atmosphere, and for every acre planted (approx. 340-490 trees), about 26,000 miles-worth of CO2 produced by driving will be offset (which is about twice the amount the average person drives per year).

“American Forests is pleased to partner with the American Le Mans Series to underscore the positive steps it is making in the development of green initiatives,” said Gerry Gray, acting executive director of American Forests. “Through its contribution goal of 5,000 trees and display of the Historic Survivor Tree – an important symbol of human resilience and a tribute to renewal and rebirth – the Series is helping to create a cleaner environment for future generations.”

American Forests is the nation’s oldest nonprofit conservation group, dedicated to growing a healthier world with trees. Its work encompasses planting trees for ecosystem restoration through our Global ReLeaf program, calculating the value of urban forests, fostering environmental education, and improving public policy for trees. American Forests also maintains the official listing of the largest-known trees of their species in the United States. Its goal is to plant 100 million trees to restore damaged ecosystems in the U.S. and around the world by 2020.

American Forests’ Historic Tree program brings history alive by propagating and selling the offspring of trees connected to significant historical people, places and events, offering a unique way for people to connect to the past while being part of a sustainable future. The Historic Tree program helps people understand how trees benefit us all – environmentally, socially and economically.

The American Le Mans Series, based on the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, is the only motorsports body in the world that features multiple street-legal alternative energy sources - clean diesel, E10 and E85 cellulosic ethanols, and new hybrid technologies. The American Le Mans Series has taken the leadership role in motorsports for the furthering of alternative fuel technology and use. It also illustrates deeper the Series’ relevance to its list of prestigious manufacturers and affluent consumer base.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for ticket and accommodation information.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Posted 02.18.10

EXTREME SPEED MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCES DRIVERS FOR SEBRING AND PETIT LE MANS
Farnbacher, Barbosa join new ESM team for endurance rounds


Scott Sharp: Dominik Farnbacher and Joao Barbosa "are experienced and fast drivers, and know what it takes to navigate the track and get to the end of a major endurance race."

Extreme Speed Motorsports, the new race team created and owned by veteran race car driver Scott Sharp, announced today that Joao Barbosa and Dominik Farnbacher will join the team for next month’s 58th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, and Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans later this year.

Barbosa, who won the 24 Hours of Daytona title last month, will compete with Extreme Speed Motorsports drivers Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo in one of the team’s Ferrari F430 GTCs, in the American Le Mans Series’ GT2 class. Farnbacher, a four-time winner in the Series driving an F430 GT, will join Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek in the team’s other entry.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Joao and Dominik to the Extreme Speed Motorsports team,” said Sharp, last year’s LMP1 Series co-champion. “Both of them are experienced and fast drivers, and know what it takes to navigate the track and get to the end of a major endurance race.”

Added Barbosa, “I’m very excited to be a part of the Extreme Speed Motorsports team. They welcomed me with open arms and are as ecstatic as I am for this new challenge. I’m looking forward to driving at Sebring again – I love this race and the level of competition is very high in GT2. It will definitely be a great race!”

Those sentiments were also echoed by Farnbacher who commented, “I’m very glad to be back for two American Le Mans Series races this year, in Sebring and Road Atlanta. It’s particularly exciting to be back behind the wheel of my favorite car – the Ferrari F430 – and partner with Scott and Johannes, two of the most experienced and fastest drivers in this world-class racing series.”

Extreme Speed Motorsports is sponsored by Tequila Patrón, along with Ferrari Corse Clienti and the team’s official tire technical partner Michelin.

“I’m extremely delighted about the opportunity that Patrón and Ferrari have given us, as well as the tremendous job the team is doing to get us prepared for the upcoming race season,” added Sharp. “The addition of Joao and Dominik just adds to our adrenaline!”

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for ticket and accommodation information.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

FIVE-TIME LE MANS WINNER PIRRO VISITS LOLA BASE

Ahead of first shakedown in Drayson Racing Lola-Judd P1 coupe
Sports car legend, Emanuele Pirro was at the Lola factory today meeting his new team Drayson Racing and getting himself acquainted with the Lola LMP1 he will race at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida next month.



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Pirro will get his first taste of driving Drayson Racing's Lola-Judd coupe Friday in the UK.

The five-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner joined his teammates Jonny Cocker and team owner Lord Paul Drayson in Huntingdon to get a seat fitting for a shakedown test in the UK tomorrow (Friday). Pirro, who will also drive at Le Mans and the Petit Le Mans endurance events for Drayson Racing, spoke to Lola about his first impressions of his new team and his new charge for the 2010 season. To listen to the interview please click here.

Emanuele, how are you looking forward to the season and the three big races with Lord Drayson and the Drayson Racing Lola LMP1?

“First of all, after 31 years of motor racing experience, it is the first time that I visit the Lola factory. It’s been quite something to see. To go back in to prototypes is really a good opportunity for me. When I did my last season in ’08, I wasn’t ready to retire from prototype racing and I realized in 2009 that I was missing this kind of racing very very much, so when I got the proposal from Drayson Racing, I was thrilled and I think this is a very good operation which can give me very similar feelings to what I got in the past. It’s a bunch of high-quality and very motivated people and I am sure we can help out each other and do something quite good.”

This is a completely different proposition to the Audi, of course. You are going to have to get used to an engine noise behind you as opposed to a whistling diesel?

“Actually, this is a good question because I haven’t driven a non-turbo engine for ages and I would probably appreciate the drivability of this normally aspirated engine. I have to say, in 1991 with the Scudeia Italia Dallara F1 that JJ Lehto and I drove, the Judd V10 engine was the grand-grandson of this engine in the Lola now. I was told by a lot of people that Lola is a nice and user-friendly and easy-to-drive car, so I’m looking forward to it, but all in all this is a passion-driven decision for me and I am sure I will be finding people who share the same motivation as I have, so I am looking forward to it. “

When you were driving for Audi, how aware were you of what Lola were doing in sports cars in P1 and P2?

“Well, in fact, it’s always been interesting for me to see how Lola do, because I know how big an effort a manufacture like Audi are putting into sports cars and how relatively small a factory, not in terms of the factory, but in terms of investment in the project like Lola is. I was impressed that Lola could produce cars which are not really far away from the performance of works cars. I believe, in terms of engines, so there is quite some difference, so it’s always been interesting to me to see why and how with much less people you can do very well and I am about to find out and I am looking forward to it.”

So, when you come to race with the Audis in Le Mans this year, what will your feelings be after so long with the marque?

“Well, in fact, I would like to take the opportunity to really thank Audi for their flexibility and understanding because they know how much I love racing and I am still an Audi ambassador and contracted to Audi. But racing is racing and fortunately sports car racing is not really a race where you have to bang each other off. It’s matter of putting your head down and capitalizing what you have done in testing and driving your car as fast as possible.”

And finally, Emanuele, you are having a seat fitting today and then presumably it is just a shakedown here in the UK tomorrow?

“Yes, I really wanted to come here and not to arrive in Sebring as an alien. I really believe in team spirit, in bonding together and I wanted to come here and see the Lola factory, see the car, get acquainted with all the car systems but above all with the team. Part of the pleasure of racing is being all together and pulling the rope all in one direction, so if you don’t know these people, it’s very difficult to do this, so I want to make very good use of these two days and as much as possible start to feel home and to make them look at me not like a guest, but like one of them.”

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for ticket and accommodation information.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

DALZIEL JOINS 2010 JaguarRSR LINEUP FOR GT CLASS
Ex-Pacific Coast Corvette pilot makes return to American Le Mans Series

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Ryan Dalziel will return to the American Le Mans Series in 2010 with JaguarRSR.

The pieces to the puzzle keep coming together for the JaguarRSR race program as the team announced today that Ryan Dalziel has been signed to the driver lineup for competition in the 2010 American Le Mans Series.

“I am so excited to be part of such an amazing brand like Jaguar,” Dalziel said. “Coming from the United Kingdom I naturally grew up following Jaguar’s racing heritage and admiring their cars. Its like a dream come true that my first opportunity to drive for a manufacturer is for Jaguar Cars.

“I have known Paul Gentilozzi and his group for a number of years through my Champ Car days, and always enjoyed watching them in Trans Am,” he added. “I know I am with a great crew and excellent co drivers. The GT field in the American Le Mans Series this season looks really strong and I hope I can contribute to Jaguar’s successful return to sports car racing.”

Dalziel is one of Scotland’s leading professional racing drivers with a track record of success forged in the ultra-competitive junior formulas in Britain and honed further through to the very highest levels of both open-wheel racing and sports car competition in North America and Europe. The 27-year-old has represented Scotland and the United Kingdom at the highest level of sports car competition, including as part of Pacific Coast Motorsports’ GT1 lineup in 2005 Alex Figge. The pairing’s highest finish in their Corvette C5-R was third place at Portland. Dalziel also is coming off an overall victory at the Daytona 24 Hours.

“We are working on developing a driver lineup that will put us out in front,” said JaguarRSR principal partner and driver Paul Gentilozzi. “We know the competition is tough this year and that we will have to be on top of our game. I have watched Ryan grow into a matured racer both in open-wheel and sports car racing. His hard work paid of recently winning the 24 Hours of Daytona and any driver that can achieve an accomplishment like that is one that will fit into the goals and aspirations this JaguarRSR program desires to achieve. We eagerly look forward to working with him and know that he is going to bring a lot to the team.”


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JaguarRSR's Jaguar XKRS is one of 28 cars that will be at the annual Sebring Winter Test next week.

Dalziel joins Gentilozzi and Marc Goossens as confirmed JaguarRSR drivers for 2010. Complete details of the 2010 JaguarRSR American Le Mans Series program will be unveiled soon.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for ticket and accommodation information.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Sebring Winter Test - Test Session 1 Result
February 22, 2010
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After having fifteen cars during the Sebring Winter Test in 2009 this year’s test days have brought a record number of twenty-eight cars to the Sebring International Raceway in Florida. At 8:00 am the track went green for the first session.

The four hour long session saw the first action of the Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin on American soil. Driven by Harold Primat, Adrian Fernandez, Stefan Mücke and Chris Buncombe the British sportscar topped the timing sheets at noon. A lap time of 1:47.826, with 11 completed laps was enough to keep the remaining twenty-seven cars behind. Intersport Racing’s Lola B06/10 AER was second fastest in the first test session.

Behind the two LMP1 cars it was defending American Le Mans Series champion Patrón Highcroft Racing’s HPD ARX-01c in third place overall. The David Brabham, Simon Pagenaud and Marino Franchitti driven car was only 0.437s slower than the Lola Aston.
Second fastest LMP2 was the Team CytoSport Porsche RS Spyder. The Porsche of Pickett and Graf was however 1.7s slower than the HPD ARX-01c. The #16 Dyson Racing Lola B09/86 Mazda completed the top five overall, 2.903s from the #009 Lola Aston Martin.

Next up were the LMPC cars. Fatest in class was the #99 Green Earth Team Gunnar Oreca FLM09 of Christian Zugel, Gunnar Jeannette and Elton Julian. A split second (0.047s) behind in second place was the #36 Genoa Racing car of Larry Connor. Level 5 Motorsport’s #55 Oreca FLM09 was third in class, just over two seconds behind the #99 and #36.

The Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT2 of Melo and Bruni set the fastest lap in the GT2 class. A 2:02.286 put the car just in front of the slowest LMPC car, at 1.055s it was the #92 BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team BMW M3 of Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner in second place in GT2. Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long were just 0.032s slower than the BMW, the Porsche 997 GT3 RSR taking third in class in the opening session. Ninth in class was the Robertson Racing Ford GT, which was damaged during Winterfest at Sebring last month. The car was repaired after the crash and made its first official laps again.

And finally the GT Challenge class. The #92x Kelly Moss Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup of Darrell Carlisle was fastest, ahead of the #44x GMG Racing Porsche of Brent Holden and the #33x Kelly Moss Racing entry of Peter LeSaffre.

[Rob]

Krohn continues Risi partnership

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010, 19:05 GMT

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Krohn Racing has confirmed that it will continue its partnership with Risi Competizione to enter a Ferrari GT2 car in the Sebring 12 Hours, Le Mans 24 Hours and the American Le Mans Series' six hour race at Laguna Seca.

Although Krohn primarily competes in Grand-Am, it traditionally teams with Risi to enter the GT2 class at Sebring and Le Mans - taking two class podium finishes at the latter event and one at Sebring in recent seasons.

Krohn boss Tracy Krohn will again share the car with Nic Jonsson, with Eric van de Poele joining the line-up for Sebring.

"We can always count on a well-prepared car and a professional team with Risi," said Krohn. "They have guided us to two podium finishes at Le Mans and one podium finish at Sebring in three years.

"We obviously are doing something right with this partnership and hope for more successes in 2010."

[Rob]

Aston leads first day of Sebring test

Tuesday, February 23rd 2010, 06:51 GMT

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Aston Martin Racing marked its return to the American Le Mans Series by claiming the fastest time in yesterday's Sebring test.

New driver Adrian Fernandez set a 1m47.826s as he acclimatised to Aston's LMP1 coupe, putting him 0.2 seconds ahead of Intersport's Lola.

"It's very different," said Fernandez, who won last year's LMP2 title with his Acura. "Everything looks different inside. You get use to it. But it's definitely different, and this is my first time in the car and the car is a lot heavier than the P2 car I drove last year. But it's a lot faster. It sounds beautiful and looks sharp.

"I'm enjoying every second of it. I'm very happy. It's a great team, great drivers, and I'm very happy to work with them. It's my very first time in the car, I'm not really going the proper speed yet. But I'm working step-by-step, so I'm looking forward to the three-year relationship."

The top two cars both set their best times in the morning session, with Intersport crashing in the afternoon and causing a stoppage.

Last year's LMP1 champion squad Highcroft was third in the LMP2-spec Acura - now entered under HPD branding - it will use in 2010. Although the season-opening Sebring 12 Hours runs to full Le Mans rules, the performance of LMP1 and LMP2 cars will be balanced for most of the ALMS season to allow them to fight for overall victories in a unified prototype class.

The Cytosport Porsche and Dyson Lola-Mazda completed the top five, with Andy Meyrick making his first official appearance for the latter squad alongside Chris Dyson and Guy Smith.

Green Earth Team Gunnar was quickest in the new LMP Challenge class, ahead of Genoa Racing, which recruited Andy Wallace to assist with the initial test of its car.

Risi Ferrari topped GT2, followed by the best of the Rahal Letterman BMWs and the lead Flying Lizard Porsche, with LMP1 co-champion driver Scott Sharp's new Extreme Speed Ferrari GT2 squad fourth.

Darrell Carlisle led the all-Porsche GT3 GT Challenge division for Kelly Moss Racing.

Pre-race favourite Peugeot has chosen not to bring its LMP1 diesels to this test, with GT2 frontrunner Corvette also skipping this week's group session.

Pos Cl Drivers Car Time
1. P1 Primat/Fernandez/Mucke/Buncombe Lola-Aston Martin 1m47.826s
2. P1 Field/Field Lola-AER 1m48.066s
3. P2 Brabham/Pagenaud/Franchitti HPD 1m48.263s
4. P2 Pickett/Graf Porsche 1m49.187s
5. P2 Dyson/Smith/Meyrick Lola-Mazda 1m50.261s
6. PC Zugel/Jeannette/Julian Oreca 1m57.131s
7. PC Connor/Wallace Oreca 1m57.580s
8. PC Feinberg/Marcelli Oreca 1m58.265s
9. PC Tucker/Bouchut Oreca 1m58.552s
10. PC Pagerey/Wong Oreca 2m01.976s
11. GT2 Melo/Bruni Ferrari 2m02.286s
12. GT2 Auberlen/Milner BMW 2m02.584s
13. GT2 Bergmeister/Long Porsche 2m03.125s
14. GT2 Sharp/van Overbeek Ferrari 2m03.169s
15. GT2 Mueller/Hand/Werner BMW 2m03.211s
16. GT2 Law/Neiman Porsche 2m03.651s
17. GT2 Brown/Cosmo Ferrari 2m03.862s
18. GT2 Sellers/Henzler Porsche 2m03.971s
19. GT2 Pappas/Bleekemolen Porsche 2m05.948s
20. GT2 Robertson/Robertson/Murry Doran Ford 2m06.136s
21. GTC Carlisle Porsche 2m07.902s
22. GTC Walton Porsche 2m08.217s
23. GT2 Gentilozzi/Goossens/Drissi/Pruett Jaguar 2m08.324s
24. GTC LeSaffre Porsche 2m08.581s
25. GTC Holden Porsche 2m09.499s
26. GTC Curtis/Sofronas Porsche 2m10.211s
27. GTC Lewis/Vento Porsche 2m10.714s
28. GTC Rodriguez/Bieker/Friedman Porsche 2m11.085s

[Rob]

Posted 02.23.10

HIGHCROFT FORMS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH GE FOR 2010

Also includes technical partnership with GE Global Research
Reigning American Le Mans Series LMP1 champions Patrón Highcroft Racing has formed a unique technical and sponsorship partnership with GE for the 2010 season.

GE Capital has become one of the team's sponsors for 2010, while Highcroft Racing has also formed a technical partnership with GE Global Research, GE's technology development arm.

The teams will work closely together to develop additional new technologies to further enhance the performance of the Honda Performance Development, factory backed ARX-01c chassis.

Highcroft's engineering team will work in conjunction with GE Global Research engineers to identify new applications utilizing a a variety of existing GE technologies. At the same time, GE scientists will have the opportunity to gain new insights that will benefit key research programs in aviation, transportation and energy.

GE Global Research is one of the world's largest and most diversified industrial research labs, with more than 2,600 scientists and engineers from around the world driving innovative technology in major industries such as energy, aviation, transportation, healthcare and lighting.

Technology expertise at Global Research covers virtually every scientific and engineering discipline. In particular, the Research Lab has core expertise in motor technologies, power electronics, drive systems and battery technologies that are broadly applied to support its aviation, transportation and energy businesses but which are also well aligned with advanced vehicle applications.

"The American Le Mans Series remains as one of the last international motorsports championships that truly reward innovation and allow technical development," Highcroft Racing President, Duncan Dayton said.

"Unlike many other championships, we compete against multiple different chassis, different tires and different fuel and engine technologies.

"We already have outstanding partners with HPD for engine technology and Wirth Research for chassis development. Our new partnership with GE will provide us with the tools to develop new enhancements to increase performance, and improve reliability and allow us to investigate new innovations to keep our team at the forefront of international motorsport competition.

"We're hoping these developments will not only enhance the performance of our team, but provide technological advances that we will one day see on the cars we drive on the road."

Eric Butterfield, Global Technology Leader, Electronics Systems and Controls, GE Global Research, said, "We're excited to join the Highcroft Racing 'Pit Crew' and see how we can apply advanced GE technology to improve the team's performance while gaining new insights to benefit our research for aviation, transportation and energy businesses.It's an incredible technical proving ground. With the ALMS focus on "Green Racing" and eager adoption of advanced technology, this is an excellent technology development platform. You would be surprised what you can learn under the hood of a race car."

Highcroft's technical expertise has already been boosted in 2010 by the recruitment of Will Phillips as the team's new Engineering Director. Phillips will also work in conjunction with Technical Director Dave Luckett on helping David Brabham (pictured right) and new drivers Simon Pagenaud and Marino Franchitti retain the ALMS championship crown.

Lead Engineer Jordan Eber has been assigned to coordinate and liaise with the GE Global Research team.

The GE logo will now adorn the team's #1 chassis for the ALMS title defense. Patrón Highcroft Racing has returned to Sebring for one final test this week at the annual American Le Mans Series "Wheels Down" winter test yesteday and today (February 22 & 23).

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring kicks off the nine-race 2010 championship on March 20 - broadcast live on SPEED TV

[Rob]

BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM UNVEILS LIVERY FOR 2010 SEASON
M3 racing cars contribute to the Story of Joy
Monday, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team began the 2010 American Le Mans season with a new livery on both BMW M3 racing cars, helping to tell BMW's worldwide Story of Joy. The 2010 BMW M3 GT debuted at the traditional pre-season ALMS Winter Test in Sebring, Florida. The new livery features words and phrases emblematic of the spirit of the campaign, which was launched in North America on February 12th during coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the XXI Winter Olympic Games.

"Story of Joy" introduces a new creative aesthetic characterized by strong, colorful images often conveying people and their experiences with the subtlest of references to BMW products punctuated by various three-word headlines leading off with "Joy Is…"

"These days, there isn't much chance for a winter break but our crew certainly earned what little vacation time they got," said Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager. "Now, since the turn of the new year we've been getting ready to start what we expect will be a great second season. Car construction is complete, testing has begun, and everyone is excited. We look forward to giving BMW fans a good show at the Winter Test and of course the legendary 12-Hour event next month. For 2010, we have created the Joy livery as a special tribute to our most enthusiastic fans, as they have helped us define the joy of driving and racing in the US for 35 years."

"In the spirit of the new BMW philosophy, all of us at the team share tremendous joy in getting the 2010 season underway," said Bobby Rahal. "While we certainly had a successful inaugural season in 2009, everyone connected with the program has kept pushing throughout the winter months to make the BMW M3 the best car it can possibly be, and striving to meet the standards of excellence that are associated with BMW and Rahal Letterman Racing."

2010 will see the return of BMW's celebrated inaugural-season pilots, with Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner sharing the No. 92 M3, and Joey Hand with Dirk Müller co -driving the No. 90 M3. For this two-day test at Sebring, BMW Motorsport driver Dirk Werner has been invited to assist.

In its 2010 season, BMW of North America celebrates the 35th anniversary of the company's March 1975 incorporation, as well as its first major sports car racing victory, the 12 Hours of Sebring, also in March of 1975.

In 2010, the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring will be held on Saturday, March 20th.

[Rob]

Pierre Kaffer returns to Risi for the Classics
By Team Update ⋅ February 25, 2010

Pierre Kaffer, GT2 winner of all three of 2009’s sports car endurance classics – the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans – in a Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GTC, is set to return to the Texan team in 2010 to defend those titles.

The genial German, 33, will be partnered with Gianmaria Bruni and Jaime Melo in the Rosso Red Ferrari for the above mentioned races in the USA and France, and will additionally be paired with Jaime Melo for the Road America 2 hour 34 minute round of the American Le Mans Series. Bruni has a clashing commitment in Europe.

Pierre Kaffer has now been competing extremely successfully in a Ferrari F430 GTC for the last two seasons, taking three wins and six podium finishes and never finishing lower than sixth place in a race. He is delighted to be returning to Risi Competizione.

“I really like the team so it’s great to be back,” said Pierre. “And, from my side, I will, as always, do my very best to help defend our titles. I am sure that, with Gimmi and Jaime, we present a very strong driver combination for these endurance races. I’m very happy to be back in the USA for the three races as I love racing there and, with Ferrari, I think we have a strong package. I hope I’ll be able to help the team a lot.”

Team Principal Giuseppe Risi said of Kaffer’s return to his team: “We obviously work very closely with Ferrari in all aspects of our racing, including our driver line up. Jaime and Gianmaria are the two drivers with the most experience in the world of the F430, as they have both been involved with its development from the start, so that was our decision for the ALMS sprint races.

“Pierre, however, is a perfect fit as their endurance partner and was fortunately available to us amongst his European racing commitments. He brings experience, stability and undoubted talent, as we saw last season, and everyone on the team is delighted to welcome him back.”

[Rob]

ALMS announces 35 entries for Sebring 12 Hours
February 26, 2010

Just a few days after the Sebring Winter Test the American Le Mans Series announced the provisional entry list for the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. 35 cars have been entered for this years race, which will be held on March 20th.

As Sebring will be run to ACO regulations there will be an LMP1 and LMP2 class. Peugeot will be the top favorite to win this year, the French manufacturer will send two cars to Florida. Gené, Wurz and Davidson will race the #07 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP and Lamy, Bourdais and Minassian will be in the #08 entry. From the five remaining LMP1 teams Aston Martin Racing is probably the best. Primat, Buncombe and Fernandez are the three drivers entered for the race in the car that was fastest at the test, but also crashed heavily.

Drayson Racing will also be in for a fight to become the best of the non-diesel cars. To get the best possible result Paul Drayson and Jonny Cocker are joined by sportscar ace Emanuele Pirro in the Lola Judd. Autocon Motorsports and Intersport Racing will also be entering their Lola B06/10s. The seventh and final LMP1 car on the list is the Creation Autosportif CA10, no drivers are announced for this potential entry. Missing on the list is the Corsa Motorsports Zytek…

Three cars are entered in the LMP2 class. 2010 ALMS champion Patrón Highcroft Racing will be at Sebring with the new HPD ARX-01c for Brabham, Pagenaud and Marino Franchitti. At the test days earlier this week this car was the fastest LMP2. The opposition in LMP2 will come from the Muscle Milk Team Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder (Picket/Graf/Maassen) and the Dyson Racing Team Lola Mazda of Dyson, Smith and Meyrick.

Five LMPC cars will fill up the gap left by the GT1 cars. Five different teams will be racing at Sebring, in what will be the first ever LMPC race. Joel Feinberg and Kyle Marcelli are confirmed in the Primetime Race Group car, while familiar names like Andy Wallace (Genoa Racing), Christophe Bouchut (Level 5 Motorsports, with Scott Tucker), Gunnar Jeanette and Elton Julian (Green Earth Team Gunnar, with Christian Zugel) will also be on the grid. The fifth car is the Intersport Racing FLM09 for Mitch Pagery, Brian Wong and David Ducote.

Perhaps the most interesting class at Sebring will be the GT2 category. Fourteen cars, nine teams, six manufacturers will make up the GT2 grid. Corvette Racing will enter its first Sebring 12 Hours as a GT2 manufacturer and Magnussen, O’Connell, Garcia (in the #3) and Beretta, Gavin and Collard (in the #4) will be aiming for nothing less than a class win at Sebring. Unfortunately for Corvette and fortunately for the fans there are more teams with that exact same aim. BMW Rahal Letterman Racing will again run 2 BMW E92 M3s. Compared to 2009 the line-ups have changed though. In the #90 Dirk Müller will be joined by Joey Hand and Andy Priaulx, while the #92 will have Bill Auberlen teaming up with Tommy Milner and Dirk Werner.
Other candidates for victory are the Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 RSR #45 of Bergmeister and Long and the Risi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT3 #62 of Jaime Melo, Gianmaria Bruni and Pierre Kaffer.
Outsiders could well be the #01 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari of Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek.
The GT2 grid is completed by the #02 Extreme Speed Motorsports car of Brown/Cosmo, the #61 Risi Ferrari of Krohn/Jonsson/van der Poele, the Black Swan Racing Porsche #54 of Pappas/Bleekemolen/Lazzaro, the #44 Lizards car of Law/Neiman, the #40 Robertson Racing Ford GT of the Robertsons and David Murry, the Team Falken Tire Porsche of Henzler and Sellers. Making its debut, but not expected to be a frontrunner yet, is the Jaguar XKRS of Gentilozzi, Goossens and Dalziel.

Completing the entry list are the GTC Porsches. Six cars are entered for the season opener at Sebring. Alex Job Racing and The Racers Group will be making a return to the ALMS at Sebring. Bill Sweedler, Romeo Kapudija and Jan-Dirk Lueders are in the #23 AJR Porsche, with Juan Gonzalez and Butch Leitzinger confirmed in the second AJR car, the #81. GMG Racing will enter 1 car, for Bret Curtis, James Sofronas and Andy Pilgrim. The three other cars (TRG #63, WERKS II/P7 Racing #69 and #88 Velox Motorsports) will be driven by Henri Richard/Pat Flanagan, Robert Rodriquez/Galen Bieker and Shane Lewis/Jerry Vento.

[Rob]

IMSA confirm 2010 ALMS Technical Specifications
March 2, 2010
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Two weeks before the Sebring race week gets underway the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) has announced the following waivers for the American Le Mans Series race at Sebring. This race will be run according to Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) regulations and classes, but some minor adjustments have been made for the opening race of the 2010 season.

At Sebring the technical regulations for the LMP1, LMP2 and GT will see the following waivers.

LMP1
1. All cars must meet all ACO Technical specifications with the exception of cars utilizing E85 fuel. These cars are permitted to utilize the same E85 restrictor and weight waivers as granted.
2. E85 capacity will remain at 110L and a pit tank height of 2.2m.

LMP2
1. All cars must meet all ACO Technical specifications,
2. 3.6.3 Rear Wing: Cars must utilize the 2000mm rear wing. All cars must run a gurney strip (wicker) which is a minimum of 20mm in height at all times.
3. Cars running the 2000mm rear wing will not be eligible for an automatic selection for the 2011 “24 Heures du Mans” (NOTE: this does not preclude cars from participating, it only refers to the “automatic selection.”)

GT2
1. All cars must meet all ACO Technical specifications with the exception of the Doran Designs Ford GT; this car is permitted to utilize the same restrictor as was used in 2009.
2. E85 fuel capacity will remain at 110L and a pit tank height of 2.2m.

After the 12 Hours of Sebring, from the Grand Prix of Long Beach on, the American Le Mans Series will not run to ACO regulations anymore but to the different IMSA set of regulations. These rules will be effective in races two through eight (Grand Prix of Mosport).

Cars considered LMP1
1. All cars that have been provided E85 weight and restrictor waivers must remove these waivers for these races (subject to Attachment 2 of the ALMS SSR.) In addition cars utilizing an approved fuel other than E85 must reduce their air restrictor size by 5% as a class sporting adjustment for the combined LMP class.
2. E85 capacity will remain at 110L and a pit tank height of 2.2m.

Cars considered LMP2
1. All cars must meet all ACO Technical specifications (subject to Attachment 2 of the ALMS SSR) with the exception of those cars which have received a class sporting adjustment in 2009; in this case the adjustment may be utilized.
2. 3.6.3 Rear Wing: Cars must utilize the 2000mm rear wing for 2010 competition. All cars must run a gurney strip (wicker) which is a minimum of 20mm in height at all times. The 1600mm rear wing may also be approved as an option at a later date but once it is used the team is committed to its use for all events. Further details regarding the 1600mm will be provided in a separate bulletin if approved.
3. Cars running the 2000mm rear wing will not be eligible for an automatic selection for the 2011 “24 Heures du Mans” (NOTE: this does not preclude cars from participating, it only refers to the “automatic selection.”)
4. All cars may compete with a fuel capacity of 90L.

GT2
1. All cars must meet all ACO Technical specifications (subject to Attachment 2 of the ALMS SSR) with the exception of the Doran Designs Ford GT; this car is permitted to utilize the same restrictor as was used in 2009.
2. E85 fuel capacity will remain at 110L and a pit tank height of 2.2m.

Technical Specifications for round 9 of the American Le Mans Series 2010 season, Petit Le Mans, will be announced 60 days prior to the event. This race will also be part of the Le Mans Intercontinental Cup.

The technical specifications for LMP cars means that LMP1 cars, like the Drayson Racing Lola, will be able to receive an automatic selection for the Le Mans 24 Hours, whereas the LMP2 spec cars will not be able to receive that due to running a non-ACO compliant rear wing. (As seen on the Patrón Highcroft Racing HPD ARX-01c above)

[Rob]

TOP FERRARI TEAMS CHOOSE MICHELIN

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Risi Competizione’s Le Mans Champs & Scott Sharp’s New Arrivals Both Choose Michelin
A marriage in GT2 class racing heaven may combine something old, something new, something red, and something…green and black?

One of sports car racing’s most successful teams, and one of its newest, have two things in common; both have chosen Ferrari F430GT cars and MICHELIN® tires for their 2010 American Le Mans Series campaigns. The defending 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 champion Risi Competizione and the new Extreme Speed Motorsports head into 2010 ALMS competition with Michelin.

Sporting the traditional Ferrari red, as they head into their fifth season with Michelin, is the all conquering Risi Competizione Ferrari team, winners of the 2007 American Le Mans Series GT2 Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans in 2008 and owners of a sweep of the 2009 GT2 class endurance events at Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans.

The Houston-based squad again chooses Michelin as their technical partner for the 2010 ALMS season. Team Principal Giuseppe Risi cites tire choice as one of the most important elements in achieving success. “We are delighted to continue our successful racing partnership with Michelin, and would have no other tire. As always, winning comes down to having the complete package: the best car, team, drivers and tires. We know that Michelin always provide us with an extremely consistent and reliable tire, as well as great technical support, and I have no doubt about their contribution to our endurance wins over recent years.”

The always quick and aggressive Brazilian, Jaime Melo returns aboard the red # 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari paired for 2010 with experienced sports car racer, Gianmaria Bruni of Italy. Melo begins his fifth consecutive season with Risi, where he has already produced 14 ALMS wins, 15 pole positions and numerous track records and fast laps.

Bruni, the 2008 FIA GT Champion, partnered with Melo for victory at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans and has competed for Risi Competizione in a number of ALMS races.

The newest ALMS GT2 class entrants, Scott Sharp’s colorful new Extreme Speed Motorsports based in Stuart, FL. have also chosen Michelin as their technical partner.

A winner throughout his sports car and IndyCar career, Sharp first tasted Michelin performance when he joined the Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura team in 2008. He and David Brabham proceeded to deliver Acura’s first overall race win in 2008, and after stepping up to the LMP1 class, served up three wins and the ALMS series title in 2009.

Now, Sharp is stepping quickly to field his own two car Ferrari team in the brutally competitive GT2 class. Like Risi Competizione, Sharp has chosen Michelin. “Extreme Speed Motorsports is thrilled to add Michelin as a technical partner to our team,” Sharp added. “After driving on MICHELIN® tires for the last two seasons, I know how important it is to run on the best tires out there, and having them on our cars will immediately bring confidence to everyone on the team.”

Joining Sharp as co-driver will be GT2 ace and six-time class winner Johannes van Overbeek, while veteran Guy Cosmo teams with GT3 graduate Ed Brown in the second Ferrari F430.

“Michelin is pleased to continue our long-standing technical partnership with Risi Competizione and we are excited by the arrival of the new Extreme Speed Motorsports team,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager. “We thank both teams for choosing Michelin to provide the right tires for their needs.”

[Rob]

Creation Autosportif withdraws from Sebring
By Team Update ⋅ March 16, 2010
Creation Autosportif has withdrawn its entry to the 58th Mobil 1 Sebring 12 Hours race in Florida scheduled for this coming weekend, due to non-performance of one of its principal sponsors.

The Winston-Salem (North Carolina USA) based team was due to debut its Creation CA10-Judd P1 chassis for a full season’s racing in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), however that debut looks more likely now to take place later in the season.

Creation’s Team Owner Michael Jankowski commented “It is exceptionally frustrating for Creation to have to postpone the debut of our new CA10; however, it is important to ensure that our efforts are properly funded as that is the only way to have any future in this sport. The new car ought to be competitive and I look forward to seeing it on the track.”

Commercial Manager Andy Woolgar added “It is by no means an ideal situation we find ourselves in and certainly not the way we wanted to kick things off in 2010. It has been difficult to speak out publicly about our plans due to upholding of contractual obligations from our side, but we are remaining positive and forging ahead”.

(press release)

[Rob]

Gené, Franchitti and Jeannette on LMP poles
March 19, 2010 ⋅
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Ten minutes after the GT cars had ended their session the LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC cars were sent out on the track. While LMP1 and LMP2 qualifying were not really exciting the battle in LMPC lasted until the very last second.

Having been repaired after its crash this morning the Drayson Racing Lola Judd was taken out by Emanuele Pirro. Despite setting a fast lap time of 1:46.940, the Lola Aston Martin and the two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs were soon lapping even quicker.

Halfway the session Marc Gené had posted the fastest lap time, a 1:45.214. Nic Minassian in the sister car was 0.627s behind, with Stefan Mücke’s Lola Aston Martin in third place. 0.866s from the Spanish Peugeot driver.

Marino Franchitti had meanwhile taken provisional pole position in LMP2, just under three tenths of a second ahead of the Dyson Lola and a second ahead of the Cytosport Porsche.
In the LMPC category it was Gunnar Jeannette ahead of Ryan Hunter-Reay and Christophe Bouchut.

The top five overall went into the pit lane, but the battle for the LMPC pole position continued. Ryan Hunter-Reay briefly overtook Jeannette, but soon after the #99 Oreca FLM09 was back in front. Meanwhile JR Hildebrand passed Bouchut to take third in class.

Only six cars were out with the clock still indicating that there were nine minutes left. Marino Franchitti then aborted his qualifying run after a spin out on the track at Turn 15.

While Franchitti drove back to the pit lane Hunter-Reay and Hildebrand improved their lap times and sent Jeannette to third in class. The battle in LMPC continued and with the time ticking away the three cars kept lapping at a fabulous pace. Jeannette posted the provisional pole position time with just over two minutes left. As the checkered flag was about to come out Hunter-Reay managed to squeeze out just that little bit extra to take provisional pole position and it looked as if he would take it. But Gunnar Jeanette was the last man to laugh, taking pole position for Green Earth Team Gunnar on his final lap in 1:55.279.

Post qualifying quotes:

Gunnar Jeannette: “It was really exciting. It is an honor to have the first pole for this new class in the series. Our G-Oil car was really hooked up and we skipped the practice session this morning to prepare for the race. To take the pole over a team like Level 5 Motorsports is an honor. For tomorrow we’re going to aim for a finish. We are really happy to show our hand and see that we’re quickest, but our aim is really a finish.”

Marino Franchitti: “It was certainly very close, but we thought our competition wasn’t showing everything they had. And as it showed they were close in qualifying. It is great to start of the season with a pole. We have a great new sponsor in GE and it is great to welcome them with a pole. It is going to be fun for the fans tomorrow.”

[Rob]

Sebring 12H - Friday Morning Practice Report
March 19, 2010
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The American Le Mans Series started their Friday with a one-hour long free practice session. Unfortunately for teams and fans the track time during the session was cut short due to two rather long red flag periods. But in the end nothing changed and Peugeot was 1-2 again.

With the session just a minute underway Marino Franchitti tried to overtake one of the Corvettes but things went wrong. On cold tyres the Scot spun the Patrón Highcroft Racing car, fortunately missing everyone. Franchitti kept his car on the track and after getting the noise pointing in the right direction he rejoined the session.

Just minutes later two LMPC Oreca FLM09 cars went off at Turn 12. The Level 5 Motorsports car was able to continue under its own power, but the #11 Primetime-Braille Battery Race Group was not. The red flag was shown and a flatbed transporter went out to recover the stranded car.

Fifteen minutes later the session was restarted and the cars returned to the track, including the Jaguar XKR that missed night practice due to an engine being changed.

Alexander Wurz was the first to complete a fast lap after the red flag had come to an end and the Austrian posted a 1:46.923. Teammate Nic Minassian was a second slower on his first flying lap, but the French driver was in traffic. From that moment the teams started to drop.

With 30 minutes left on the clock Wurz had improved to 1:45.722, Minassian was lapping on the same pace, setting a 1:45.735. Third quickest was Franchitti at 1.319s from Wurz.
Andy Wallace (Genoa Racing #36) was quickest in LMPC, with Van Overbeek setting the fastest time in the Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari F430 GT2, ahead of the two Corvettes and the #90 BMW E92 M3.

Paul Drayson then had an off coming out of Turn 5, causing another red flag. The Drayson Racing team owner/driver lost control of the Lola B09/60 Judd and hit the wall, ripping off the rear wing and causing substantial damage to the rear end bodywork. The #45 Flying Lizards Motorsport Porsche managed to brake hard and avoided collecting the Lola as it bounced back on the track.

Drayson restarted the damaged car and drove it back to the pit lane as the safety team started to clean the track and replace the tyre barrier on the outside of turn 5.

With eighteen minutes remaining the session was restarted once more and again the cars rolled out of the pit lane.

The battle in the LMPC class heated up again in the final minutes of the session. Ryan Hunter-Reay, driving the #95 Level 5 Motorsports Oreca FLM09, set the fastest lap time of the LMPC class with only ten minutes to go and improved his own time in the lap after. Christophe Bouchut was also improving and closed in, eventually posting the fastest lap of the class on his 13th lap.

In GT2 Bill Auberlen restored the order in GT2. In only his third lap Auberlen set the fastest class time, 0.550s quicker than Müller. Jaime Melo managed to squeeze the Risi Competizione Ferrari in between with 3 minutes left on the clock and eventually posted a 2:00.914, bringing him to the top of the GT2 class. His time was also the first sub 2:01 lap at Sebring in practice this year (thanks Don Pierce for letting us know).

One minute before the end of the session Harold Primat spun off the track coming out of turn 16. But he stayed clear off the wall.

[Rob]

Dirk Müller and Leh Keen secure GT poles
March 19, 2010

Dirk Müller (GT2) and Leh Keen (GTC) secured the pole positions for tomorrow’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The BMW and Porsche drivers beat their rivals in the GT qualifying session.

In the GT qualifying session the first minutes saw the GTC cars out on track, before being joined by the quicker GT2 cars. Tracy Krohn spun his Ferrari F430 GT2 on its outlap, but quickly recovered and continued.

Dirk Müller posted a 2:00.782 in his second lap, with Jaime Melo checking in right behind him. Soon after Melo had posted his time though it was Wolf Henzler in the #17 Team Falken Tire Porsche who went just a tad quicker. Both cars were still over four tenths behind the leading BMW.

Twelve minutes were left in the session when the two Corvettes went out for their qualifying run, with Jörg Bergmeister on a flying lap as well. On the Ulmann Straight Bergmeister tried to pass Shane Lewis in the Velox Motorsport Porsche Cup but was unable to and the two nearly collided in the last corner.

Bergmeister did not improve the time set by Müller and with only a few minutes remaining the #90 was still on provisional pole position. The Falken Tire Porsche was still third, ahead of the Risi Ferrari and the two Corvettes.

As the checkered flag was shown it meant that Müller had secured the pole position for BMW, the first BMW pole position in GT since 1998 (and the first for BMW since 1999) and broke the GT2 qualifying record. Marc Goossens qualified the Jaguar XKR in eleventh place, although there were some worried faces around the track as the car drove around the track in its final lap with steam coming from the car. According to team owner/driver Paul Gentilozzi there was nothing to worry about though.

Leh Keen in the #80 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup eventually posted the fastest GTC qualifying lap time, ahead of his team mate Patrick Kelly in the #81 AJR Porsche. Kelly was over a second behind his team mate though and managed to beat the Tracy Krohn driven Risi Ferrari F430 GT2. Romeo Kapudija in the team’s #23 completed a qualifying clean sweep for AJR.

Post qualifying quotes:

Leh Keen: “My lap was pretty uneventful, pretty clean. Kind of a one lap or two lap wonder. Squeezed everything out of the tyres. As for tomorrow, it’s a twelve hour race, so we have to be there at the end. ”

Dirk Müller: “Obviously I am extremely pleased. It is a kind of not really expected pole, to be 100% honest. There were lots of things going on during the week. Both me and my team mate Joey were not happy with the car on Thursday and we made some big changes and we are now extremely happy.”

[Rob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrvWxe4-XaI

[Rob]

Drayson Racing Ignites Sebring Until Alternator Drains Momentum
By Team Update ⋅ March 22, 2010
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Drayson Racing has been riding a wave of momentum entering today’s 58th Running of the 12 Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida which dated to 2009. The wave hit its crescendo this week at Sebring International Raceway when driver Emanuele Pirro (Rome) attacked from fourth on the starting grid to bring the No. 8 Drayson Racing Lola Coupé with Judd Power into second overall early in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season-opener. However, the electrifying run by the two-time Sebring winner came to an end when the alternator failed three hours and 34-minutes into the 12 hour race. Pirro shared the car with regular team drivers Paul Drayson (London/Gloucestershire, UK) and Jonny Cocker (Guisborough, Yorks, UK). Other issues with a water leak dropped the programme further back, eventually closing the day with the United Kingdom-based team fourth in Le Mans Prototype One (LMP1) class, 12th overall.

In the critical Michelin® Green X® Challenge, the team finished as the highest non-diesel powered entry. Taking third in this important environmental award was the result of the team’s use of second generation, cellulosic E85 ethanol and its efficient combination of Judd V10 engine and Lola’s closed cockpit chassis. This success was yet another example of the team’s ability to maintain momentum event-to-event. Drayson Racing won the Michelin Green X Challenge in the Asian Le Mans Series in 2009 at the Okayama Circuit in Japan.

Like qualifying before it, the race proved the strength of the first-year LMP1 operation. Not only was the Drayson Lola fast in the hands of its drivers, the team proved its ompetitive drive and professionalism in pit lane and preparation. By overcoming two alternator issues - which were discovered via onboard telemetry before the two separate incidents could drain the lithium battery - and the water leak caused when a competitor struck the Drayson machine, the Dale White (Bozeman, MT, USA)-managed organisation was able to reach the total race distance allowing the drivers to score vital points in the combined LMP class championship.

The stop to replace the alternator, whist only 18 minutes in total, dropped the car from the top-three to fourth in class. This would be the case for most of the remainder of the day despite impressive lap times put in by Drayson, Cocker and Pirro. The team proved very efficient and professional in dealing with the issues. The loss of a second alternator at the end of the day dropped Drayson Racing out of a solid top-10 to its final position but it did take the chequered flag.

The team’s performance and the car’s speed will help it maintain the momentum it has built. The second round of the ALMS season will be held at Long Beach, Calif. on 17 April.

Quotes
Elspeth, Lady Drayson, Owner/CEO: “I am very pleased we finished the race. Sebring is known as the toughest race of the championship and a huge test for cars and drivers alike. The team showed great spirit in dealing with the various issues as the race progressed - but it was the amazing turn of speed early on that gives me such optimism for this year.”

Paul Drayson, Owner/Driver: “After an absolutely storming first hour where we really showed the speed potential that we have. It was dogged determination that got us to the finish of the 12 Hours of Sebring tonight. We earned vital points towards the ALMS championship and learnt a huge amount to prepare for Le Mans 24 Hours. A great start to 2010.”

Jonny Cocker, Driver: “We really showed that we have absolutely huge potential this year. We are going to have a strong year. We aren’t going to struggle for pace which is fantastic to have on our side. We have gathered a very strong team that has a lot of positive experience with P cars and I think it is going to be a very good year.”

Emanuele Pirro, Driver: “There are positive things and a list of things to address. One positive is that the car is very, very strong. Personally, the positive thing is that I found the speed and the racecraft as I left it two years ago. All the things are still there and this is great for me. We lost time with mechanical issues and we had an accident when we were hit by a Peugeot. Really, the most positive thing is to bring the car home to the finish because we collected a lot of data that we can take to Le Mans. Thanks to the team and congratulations to my teammates. I am looking forward to Laguna.”

Dale White, Team Manager: “We obviously hoped for a better result. However, looking at it from the positive side, we again showed that, without a doubt, we can run with anyone. That opening stint was great racing to watch and I think it should let everyone know we are here to race and to win.”

[Rob]

WOW! RECORD-SETTING ENTRY FOR SERIES AT LONG BEACH
Thirty-five world-class entries to pack it in at historic circuit
2010-03-25
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One of the largest fields for any event in the 36-year history of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will take to the famed southern California street circuit for the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach. Thirty-five cars will compete in the second round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón championship.

The field for Long Beach is the largest for a non-endurance-length race in the Series since 2003 and is also the biggest at the circuit for the Series since its first race there in 2007. The grid is the largest of any kind at Long Beach in 15 years

“We were blessed with a fantastic field of world-class competitors at Sebring, and they certainly did not disappoint,” said Scott Atherton, Series President and CEO. “As we move on to the biggest and most strategic market for our series – southern California – we have been overwhelmed by entries, both the quantity and quality. There is no question we will have a record-breaking field for our fourth-annual event through the streets of Long Beach. I am confident that the tens of thousands of spectators in attendance at America’s premier street race will witness a great race among the world’s best sports cars, teams and drivers.”

The Series’ fourth consecutive visit to the 11-turn, 1.968-mile historic Long Beach track will boast a number of new features. First and foremost is the debut of the Series’ combined LMP class. Five separate marques will fight for overall victory – Aston Martin, Lola, Mazda and Porsche. Adding to the mix is the inclusion of two exotic closed-top prototypes: Drayson Racing’s E85-powered Lola-Judd and Aston Martin Racing’s Lola-Aston Martin with its screaming V12 production-based engine.

Another new addition to Long Beach is the first-year LMP Challenge class featuring ORECA’s FLM09 prototype. Seven FLM09s are entered after a successful opening race last weekend at the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, where the ORECA-built racers passed their debut with flying colors.

Among the highlights on the entry list are two cars for Level 5 Motorsports, the class winner at Sebring, and G-Oil’s Green Earth Team Gunnar. There is one new entry – PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports for prototype expert Johnny Mowlem and Tom Papadopoulos.

The GT class is its usual spectacular self – double-digit entries representing six manufacturers (BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar and Porsche). Risi Competizione’s duo of Jaime Melo and Gimmi Bruni enter as the championship leaders after another Sebring victory for the Ferrari F430 GT. Of course the list of challengers is extensive including Corvette Racing’s two Corvette C6.Rs (making their first Long Beach start in the class), JaguarRSR’s Jaguar XKRS and two cars each for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team (second and third in class at Sebring) and defending Series and race champion Flying Lizard Motorsports.

A nine-car field for the GT Challenge class will be part of the Long Beach grid with new additions from 911 Design (Loren Beggs/Doug Baron) and Black Swan Racing (Tim Pappas/Jeroen Bleekemolen). Sebring class-winner Alex Job Racing leads the GTC contingent with three cars – one under the Car Amigo-Alex Job Racing banner.

The Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach is the second round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. The race, set at the historic Long Beach street circuit, is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 15 with coverage on SPEED set for 8 to 10 p.m. ET. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius and XM. Visit the the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

WOW! RECORD-SETTING ENTRY FOR SERIES AT LONG BEACH
Thirty-five world-class entries to pack it in at historic circuit
2010-03-25
http://i41.tinypic.com/syts8x.jpg
One of the largest fields for any event in the 36-year history of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will take to the famed southern California street circuit for the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach. Thirty-five cars will compete in the second round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón championship.

The field for Long Beach is the largest for a non-endurance-length race in the Series since 2003 and is also the biggest at the circuit for the Series since its first race there in 2007. The grid is the largest of any kind at Long Beach in 15 years

“We were blessed with a fantastic field of world-class competitors at Sebring, and they certainly did not disappoint,” said Scott Atherton, Series President and CEO. “As we move on to the biggest and most strategic market for our series – southern California – we have been overwhelmed by entries, both the quantity and quality. There is no question we will have a record-breaking field for our fourth-annual event through the streets of Long Beach. I am confident that the tens of thousands of spectators in attendance at America’s premier street race will witness a great race among the world’s best sports cars, teams and drivers.”

The Series’ fourth consecutive visit to the 11-turn, 1.968-mile historic Long Beach track will boast a number of new features. First and foremost is the debut of the Series’ combined LMP class. Five separate marques will fight for overall victory – Aston Martin, Lola, Mazda and Porsche. Adding to the mix is the inclusion of two exotic closed-top prototypes: Drayson Racing’s E85-powered Lola-Judd and Aston Martin Racing’s Lola-Aston Martin with its screaming V12 production-based engine.

Another new addition to Long Beach is the first-year LMP Challenge class featuring ORECA’s FLM09 prototype. Seven FLM09s are entered after a successful opening race last weekend at the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, where the ORECA-built racers passed their debut with flying colors.

Among the highlights on the entry list are two cars for Level 5 Motorsports, the class winner at Sebring, and G-Oil’s Green Earth Team Gunnar. There is one new entry – PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports for prototype expert Johnny Mowlem and Tom Papadopoulos.

The GT class is its usual spectacular self – double-digit entries representing six manufacturers (BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar and Porsche). Risi Competizione’s duo of Jaime Melo and Gimmi Bruni enter as the championship leaders after another Sebring victory for the Ferrari F430 GT. Of course the list of challengers is extensive including Corvette Racing’s two Corvette C6.Rs (making their first Long Beach start in the class), JaguarRSR’s Jaguar XKRS and two cars each for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team (second and third in class at Sebring) and defending Series and race champion Flying Lizard Motorsports.

A nine-car field for the GT Challenge class will be part of the Long Beach grid with new additions from 911 Design (Loren Beggs/Doug Baron) and Black Swan Racing (Tim Pappas/Jeroen Bleekemolen). Sebring class-winner Alex Job Racing leads the GTC contingent with three cars – one under the Car Amigo-Alex Job Racing banner.

The Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach is the second round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. The race, set at the historic Long Beach street circuit, is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 15 with coverage on SPEED set for 8 to 10 p.m. ET. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius and XM. Visit the the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

ALMS, Laguna Seca: important points for Risi Competizioni

Maranello, 23 May – After a great showing from the Brazilian Jaime Melo in Friday’s qualifying was rewarded with pole position, the car he shared with Gianmaria Bruni finished the GT category of the race in fourth place, at the spectacular Laguna Seca circuit, which hosted the third round of the American Le Mans Series. Fifth place went to the Extreme Speed Motorsports F430 GT2, driven by Scott Sharp and Joannes van Overbeek, which had set the second fastest time in class during qualifying.

The Bruni-Melo car was caught up in traffic caused by one of the prototype cars on lap fifteen and also lost a few places after tangling with another car, in a race affected by strong winds and which was hard fought all the way to the chequered flag. The final reward was two important points in the championship battle. The three podium positions went to the winning Porsche 911 of Patrick Long-Jorg Bergmeister, followed by the BMW M3 of Dirk Muller-Joey Hand and the Chevrolet Corvette of Olivier Beretta-Oliver Gavin. Risi Competition leaves Laguna Seca in third place in the championship, heading into the next round of the prestigious series, scheduled for 11 July at Miller Motorsports Park, in Utah.

[Rob]

10.07.2010
Bruni leads Ferrari GT qualifying blitz
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In an incredibly tightly fought session, with the top seven cars all within four tenths of a second of each other, Toni Vilander did a great job to place the #61 car in third place on the GT grid for tomorrow’s Utah Grand Prix**. His time of 1:47.909 was just two hundredths of a second ahead of the current GT championship leader, the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche.

Under the blazing Utah sun and in temperatures of 90o, Bruni completed just six laps – only two of which were at full qualifying speed. It was lap two which clinched the pole position, the Italian’s second in his ALMS career, and he then returned to the pits in order to preserve his Michelin rubber.

Despite encountering traffic from GTC cars on almost every lap, Gimmi Bruni was happy with the outcome although slightly frustrated that he didn’t find a completely clear lap.

Gianmaria Bruni: “It was a good session and the time was enough for P1 [in class], even if it was a bit of a mess with the GTC cars sometimes. Jaime and I have worked hard together with our engineer, Rick Mayer, to improve the set up, and the car was very good. Since we put it on the ground yesterday it’s been fast straight away and we’ve been fastest in each of the sessions so I’m very happy.

“Toni did very well to get p3 as I think the Porsche did a very good lap and he’s still very close to us all. I’m happy for Ferrari to have a 1-2-3 today in this very, very strong Championship. It has the best drivers, the best teams and many very good manufacturers all racing together – I’m proud to be here.

“Today was a good starting point and now we just have to win the race. I’m expecting a great race tomorrow – I think we’ll have a good chance.”

Toni Vilander was tasked with qualifying the #61 Ferrari F430 GTC and, watched by his team mate – Miller Motorsports Park debutant Giancarlo Fisichella – produced five flying laps of which the fifth and final one was his quickest. The duo have thoroughly enjoyed their time within the American Le Mans Series so far, and the Finn was also happy with the outcome of the day.

Tony Vilander: “Qualifying was quite okay and I’m very happy with the performance of car #61. The 62 has been very quick all week and we’ve been fighting to get the gap closer and this was our best lap time so far. Now our thoughts are immediately for the race and we may try to change it a little bit to get a better race car.

We are up there. We started with the same base set up as Jaime and Gimmi, the one they have found for the car during the year, and we have tried to personalise it a bit for me and Giancarlo. I’m happy with the car and everything and the result was good. To have p1 and p3 for Risi is good.”

** In post qualifying tech, a ride height infringement on the #61 car means that they will be forced to take the start from the back of the grid.

[Rob]

Risi Competizione No. 61 Ferrari F430 GT was moved to the back of the grid due to a ride-height violation discovered in post-qualifying technical inspections. Toni Vilander had qualified the car third; he will start the race with Giancarlo Fisichella handling the second stint.

Intersport Racing’s No. 89 ORECA FLM09 entry for LMPC elected to change tires and has moved to the back of the grid as well.

The other car at the rear of the pack is of course the Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. A day after it went up in flames during Saturday morning’s practice, Bryan Sellers took the Porsche out for an installation lap first thing Sunday morning, and the team spent more than an hour practicing pit stops.

Sellers was at the wheel Saturday morning when the rear of the car caught fire. He pulled into pit entry and exited the car as smoke moved from the rear of the car toward the front. The team replaced nearly – if not all of – every component piece from the seats to the rear of the car including suspension, bodywork, engine and mounts, brake parts…the list goes on.

Sellers said the car felt fine following the installation lap. The crew finished most of the rear rebuild Saturday afternoon. Sellers will start the race and hand off to reigning Le Mans GT2 champion Wolf Henzle

looks as if Ferrari bad luck continues even for Risi!!!!

[Rob]

LIZARD PORSCHE TAKES FIFTH IN ALMS GT IN UTAH, LOSES DRIVER POINTS LEAD TO FERRARI AND PORSCHE NOW THIRD IN MANUFACTURERS CHASE
2010-07-11

In the rough and tumble chase for the American Le Mans Series drivers and manufacturers GT class championship, the apple cart was turned upside down today by subtle, but results-altering incidents at the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix at Miller Motorsports Park Sunday.

The Patrick Long (USA)/Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, which started fourth on the grid, looked like they were destined for a podium finish to retain their class points lead when the car suffered a puncture in its left rear tire and had to come in for a green flag pit stop with only 45 minutes remaining in the race. Long, who had moved into third place, and was challenging the Auberlen/Milner BMW for second, had to dive into the pits, and fell back to fifth place, where they finished to earn eight points.

The winning Melo/Bruni Ferrari won the class, however, and now leads the Lizard pair by two points, and BMW, with its second-place finish, has a one-point lead over Ferrari in the manufacturers standings with Porsche three points out of first.

"Our car was quick today, and we didn't have the fastest car in class all weekend, but we were still in line for a podium finish if it hadn't been for our two tire punctures -one during my stint and one during Patrick's session. Our crew did a great job keeping us in contention, and the points are so close that a position or two improvement at the next race will bring us back into the lead - and there are five races to go," said Bergmeister, who has won the GT driver's title the last two years with Flying Lizard Motorsports.

Patrick Long agreed, and emphasized the Lizard pit work to get them their eight points.

"Lightning struck twice and it was a rough day. But the Lizard strategy and pit stops were phenomenal. We had twice as many pit stops as some of our competitors and still finished in the top five," said Long.

The second Flying Lizard Porsche, with Darren Law and Seth Neiman (both USA) at the helm, finished 11th in GT.

Wolf Henzler (Germany), who co-drove the Team Falken Tire Porsche with Bryan Sellers (USA), finished ninth in GT after the team spent more than 12 hours rebuilding the back two-thirds of the car, including the engine, suspension, brake lines, electronics - everything you could think of - after a fire during the first practice session yesterday ruined their chance to set up the car and qualify.

"We started at the back of the pack, and had to use the race itself for the set-up work we would usually do on practice and qualifying days. We made two adjustments to the car during Bryan's stint, and then another one during my stint, and that took us from two seconds slower than our competition to less than one second behind, but in this class, that ruins your chances for a podium finish. The Falken Tires crew, with help from Porsche Motorsport North America engineers, really came together to make this finish possible," said Henzler.

In the overall LMP prototype class, the Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder continued its string of podium finishes - now up to nine since the car's debut at Mid-Ohio last year, as Klaus Graf (Germany) and car owner Greg Pickett (USA) finished third to maintain second place in the class points.

"It was a great day with another podium but it was a tough race because this is a hard place in an LMP car, it's very physical. I spent the last two hours in the car and the track was green - no yellow flags - nearly all the way," said Graf.

"We didn't change the tires on our last pit stop which was the right decision. The Michelin tires once again performed extremely well. We have such great partners with Porsche and Michelin - we couldn't ask for more," he said.

The GT Challenge class provided the closest competition of the weekend, with four different teams taking the class lead before the Black Swan Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup scored its second straight win with Tim Pappas (USA) and Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) at the helm. Although the Juan Gonzales (Mexico)/Butch Leitzinger (USA) Mission Foods Porsche maintained its points lead, and came across the finish line second, the car was excluded from the results as it violated the minimum ride height rules. This, the TRG Porsche of Henri Richard/Andy Lally moved up to second, and the Robert Rodriquez/Galen Bieker Porsche was
third.

Fastest race lap in GTC belonged to the Miller Racing Porsche of Luke Hines and Bryce Miller, who both set the fastest race lap during their stints, with Bryce's lap holding up as the fastest of the day in GTC. The team scored its third-straight fifth place finish, losing time due to a pit violation penalty and a fuel pick-up problem.

[Rob]

BERGMEISTER LOOKS TO STAY DOMINANT AT LIME ROCK
Flying Lizard hopes to regain points lead in tight GT race (aint go happen Risi, Melo&Bruni are on a roll)
2010-07-20

In any competitive field, dominance can come from two avenues: consistency and skill. Jörg Bergmeister has displayed plenty of both at Lime Rock Park during the last four years. It’s why he enters this weekend’s American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix looking for a fifth consecutive class victory in the event. He will do so with Flying Lizard Motorsports teammate Patrick Long in one of the team’s two Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs.

Bergmeister is searching for the small areas where he and Long can improve over their Northeast Grand Prix performance last year. The pairing won in GT2 by a lap and placed fifth overall; Bergmeister also set the fastest lap of the race.

“I guess a lot of luck was a big part of it,” said Bergmeister, musing about his incredible successes, “but it takes (practice and teamwork) as well to win at a busy track like Lime Rock. Traffic will be a big factor in the race, so it needs a lot of patience to survive, and if you have done that, you should be in a good position at the end.”

But as the GT points race heats up, Flying Lizard could use Bergmeister’s realistic perspective. Flying Lizard has now fallen to third in the standings after leading the class entering the last race in Salt Lake City. Team rivals BMW Rahal Letterman Racing and Risi Competizione now sit first and second in the points, respectively, forcing Flying Lizard to look toward this weekend as a chance for redemption.

Bergmeister and the Lizards do have history on their side. Porsche hasn’t lost at Lime Rock since 2004.

“I’m not going to Lime Rock for a win but for as many points as we can get,” the four-time Series champion said. “The goal is to win the championship every year, and it would be more than nice to do it again as the competition gets stronger by the year.”


Bergmeister, Flying Lizard Motorsports and the rest of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will return to action at the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. The two-hour, 45-minute race is set for 2:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 24 from Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn. SPEED will air the race live at 2 p.m. ET. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 242. Visit the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes) and on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

45 entries for 13th Annual Petit Le Mans

Just days before the first track activity of the first Intercontinental Le Mans cup round at Silverstone American Le Mans Series organiser IMSA has announced 45 entries for the 13th Annual Petit Le Mans Powered By Mazda2 at Road Atlanta. The 45 cars will be racing in seven different classes.

In the main category, the LM P1 class, a total of seven cars are entered for the 10-hour race set to take place on October 2nd, 2010. Audi Sport Team Joest will enter two Audi R15 TDIs for Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish (#7) and for Marcel Fässler, Andre Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer (#9).
The Audi works team will face competition from two Team Peugeot Total entries, the #07 of Marc Gené, Alexander Wurz and Anthony Davidson and the #08 of Pedro Lamy, Franck Montagny and Stéphane Sarrazin.

The four diesel powered teams will be joined by American Le Mans Series regular teams Drayson Racing (Paul Drayson, Jonny Cocker, Emanuele Pirro – Lola B09/60 Judd), Autocon Motorsports (Bryan Willman, Tony Burgess, Chris McMurry – Lola B06/10 AER), Intersport racing (Jon Field, Clint Field – Lola B06/10 AER).

In the LM P2 category American Le Mans Series front runners Patrón Highcroft Racing (David Brabham, Simon Pagenaud, Marino Franchitti – HPD ARX-01c), Team CytoSport (Klaus Graf, Sascha Maassen, Lucas Luhr – Porsche RS Spyder) and Dyson Racing (Chris Dyson, Guy Smith, Andy Meyrick – Lola B09/86 Mazda) will face opposition from France in Georgia. OAK Racing will send one of its Pecarolo 01 Judd’s to the United States, where it will be driven by Jacques Nicolet, Frédéric Da Rocha and Patrice Lafargue. Completing the LM P2 class is the Libra Racing Radical SR9 IES that withdrew from the last race weekend with an engine failure. Andrew Prendeville is the only confirmed driver at the moment.

As the Intercontinental Le Mans cup is running under Automobile Club de l’Ouest regulations GT1 cars are allowed and therefore the GT category will be known as GT2 again at Petit.

The final American Le Mans Series round will see several GT2 teams and cars make their debut in the series. ACS Express Racing is set to make its American Le Mans Series debut with their Doran Ford GT for Brandon Davis, Boris Said and Townsend Bell, while the brand new Panoz Team PTG Panoz Abruzzi is still set to make its debut on home soil. Right now the Panoz Abruzzi is listed with Ian James and Benjamin Leuenberger, both already familiar with the Panoz group. Also on the list is a second JaguarRSR Jaguar XKR with a yet to be determined crew as well as the second Robertson Racing Ford GT for Anthony Lazzaro, Robert Bell and David Murry.

A total of seventeen GT2 cars will race at Road Atlanta. Next to the new cars the regular teams in action are Corvette Racing (O’Connell/Beretta/Garcia – Gavin/Magnussen,/Collard), Team Falken Tire (Sellers/Henzler/Ragginger – Porsche 997 GT3 RSR), Robertson Racing (David and Andrea Robertson), Flying Lizard Motorsports (Law/Neiman – Bergmeister/Long), Risi Competizione (Fisichella/Vilander/Salo – Melo/Bruni), JaguarRSR (Gentilozzi/Goossens/Dalziel), BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team (Müller/Hand – Auberlen/Milner) and Extreme Speed Motorsports (Sharp/van Overbeek/Farnbacher – Brown/Cosmo/Barbosa).

Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller will join the GT battle with a Porsche Motorsports entered Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid in the GTH class.

So far the only entry in the GT1 category is the Atlas eFX Team FS Saleen S7R but the Austrian has yet to confirm its entry, even though the intention to race at Petit Le Mans is certainly there.

In the LMPC category we find seven entries. Genoa Racing has not yet announced its drivers, but the other teams have. Level 5 Motorsports will stick to its regular crews of Tucker/Bouchut and Tucker/Wallace, PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports will have Ricardo Gonzalez and Luis Diaz again. Green Earth Team Gunnar will be back at Road Atlanta with Christian Zugel and Gunnar Jeannette. The only team stepping up is Intersport Racing, which will enter two FLM Oreca 09s for Antonio, Lucas and Matt Downs as well as the regular #89 entry for Kyle Marcelli, Chapman Ducote and David Ducote.

And last but not least GTC. The Porsche GT3 class will also have seven cars, all of them familiar names.
Alex Job Racing will run the #23 Porsche for Bill Sweedler, Romeo Kapudja and Jan-Dirk Lueders, while Timothy Pappas and Jeroen Bleekemolen will be joined by Jeroen’s brother Sebastiaan Bleekemolen again.
911 Design and Paul Miller Racing (Orbit) will again run cars for Loren Beggs/Doug Barron and Bryce Miller/Luke Hines. TRG (Henri Richard/Andy Lally/Duncan Ende), WERKS II Racing (Robert Rodriguez/Galen Bieker) and Velox Motorsports (Shane Lewis/Jerry Vento) will complete the field.


www.planetlemans.com