American Le Mans Series - Top News Feed

ATHERTON TO KEYNOTE SAE HYBRID SYMPOSIUM LUNCHEON

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:50:35 -0500

American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton will be the keynote luncheon speaker Wednesday, February 10 at the SAE 2010 Hybrid Vehicle Technologies Symposium in San Diego.

The symposium, which is to be held at San Diego Mission Valley’s Doubletree Hotel, addresses the latest technical innovations in electric drives, motors, energy storage and system engineering from the innovators of hybrid technology. The event includes presentations from leading experts around the globe as well as participation in specialized panel discussions on topics pertinent within the hybrid vehicle industry.

The American Le Mans Series, recognized as the Global Leader in Green Racing, introduced the first modern-day hybrid prototype race car to its circuit last season with Corsa Motorsports’ E10/electric hybrid-powered Ginetta-Zytek. Corsa’s hybrid will be on display at the symposium.

All cars competing in the world’s premier professional sports car series use “street legal” alternative fuels or energy sources. “Street legal” refers to virtually the same fuel or energy source that the consumer uses at the service station or that is available on cars at the local dealership. Currently, the American Le Mans Series has approved the following energy sources: clean diesel, cellulosic E85, E10 and gas-electric hybrid. It is expected to announce a fifth energy source before its 2010 season begins March 20 with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

As a result of its position in the marketplace, the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in concert with SAE International, have recognized the American Le Mans Series as the only racing series to meet its green racing protocols.

That recognition led the DOE EPA, and SAE to create a season-long Green Challenge award to recognize vehicle manufacturers producing race cars that demonstrate not only overall great performance but also high fuel efficiency and low environmental impact. The MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge uses the same scoring system as the DOE/EPA award but recognizes individual team’s Green performance at each American Le Mans Series race. Argonne National Laboratory worked closely with American Le Mans Series officials to develop a scoring formula that measures energy used, greenhouse gasses emitted and petroleum fuels displaced.

PR1 MOTORSPORTS, MATHIASEN MOTORSPORTS UNITE FOR 2010 LMPC EFFORT

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:33:57 -0500

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 begin preparing the car in anticipation for the 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.

In paddocks packed with excellent teams and quality drivers, PR1 Motorsports has established itself as one of the sports top driver development programs. Based in Fresno, CA, PR1 Motorsports occupies an expansive facility housing a stable of F2000 Zetec and professional sportscars. Team drivers enjoy the benefits of a completely professional program including engineering support, state-of-the art data acquisition, and a race winning experienced crew. PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports drivers, and partners, enjoy first-class trackside hospitality and comprehensive marketing support.

JAGUAR NAMED OFFICIAL CAR OF SEBRING

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:16:18 -0500

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.”

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.

GENOA RACING HAS ITS FLM09 PROTOTYPE

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:35:11 -0500

Genoa Racing is the latest team to take possession of an ORECA FLM09 prototype for the American Le Mans Series’ Le Mans Prototype Challenge class. The Indiana-based team took delivery of its car Friday afternoon and plans to have the FLM09 at the annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway later this month.

The team, owned by Angelo Ferro, is returning to its roots after recent years in open-wheel competition. In more than 240 formula car starts its heritage includes a championship, 17 victories, 20 poles and a front-row starting position at the 1998 Indianapolis 500 in conjunction with Thomas Knapp Motorsports. Some of its past drivers include Ivan Capelli, Juan Manuel Fangio Jr., Thiago Medeiros, Jimmy Vasser and Greg Ray.

But Genoa Racing's roots are in endurance sports car racing, having campaigned top cars in Can-Am some 30 years ago.

Larry Connor is expected to be one of the team’s drivers at the two longest races on the American Le Mans Series schedule, the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring, Fla. in March, and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., in October.

>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.

ALEX JOB MAKING AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES RETURN IN 2010

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:09:48 -0500

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.

Battery Tender
In 1999, Deltran introduced the Battery Tender Plus into the marketplace. The main reason was that many more AGM style lead acid batteries were being used in a variety of power sports engine start applications. Each and every Deltran Battery Tender Battery Charger® regardless of its size is programmed with a microprocessor that will correctly charge a battery then automatically switch to a maintenance/float mode. Refer to www.batterytender.com for more information.

Patrón
Simply Perfect in every way, Patrón tequila is an ultra-premium luxury white spirit that's delicious on the rocks, and mixes flawlessly into most any cocktail. From the highest-quality Weber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Imported and marketed by The Patrón Spirits Company, brands in the portfolio consist of Gran Patrón Burdeos, Gran Patrón Platinum, Patrón Silver, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Añejo, Patrón XO Cafe (tequila and coffee liqueur), and Patrón Citrónge (extra-fine orange liqueur), as well as Pyrat Caribbean rums, and Ultimat ultra-premium vodka. For more information, please visit www.patronspirits.com.

Mission Foods
Based in Irving, Texas, Mission Foods was established in 1949. Mission Foods is one of the world's largest tortilla, flatbread and corn flour producers and is engaged primarily in the production, marketing, distribution and sale of tortillas, chips, wraps, flat breads corn and wheat flour. For more information reference www.missionfoods.com.

CORVETTE DRIVERS TO 'CORRAL' THEIR OWN ROOTING SECTION AT LONG BEACH

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:56:39 -0500

The Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race at the April 16-18 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will have special meaning for Corvette Racing drivers like Olivier Beretta, Jan Magnussen, Johnny O'Connell and Oliver Gavin.

The four will have their own special rooting section in the form of the "Corvette Corral," with more than 100 Corvettes and their owners sharing a special private Friday and Saturday hospitality area behind Grandstands 24-26.

Corvette Corral members will enjoy a weekend filled with visits from ALMS drivers, tech talk and swapping stories, touring the free Lifestyle Expo and enjoying Saturday's racing, which also includes the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, IndyCar qualifying and Team Drifting Challenge.

Similar Corvette Corrals are popular at many other racing venues across the United States and Canada.

Ticket prices for the Friday, April 16 Corvette Corral are $25 for a general admission grandstand ticket and $20 for private Corral parking. On Saturday, April 17, tickets are $57 for a reserved grandstand seat or $42 for general admission grandstand seat and $20 for private Corral parking. Admission ticket purchase is required to obtain Corral parking.

For the second consecutive year, ticket prices for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach have remained unchanged. Tickets for the three-day event range from $25 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $125 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels. Pre-paid parking packages are also available.

Credit card orders for the 2010 event weekend will be accepted at the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED, or online by visiting www.gplb.com. The Web site also includes updates on 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach news, ticket information downloads and ongoing announcements of special race week activities.

A printed ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices, order form and other information can be obtained by calling the hotline.

DRAYSON RACING PRIVILEGED WITH SECOND LE MANS INVITATION

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:11:00 -0500

Drayson Racing is privileged today to earn its second consecutive invitation to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Automobile Club De l'Ouest (ACO), official sanctioning body of the 24 Heures du Mans, has named Drayson Racing as one of 21 Le Mans Prototype One (LM P1) entries to its field. 84 total entries were received across the four classes to fill the 55 position starting grid for the 78th running of the classic sports car race. The 12-13 June event will also mark the second time for drivers Paul Drayson (London/Gloucestershire, UK) and Jonny Cocker (Guisborough, Yorks, UK) to campaign a car on the 13.629 Km/8.468 mile-long Circuit de la Sarthe for Drayson Racing. The duo will share a Lola B09-60 Coupé with Judd V10 power on Michelin tyres with a third driver to be announced at a later date.

The United Kingdom-based team premiered at the world's most famous endurance race competing in the LM GT2 class for production-based cars in 2009. The programme ran competitively within the top 10 of class during the race. Despite a mid-race alternator failure, they rallied to make it within two hours of the chequered flag when a second electrical malfunction brought the team's day to a close. For the final three race weekends of the season, the Dale White (Bozeman, MT, USA)-managed operation changed to the purpose-built prototype class with a Lola closed-cockpit chassis and 650 horsepower Judd engine. Drayson and Cocker culminated the change by earning one pole position and setting two fastest race laps on the way to winning the Michelin ® Green X Challenge ® in the inaugural Asian Le Mans Series championship.

While still a young effort, Drayson Racing is not without its Le Mans wins. Team Manager White is a two-time winner at La Sarthe having managed GT teams to victory in 2003 and 2004. The American brings that experience to the privately owned LM P1 programme for a second season.

Drayson Racing will open its 2010 season at the 12 Hours of Sebring on 20 March. It will campaign the full American Le Mans Series season with races in Long Beach, Calif. (17 April) and Monterey, Calif. (22 May) prior to the annual twice-around-the-clock event in France. Events in Utah (10 July), Connecticut (24 July), Ohio (7 August), Wisconsin (22 August) and Canada (29 August) will precede a homecoming for the first Intercontinental Cup race at the Silverstone Circuit in England on 12 September. A 2 October return to North America for the 10 hour/1000 mile Petit Le Mans in Atlanta marks the second Intercontinental Cup event. The season, and the Intercontinental Cup, will conclude for Drayson Racing with races in the Asian Le Mans Series in late October/early November in Japan and/or China. The Intercontinental Cup is the highly anticipated precursor to a full, ACO-sanctioned world championship in the coming years.

Quotes
Lady Drayson, Owner: "I am delighted that our team, Drayson Racing, is returning to Le Mans 24 hours in 2010, especially in the top LM P1 class. It is the world's greatest motor race and it's wonderful to be a part of it for the second time. This invitation will further establish our programme among the leading teams in the sport."

Paul Drayson, Owner/Driver: "The ACO announcement is great news. In my head I've imagined what it's going to be like racing down the Mulsanne at night - and probably in the wet - at top speed in an LM P1 and now I'm going to be doing it for real; totally, totally incredible. Brilliant news!"

Dale White, Team Manager: "It's a dream come true to receive an invitation to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LM P1 class. We're a small team but we have assembled what we think is the best crew and car package for a privateer to challenge for the overall win at Le Mans against the top factory and privateer teams in the world. It will be a massive test but one we are approaching with a level head and high expectations. We are going to do everything we can to be the 'David' to their 'Goliath'."

SEBRING ADVANCE TICKET DISCOUNT DEADLINE IS FEB. 15

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:47:34 -0500

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.

STRONG COLLECTION OF SERIES TEAMS INVITED TO LE MANS

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:00:15 -0500

Flying Lizard Motorsports, Risi Competizione and Corvette Racing will lead the American Le Mans Series' GT2 charge at Le Mans.

A total of seven full-time American Le Mans Series teams with nine entries are set to compete at this year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s premier motor race. The Series’ representatives cover three of the four classes in the 78th edition of the French classic organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which announced the list of accepted entries Thursday morning.

A mix of past champions and competitors at Le Mans and several historic firsts highlight American Le Mans Series teams. In addition, two of the Series’ and Le Mans’ premium manufacturers – BMW and Jaguar – will make their return for the June 12-13 race.

Autocon Motorsports (top) and Drayson Racing are two of nine Lola chassis entered at Le Mans.

The competitive impact of the American Le Mans Series - founded in 1999 - on the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been significant. In addition to eight overall victories, Series teams have claimed a total of 25 class championships.

In LMP1, Drayson Racing will make its first start with its Judd-powered Lola B09/60 coupe in the 24 Hours in the race’s highest classification. Paul Drayson, Minister of Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation in the United Kingdom, and Jonny Cocker will continue the partnership that will see them returning a full-time effort in the American Le Mans Series.

In addition, Michael Lewis’ Autocon Motorsports received its second invitation in three years. The team will take its AER-powered Lola this time around after running a Creation-Judd in 2008.

After capturing the American Le Mans Series’ LMP1 title in 2009, Highcroft Racing will compete in LMP2 with its factory-backed HPD ARX-01c. David Brabham, a three-time Le Mans winner with an overall victory last year for Peugeot and two GT1 titles with Aston Martin Racing, will lead the team’s charge.

“While our drivers have been to Le Mans and I've raced there four times, only a handful of our crew guys have done the race so we will be on a steep learning curve,” said team owner Duncan Dayton. "We are going to have to earn it, work very hard and be a quick study because most of the competitors we will be fighting with have been there before.”

Highcroft Racing, last year's American Le Mans Series LMP1 champion, will make its first start at Le Mans with its HPD ARX-01c in LMP2.

While the team competes in the American Le Mans Series as Patrón Highcroft Racing, advertising laws in France will not permit the team to display its regular colors. “We’re going to be headed to France with new colors in June,” Dayton confirmed. “We would have loved to fly the Patrón flag in the biggest endurance race in the world, but we now have a great opportunity to introduce new marketing partners to a massive international audience.”

A bevy of Series teams and manufacturers fill the GT2 grid including two cars each for Corvette Racing and Risi Competizione. This year’s race presents an interesting dynamic as both teams won in class last year. Corvette Racing closed out its GT1 era with its sixth victory since 2002 with the GT1 version of the Corvette C6.R. Chevrolet’s factory team moved to GT2 at Mid-Ohio last year and won its first GT2 race three events later at Mosport.

Risi has dominated the world’s major endurance events dating back to 2008 with five consecutive victories – Le Mans and Petit Le Mans in 2008 and 2009, and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida in 2009. This year’s race looks to be the final go-around for the team with its Ferrari F430 GTs.

Flying Lizard Motorsports will contest Le Mans for the seventh consecutive season with a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The team solidified its standing among the world’s best in GT2 last year with a second consecutive class title in the American Le Mans Series.

Jaguar is back at Le Mans for the first time in more than 15 years with JaguarRSR's Jaguar XKRS in GT2.

Jaguar will make its return to Le Mans for the first time since 1995 with Paul Gentilozzi’s JaguarRSR and the new Jaguar XKRS. The team and car made their world racing debuts during last year’s American Le Mans Series finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and will compete full-time in the GT class this year.

“We are delighted the ACO has granted us entry in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans," said Gentilozzi, who will drive with former GT1 Le Mans winner Scott Pruett and Marc Goossens. "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.”

Other entries to Le Mans carry deep ties to the American Le Mans Series. The biggest battle in the race will again be diesel powers Audi vs. Peugeot, their fourth time going head-to-head at the 24 Hours. Audi Sport will enter three of its re-engineered Audi R15 TDIs – two of which have committed for Petit Le Mans to close the 2010 season. Defending race-winner Peugeot, which also won at Road Atlanta and is expected to enter this year’s Sebring 12 Hours, will have four cars on the Le Mans grid.

In addition, Aston Martin Racing and new factory driver Adrian Fernandez – last year’s LMP2 champion in the American Le Mans Series – will enter two of its Aston Martin-powered Lola coupes in LMP1.

BMW and Audi (above) plus Peugeot and Aston Martin are among the manufacturer teams that will compete at Le Mans.

BMW Motorsport will compete on a factory level at Le Mans for the first time since 1999. The works team will campaign two BMW M3s in GT2.

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.

JAGUAR MAKES RETURN TO ICONIC LE MANS

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:18:16 -0500

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.