BAR1 Motorsports Announces 2013 Driver Lineup

BAR1 Motorsports returns to the American Le Mans Series and the 2013 Prototype Challenge Championship for the teams second full season.

Beginning with the 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, March 16, 2013, and with its strongest effort to-date, BAR1 will field two ORECA Prototype Challenge cars. Chris Cumming and Kyle Marcelli will drive the No. 8 car, while Tomy Drissi and Rusty Mitchell will campaign the No. 7. Joining Marcelli and Cumming at Sebring will be veteran pilot, Stefan Johansson. Chapman Ducote will join Tomy and Rusty in the No. 7.

Marcelli and Drissi both enjoyed success in the Prototype Challenge class when the duo teamed together in 2011 scoring two class wins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Baltimore Grand Prix. They posted a runner-up finish in Long Beach, third at the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park and were runners up at the season finale Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

"I think we've got the drivers to go all the way this year," said Brian Alder, owner of BAR1. "Kyle and Tomy ran extremely strong together, so we think splitting them and pairing Kyle and Chris Cumming in the No. 8 car and Tomy and Rusty Mitchell in the No. 7 car gives us two strong front runners and the ability to attack at every venue."

"We've spent the off season going over these cars with a fine tooth comb," added Brian. "We've got all of our funding in place, a great crew and what we feel is one of the strongest driver line-ups in the PC paddock. And, we've got the experience. We're a goal oriented organization and for 2013, that goal is to dominate the class."

The 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida is set for 10:45 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 16 from Sebring International Raceway. SPEED's live coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. ET.