Record level of corporate involvement at Sebring
“These are challenging times, especially in our industry," stated Sebring President and General Manager Tres Stephenson. “However, we have managed to set a new record this year in terms of corporate involvement. This is a testament to Sebring’s legendary status in motorsports and its proven record as a sports marketing tool with a worldwide audience. Together with the American Le Mans Series, Sebring has poised itself for another decade of growth."
On track, Sebring will feature its largest entry in five years, a further indication that the American Le Mans Series continues to strengthen its role as North America’s leading sports car racing series.
|
JaguarRSR SIGNS DALZIEL: 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."
GAVIN ON CORVETTE TEST: Corvette Racing held its own private test at Sebring earlier this week with both its updated Corvette C6.Rs that will compete in GT2. Emmanuel Collard, a newcomer to the Corvette factory squad, got his first serious laps in the car.
Oliver Gavin, who will team with Collard and Olivier Beretta at Sebring, said on his YouTube channel that the test was a successful one with work on front brakes, suspension and aero as well as tire development with Michelin.
“We feel pretty confident that we’ve managed to get ourselves reasonably dialed in," he said. “You never really know because we’ve got no one to run against and the track to ourselves – no Ferrari, no Porsche, no BMW. We’re still waiting to see how things turn out in terms of our overall lap times against the competition."
As an added bonus, Gavin recorded an in-car lap in the No. 4 Corvette C6.R…
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.