First look at Drayson Lola Judd LMP1

The sports car world is taking in the first looks at Drayson Racing’s brand new Lola B09/60-Judd prototype that will make its debut at the 12th annual Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA6. The eye-popping, British green coupe turned its first laps last week at Silverstone.

Team owner Paul Drayson, the UK’s Minister of Science and Innovation, will drive in the 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance classic with Jonny Cocker and Rob Bell on Saturday, September 26 at Road Atlanta.

The rollout of the prototype came barely a month after the go-ahead for the project received the OK. Jamie Campbell-Walter, a familiar face to American Le Mans Series fans from his stint with Creation Autosportif, turned the maiden laps during a systems check that went flawlessly…as did Drayson’s and Cocker’s time in the car.

“I can’t exaggerate the challenge that Drayson Racing has overcome in the last two months," said team manager Dale White. “To bring it all together by building a complete, running car from bare tub to finished car in just 12 days is really remarkable. I am convinced there is no other combination that would have allowed us to do this other than the Lola coupe and Judd V10. When we rolled it out of the trailer at Silverstone to do the shakedown, the car looked as if we could roll it right onto the grid at Petit Le Mans. I don't think anyone outside our group would have thought he could have done it. My hat is off to everyone at Drayson and to everyone at Lola and Judd, as well as all of the ancillary part suppliers who made this happen. What an achievement; what a team effort!"

The 12th annual Petit Le Mans powered by MAZDA6 is Saturday, September 26. The Series’ cornerstone event at Road Atlanta in Braselton Ga., is a 1,000-mile/10-hour endurance classic. The green flag is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. ET with SPEED airing live television coverage starting at 11 a.m. ET. American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche and Living Timing & Scoring will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com. Live coverage also can be heard on Sirius 126 and XM 242. You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes).

The race will also mark the ninth round of the 2009 MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge. Tickets are available at americanlemans.com and roadatlanta.com.

All photos are courtesy of Mike Hoyer, Jakob Ebrey Motorsport Photography.