Bell adds ALMS races for 2009

British GT driver Rob Bell has secured a seat to race in two of the 2009 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) races with the reorganized Drayson Racing team. Rob Bell will be behind the wheel of the No. 007 Drayson Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT2 at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on 21 March and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on 26 September. Bell will drive alongside owner/driver Paul Drayson and Jonny Cocker at the events. Bell commented about the opportunity, “We’ve been pushing hard to put a deal together for Sebring and Petit Le Mans and to have landed them both with Drayson Racing is just fantastic. I know some of the guys in the team and Dale (White) brings a huge amount of know how, so I hope I can also bring something extra to the table. If we keep out of trouble and have a bit of luck it would be great to be on the podium with three British drivers in an Aston.

“The Drayson team is an official partner of Aston Martin, it is great to have the support of such a highly successful manufacturer behind the campaign. My first-ever GT race was in a DBR9 in 2005. I won on that occasion with Darren Turner, so I have fond memories of driving an Aston. I know AMR has been busy over the last year developing the Vantage GT2 and I'm looking forward to seeing how far it has come. I’ve never driven at Petit Le Mans, so it’s going to be new ground for me, but I’m really looking forward to it."

Sebring is world famous for the annual 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race, Bell made his debut at this race last season driving with Tafel Racing and went on to finish seventh. The Petit Le Mans is held annually at Road Atlanta, but it will be Bell’s first time competing at this illustrious event. Bell added, “With my Le Mans Series commitments, the Le Mans 24 hour race, the FIA GT Championship and now the ALMS races, it is going to be a busy season this year, but I’m not complaining. Motor racing is my passion and I can’t wait to get out there and race again. I hope to be competitive in all of the races I compete in this year and to take a title or two would be the icing on the cake."