De Ferran taking to the air on XM 144

Gil de Ferran

In anticipation of his American Le Mans Series debut next week, driver and team owner Gil de Ferran will be a guest on XM Satellite Radio’s Powershift at approximately 9:25 p.m. ET on Thursday. De Ferran, one of motorsports’ most well-known and respected names, is joining the Series with his De Ferran Motorsports team that will field an Acura ARX-01b in LMP2. He will team with Simon Pagenaud for the balance of the 2008 season.

The De Ferran Acura will see competition for the first time at the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix presented by The Grand and Little America Hotels. A two-time CART champion and past Indianapolis 500 winner, de Ferran’s most recent role was Sporting Director for BAR Honda in Formula 1.

De Ferran Motorsports already has tested at Sebring International Raceway and Miller Motorsports Park, site of the Series’ fourth round. The No. 66 entry is the fourth for Acura in its second season of American Le Mans Series competition.

The Series will have a constant presence on Powershift with guests appearing at 9:25 p.m. ET each week with host Joe Costello. XM Satellite Radio is a corporate partner of the American Le Mans Series and the primary sponsor of the Andretti Green Racing Acura ARX-01b. XM Channel 144 also will carry live coverage of the race starting at 3 p.m. ET.