No Grand-Am for Dyson in 2008
Andy Wallace in the Dyson Porsche at Sebring |
For the new season, the Dysons are setting their sights firmly on the ALMS LMP2 Championship.
"For 2008 we intend to concentrate our energies and resources on the ALMS. Yes, this year we did have some frustration with our partial season in Grand-Am. We weren't running the car consistently enough to get to the point of refining the car, and we did suffer a streak of horrendous luck. It really didn't turn out to be the type of effort we expected," said Chris Dyson.
"We asked how they came to choose to divide their attention between two series.
"In late 2004, when we were running the two Lolas in the ALMS, my dad expressed an interest in driving again after a few years out of the cockpit. He really wanted to get back to Daytona in 2005, which we did with Michael Gue's Essex Racing. Later that spring, Max Crawford let us know he had a car about to become available and so we ran about a half dozen races partnering with Harrison Brix and we signed on for another six events the next year. Guy Smith and I did a few races in 2006 and we had two very competitive and entertaining races at Homestead and VIR. But the primary purpose of our being there was to maintain our family's engagement with the Watkins Glen and Daytona International Speedways. From our standpoint, yes, it was a different experience to have Howard Motorsports taking care of the car rather than our own Dyson Racing crew. We didn't have the logistical resources to run both series in-house, but thanks to Rick Howard and Max and Jan Crawford we were able to be in the Rolex Series on a small scale.
"When you look at what Grand-Am has done, and the level of competition in that series, to compete for a championship there you have to be in the series week in and week out. My dad and I were only able to do a half-dozen races together each year, and there were some great memories in there, but I think anyone who has been watching our team over the years know that we don't go to the races just to show up.
"I think Grand-Am has made some significant strides with their series but they do have some new challenges ahead with several new manufacturers coming in. I think that we will simply be interested observers for a while and see how that all develops. Balancing the new marques coming in will be a challenge for them. But I think that, long term, Grand-Am has to remain on your radar if you are in road racing.
"I think that, if and when we decide to focus on a Grand-Am effort again we will do so on a more engaged level. To be honest, we are a small team with finite resources. I think that next year our top goal has to be to concentrate on an ALMS championship and then we can take it from there. We are certainly committed to the ALMS for 2008."