LMS/ILMC 2011

[Rob]

Will use this thread for all LMS series news, that will be ALMS, LMS&ILMC

Jetalliance Racing confirms Lotus Evora GT2

A nice Christmas Eve present comes from Jetalliance Racing this year. The Austrian team has confirmed its plans to run a pair of Lotus Evora GT2 in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and will become the Lotus factory squad in GT2.

Team owner Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer confirmed the news today. “I’m very pleased that we were able to seal this collaboration before the end of this year, and now I’m really proud to be able to cooperate with the traditional Lotus marque,” said Lichtner-Hoyer.

Jetalliance Racing has confirmed it will field a driver line-up that will be a mixture of pro and amateur racers in the seven rounds of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. More details on the project will be known in early March when the team has planned its official presentation.

[Rob]

Guess Racing Europe announces 2011 LMS plans

Newly formed racing team, Guess Racing Europe will start the 2011 endurance racing season with a strong package. The Belgian based team will take part in next year’s Le Mans Series and plans, if invited, to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most important endurance race in the world. The Le Mans Series is made up of five 1000km races, each race lasting for up to six hours.

Three of the 2011 Le Mans Series races will also count toward the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup where the regular Le Mans Series teams will be joined on the grid by the factory teams from Audi, Peugeot and Aston Martin.

Guess Racing Europe will be contesting the top LMP1 category with a Lola B07/46 chassis and the proven Mazda engine made by British engine builder AER. Lola as well as Mazda have granted the team their extensive support for the coming season. For its tyres, the team will also rely on British support as the supplier.

France’s Philippe Haezebrouck and the German professional Wolfgang Kaufmann are confirmed as drivers at the moment. Negotiations with several promising candidates are ongoing for the third spot in the driver line-up. The team is looking for a reliable, experienced and funded driver to complete the team line up. For further information contact guess.racing.europe@skynet.bt
http://www.planetlemans.com/2010/12/...011-lms-plans/

[Rob]

ace Performance also selects the ORECA 03
BY TEAM UPDATE

A second team has chosen to use the latest prototype born from ORECA design offices: the Swiss team Race Performance will line up an ORECA 03 in 2011, in the Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, pending invitation.

After entering competition in 2003, in the Swiss Formula Renault 2000, and moving on to the Mégane Trophy Eurocup, Race Perfomance took its first steps in sportscar racing last season. While participating in the Le Mans Series, Urs Meier’s team also experienced the 24 Hours of Le Mans, being the 56th invitee of the twice ’round the clock classic. After a respectable 18th place finish overall, 6th in LMP2, the Münsingen based team decided to change cars.

Race Performance will run the ORECA 03 in 2011, with the new Judd HK motor under the hood. Michel Frey, driver and manager, will once again drive the car and will be joined by Ralph Meichtry. The two Swiss pilots are searching for a third experienced driver to anchor the squad.

“We had a very interesting year on prototype racing in 2010 where we learned a lot and developed our structure and people” said Michel Frey. “Participating and, what we couldn’t expect, even finishing the 24h Le Mans Race was a experience beyond word. Now with the power and strength of a new car – especially combined with the big knowledge and experience of Oreca and Judd behind it – we are aiming to make a major step ahead. The team will subscribe to the full 2011 LMS and hopefully – should our application be accepted – the 24h of Le Mans.

“Of course we knew about Oreca and their expertise in constructing and running quick and even more important reliable cars” he added. “But it was the spirit and the passion in the eyes of all the person when we met them which really towed us to the side of Oreca. And second we as a swiss team are very happy to be in a reasonable distance to the factory in order to simplify logistics and communication. We were very pleased with the power, driveability and reliability of the Judd engine in 2010 and we are confident that this will be the case also with the new engine. Finishing Le Mans 2010 after just a short notice time before the race and with just some minor problems during the race felt like a victory to us. So i think appropiate to say: Never change a winning team.”

For David Floury, technical director, “it’s a great satisfaction for Oreca to include Race Performance as one of the teams who will make the ORECA 03 shine next year. This team has had an impressive time moving up the ranks since starting in 2003. To finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010 in their first participation is a good accomplishment and the entire Oreca team will do its best to help Race Performance do even better in 2011.”

Designed with the experience gained from the ORECA 01, the ORECA 03 conforms to the new LMP2-2011 regulations. The car will run its first laps in early 2011 and accepts different motors – Nissan, Judd, Honda, etc. While the first chassis is being built, two teams have already chosen the ORECA 03, Sbarta Sport and Race Performance.

[Rob]

ACO approves performance balancing

By Matt Beer Wednesday, December 22nd 2010, 12:58 GMT

Le Mans organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest has confirmed that in 2011 it will be able to adjust the rules during the course of its championships' seasons to prevent any type of car becoming too dominant.

The 'article 19' rule will apply to the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, Le Mans Series and American Le Mans Series, and is aimed to solve the long-running issue of petrol-powered cars being unable to compete with the diesel technology that Audi and Peugeot have introduced since 2006. The new regulations intend to keep the top petrol and diesel teams within two per cent of each other's pace.

A statement from the ACO promised the introduction of: "Performance adjustment through the application of article 19 [the ACO reserves itself the possibility of balancing performances between the different engines and technologies] as well as the two per cent rule.

"This means keeping the lap times of the quickest cars in each technology within a range of two per cent in relation to the quickest car, all technologies combined, through decisions taken by the ACO."

The official green light for the rule change will be welcomed by Aston Martin Racing, which has committed to an all-new petrol LMP1 car in the expectation that the regulations would give petrol machinery a chance to fight for outright victory in the 24-hour race again after five seasons of diesel dominance.

In other 2011 adjustments confirmed by the ACO, LMP2 becomes a fully-fledged 'pro-am' category across all the Le Mans championships, with at least one gentleman driver - as assessed under the ACO's driver categorisation - mandatory in each car's line-up.

The GT classes are also being restructured into a single GTE category, split into GTE Am and GTE Pro. The amateur class must include a gentleman driver in each entry, and cars must be at least a year old, whereas GTE Pro is unrestricted, but will feature performance balancing.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88749

[Tifoso]

Great topic!

[Rob]

Aston Martin Racing appoints new managing director
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 13, 2011

John Gaw has joined Aston Martin Racing as the business’s new managing director. Gaw will oversee the sales and customer service activities and will lead the development of new Aston Martin racing cars, as well as new products and services around the world.

Gaw brings a wealth of experience in building successful customer service operations through a range of board level roles in sales and commercial development within major blue chip organisations including Camelot and Pepsi. Gaw is also an experienced GT racing driver with an international B race licence, who won the 2010 Britcar 24 Hour and manages his own GT racing team.

Gaw will work alongside Aston Martin Racing team principal, George Howard-Chappell and group commercial director Tony Schulp, enabling them to be more focussed on their respective areas.

Aston Martin chairman, David Richards, said: “I am delighted to welcome John into Aston Martin Racing at such an exciting time. His appointment is a further statement of our intent to ensure that our customers receive the highest level of support to assist them in achieving their sporting objectives. With John now working alongside George, I am confident that we have a team that will continue the successful development and expansion of Aston Martin Racing to the benefit of all our customers.”

[Rob]

HPD steps up to LMP1 for Le Mans

By Steven English Friday, January 14th 2011, 10:10 GMT

Honda Performance Development (HPD) will step up to the LMP1 class with a car designed specifically for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.

The American sportscar manufacturer, formerly Acura, and Virgin Racing technical director Nick Wirth's research operation have developed a version of the successful LMP2 class ARX-01 for sportscar racing's top level.

The ARX-01e is based on the existing ARX-01c LMP2 car, but has been revised to 2011 LMP1 regulations with bigger tyres and CFD-developed aerodynamics.

HPD and Wirth Research have also produced a new LMP2 version, the ARX-01d, for the latest class rules. The 3.4-litre normally-aspirated V8 has been replaced with a 2.8-litre twin turbocharged V6, built by HPD.

"The introduction of the HPD ARX-01e - the first car we have designed specifically for Le Mans - gives us a realistic chance of scoring an even more impressive outright result at the 24 Hours," said Wirth.

"We have taken full advantage of the flexibility and efficiency offered by advanced CFD technologies to develop our hugely successful sportscar programme in two different directions.

"And with the HPD ARX-01d we are confident we have developed a car capable of taking over where its predecessor left off and thus remaining the dominant force in the LMP2 category."

The HPD ARX-01c won last year's American Le Mans Series title with Highcroft Racing and the LMP2 class title at Le Mans with Strakka Racing. HPD had previously designed an LMP1 car under the Acura brand for the 2009 ALMS, but this car did not race in Europe.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88911

well glad they have made the step back up, they really good squad, will be at the front. Not Pug or Audi threat but Astons Pescas will have to watch their backs.

[Rob]

Zytek hybrid to race in LMS

By Matt Beer Friday, January 14th 2011, 13:48 GMT

Zytek's hybrid Le Mans car will race in Europe for the first time this season after Rangoni Motorsport completed a deal to enter an LMP1 Zytek 09SH in the Le Mans Series.

The squad is also hoping for a Le Mans 24 Hours entry as it steps up to top-line sportscar racing from the Italian-based Superstars series.

Team co-founder Luca Rangoni will be part of the driver line-up alongside former FIA GT champion Thomas Biagi and LMS regular Ferdinando Geri.

The hybrid system in the 09SH is described by Zytek as a new "pure racing hybrid system" to supersede the road car technology-based hybrid system that the Corsa team's Zytek ran in the 2009 American Le Mans Series.

Zytek Engineering's operations director John Manchester said: "We firmly believe that the collaboration with Rangoni Motorsport and also the introduction of the groundbreaking ZPH hybrid technology is going to produce great success over the coming seasons."

[Rob]

Aston in race against time for Sebring

By Steven English and Matt Beer Friday, January 14th 2011, 11:49 GMT

Aston Martin Racing chief David Richards is still optimistic that the company's new LMP1 contender will be ready for a debut in the Sebring 12 Hours, but admitted that it would only be a single-car entry and that the project is currently a "race against time".

Richards said construction of the car is progressing well, with the engine running on the dynamometer for the first time today.

"As we sit here today, by this afternoon the new engine for the car will run for the very first time on the dynos down at Prodrive," he said on stage at AUTOSPORT International.

"We have started with a clean sheet of paper and designed a brand new race engine specifically with the purpose of winning Le Mans.

"The first chassis was delivered from our composites operation to the race team about a week ago, and they've started building it. The bodywork is not yet finished.

"It's a bit of a race against time to be quite honest with you. The target date was to run the car in the first week of February, then ship it out to America to continue testing at Sebring, then stay in America for further development work and race at Sebring in March. We can only manage one car for that [racing at Sebring].

"It's a very demanding track and if you can manage 12 hours around Sebring on a bumpy airfield circuit made out of concrete, you can normally last 24 hours at Le Mans."

He suggested that Aston will race regularly in the second half of the season once Le Mans is out of the way.

"After Le Mans we'll have more cars in circulation, we'll have more mileage under our belts and we'll be doing a few more races in the States and in the Le Mans Series as well,"

Aston's new Le Mans programme was contingent on race organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest ensuring the latest rules would allow petrol engines to take on the diesels that have dominated since 2006. Richards is satisfied that the recently-announced ACO rule tweaks will have the desired effect.

"They've made the commitment now in the regulations to balance the performance of the petrol and the diesel engines," he said. "There was always the intent there before but it was never in black and white, and now it's article 19, I think, in their regulations and they are very committed to ensuring that takes place."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88919

[Rob]

McNish: Petrol cars now a real threat

By Steven English and Matt Beer Saturday, January 15th 2011, 11:25 GMT

Audi Le Mans star Allan McNish believes this year's rule changes could make the top petrol-engined cars a major threat to Audi and Peugeot's diesel prototypes.

Diesel-powered cars have dominated the Le Mans scene since Audi switched to the R10 TDI in 2006, but race organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest is adjusting the regulations this year and opening the door for performance balancing changes to ensure parity between petrol and diesel cars.

This has encouraged Aston Martin to develop a new petrol LMP1 car, and McNish thinks it could be a very strong package under the 2011 rules.

"Looking at the straightline speed that Aston Martin had last year - they were very fast, anything going more towards them and less towards us is a fear, no question," he said on stage at AUTOSPORT International.

He is encouraged by the fact that Audi has a headstart with its programme, having already begun testing its new R18, whereas the latest Aston will not hit the track until the start of February.

"The one area that we've got a slight advantage is that we're out with our car already and testing," said McNish.

"Le Mans seems a long way away in June but in reality it's not that far away. Aston is still to get it into the track so it's going to be a bit behind. But you can never discount the potential of that team."

McNish tipped Le Mans Series frontrunner Rebellion Racing as the other petrol threat following its engine deal with Toyota.

"That's the package we have to wait and see," he said. "I know Toyota's capability to produce engines, it's a good one, but we'll have to wait and see when it actually hits the track."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88941

[Rob]

not so sure, the diesels still have hell of alot of torque more than the petrol LMPs. Would be nice to see that gap closed abit. Be nice to have more LMPs going for right LMP1 class win at Le Mans. Instead of what we have had, near enough a diesel and petrol class. R18 is going to be my backer in LMP1 for sure.

[Rob]

Brabham 'on the market' for 2011

By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer Saturday, January 15th 2011, 15:55 GMT

American Le Mans Series title-winner David Brabham says he is open to approaches for the 2011 season as he is not yet sure that Highcroft will be able to put a programme together.

Racing for Highcroft in the ALMS has been Brabham's primary focus for the past four years, though he also won the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours with Peugeot and took GT1 class wins with Aston Martin in the preceding two seasons.

Though he emphasised that his preference was to stay on with Highcroft and aim for a third straight ALMS crown, Brabham said nothing was certain at present.

"The plans for 2011 are unsure at the moment," he told AUTOSPORT. "I have been with Highcroft for four years and they are trying to put a new programme together, so I am hoping that they do that.

"But I also have to look at other options as well, so that is the state of play right now."

Brabham feels that on current form he could make a major contribution to any sportscar programme.

"The last few years have been phenomenal really - winning Le Mans three years in a row, two with Aston and one with Peugeot, and winning two championships the last two years so it has been a fantastic run," he said.

"Obviously I still enjoy what I do, I still enjoy contributing to a programme and getting the best out of myself and the people around me. It would be great to be involved in another big programme for 2011."

He added: "If you look at last four years in particular, the Acura programme being so new and Highcroft being a team that no one had really heard of and then developing that whole programme, working on simulators, being one of the main development drivers of that programme and getting to the point where you can yourselves champions, it has been a great journey - and I know I can contribute in a lot of areas in that way."

With Highcroft's plans still up in the air, Brabham said he had no option but to check out alternative possibilities.

"I know [Highcroft boss] Duncan [Dayton] is trying hard and I know he would like me to continue, as I would like to continue with him," said Brabham.

"But if he doesn't get a programme together then obviously I am not going to be there, I am going to be somewhere else. There are a few discussions going on but nothing concrete at the moment."

[Rob]

wow really surprised no 1 has snapped Brabs up. Hope he finds a seat. Think he is in top 3 of best sports car racers in world. Mcnish is #1.

[Rob]

RML AD Group Unveils 2011 Plans
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 14, 2011


Just a week after collecting the Team and Driver LMP2 trophies for the 2010 Le Mans Series, RML AD Group is pleased to confirm the team’s intention to defend these titles in 2011 with an HPD ARX-01d chassis, powered by the new HPD 2.8 litre twin turbo V6. In addition, the team is delighted to confirm that the driver-line up for the new season remains unchanged, with Mike Newton and Thomas Erdos joined for the full season by Ben Collins.

The team will be contesting this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours with the same car and driver package, and believes this combination offers RML AD Group the best possible platform for retaining the Le Mans Series titles and regaining LMP2 honours at Le Mans.

New Engine/Chassis Package

The decision to move to the Honda Performance Development (HPD) chassis comes after eight enormously successful years with Lola, during which the team won the LMP2 class twice at Le Mans (2005, 2006), took the Le Mans Series titles twice (2007, 2010) and finished as runners-up in the championship (by a single point) in both 2005 and 2006.

Last season may prove to have been a transitional year, when the combination of Lola Coupé and HPD 3.4 Litre LM-V8 offered competitive reliability and a championship title, despite being regularly outpaced by the HPD ARX-01c. “This has been an enormously difficult decision for us,” admits Phil Barker, Race Operations Director at RML and team manager. “We have had an excellent relationship with Lola for many years and we are saddened to be leaving such good friends. However, we will also be renewing our relationship with HPD after a very successful first season with them as engine suppliers in 2010.”

Mike Newton, CEO of AD Group, shares the sense of separation, but also recognises the need to change. “Last year we knew the HPD was a very fast package, and we appreciated first-hand just how good the V8 engine was. The same quality of engineering applies to the chassis as well, and if the new V6 engine maintains the near-legendary reliability associated with HPD – as I’m sure it will – the total package will be another winner for us.” Mike is also relieved to be back in an open cockpit. “The aero on the Lola Coupé was a compelling argument, but I’m looking forward greatly to being more ‘in touch’ with the environment once again!”

The ARX-01d is a direct development of the original and highly successful Acura-badged LMP2 racecar that has campaigned with great success in the American Le Mans Series since 2008. Updated to meet the ACO’s latest technical regulations, the car will feature a newly homologated aero package and the latest HPD 2.8 Litre twin-turbo V6. In accordance with regulations, the engine is based on the same production unit that powers the Honda Accord and Acura ZDX road cars. As such the engine meets the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s (ACO) stringent low price targets for the LMP2 class, yet retains the traditional Honda values of performance, efficiency, and reliability.

Mike Newton’s regular driving partner, Thomas Erdos, recognises the wisdom of the move. “We always study our options carefully in order to arrive at the first race of the season with the most competitive package we can afford,” he says. “Last year we recognised that, although we had a very strong combination with the Lola-HPD, the speed simply was not there to match the HPD chassis. We now have that package, so it should make for a more level playing field. That said, it will be sad not to be driving a Lola. We have collected some impressive silverware with Lola and I will be sorry to end that relationship. A big vote of thanks must go to everyone at the Huntingdon factory for their incredible support over the years. They have been a significant contributor to the success of the programme and I will miss working with them.”

Ben Collins Returns

Ben Collins, the former BBC Top Gear’s Stig, joined RML AD Group in 2010 for the final three races of the season, and shared in the squad’s run to victory in Round 3 of the Le Mans Series in the Algarve.

“I’m delighted to be returning to RML AD Group for a second season, and it means a lot to me personally to be driving with Mike Newton and Tommy Erdos,” said Ben “Racing in the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours with RML, and in the stunning HPD ARX, will be a defining moment in my career. We saw how good the HPD was last season in the hands of our competitors, and it was a credit to RML that we beat them to the title. Honda Performance Development has a stellar racing spirit and I’m sure the new V6 turbo engine will be as fast and reliable as anything else out there. The 24-hour race tests everyone’s resolve to the limit and I believe the team has the right partner. I just can’t wait to whistle along Mulsanne and feel the breeze, bugs, rain and everything else that Le Mans throws at you in an open-top car.”

“Ben achieved exceptional things with very limited track time last season,” comments Mike Newton. “He is a great addition to the team, and we are delighted to have him back with us for the full campaign, and to build on what was achieved last year.”

“Ben fits into the team exceptionally well,” suggests Tommy Erdos. “It was about time he hung up that white suit and got back to his racing career. He has proven his worth in several different disciplines and is an unquestioned winner. He did a great job for RML last year and it is just reward that he now joins us for the full season in 2011. He’s a top class driver and I’m looking forward to working with him again this year.”

The AD Group Perspective

“The synergy between video surveillance and endurance racing play a significant part in making the race programme a firm marketing platform for the AD Group,” states Pauline Norstrom, Marketing & Motorsport Director for AD Group “Our clients depend on the endurance and reliability of our video surveillance systems, which are developed to perform at their optimum, 24 hours a day, non-stop. We apply the same principles in our choice of the engine and chassis as we do in our own business; critically, HPD’s track record of endurance and reliability in this extreme environment played a major part in the selection process.”

“We are also delighted that Ben will be joining the long-standing driver team of Mike Newton and Tommy Erdos. Ben’s performance, when he joined us in the latter half of the 2010 season, established him in our eyes as a highly skilled driver with great potential. His contribution helped RML AD Group to the trophy, and we hope to repeat that in 2011.”

“The race programme remains at the centre of our marketing strategy to develop long term relationships with high end professionals who specify, design and install video surveillance systems worldwide. Over time, we have developed the format of our events to create a highly professional business networking environment for our clients and their clients. We provide an experience to our guests that not only informs them of our new video surveillance innovations from the Group, such as Closed IPTV, but also allows them to have direct interaction with the senior directors and product specialists within our company. The programme builds lasting and fruitful relationships which are sealed by the fact that our guests essentially become part of the RML AD Group team for the weekend, where they learn about the high level of professionalism and synergy between AD Group, RML and the extreme demands of endurance racing.”

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/01/...ls-2011-plans/

[Rob]

Lotus take on Le Mans with Jetalliance
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 14, 2011 ⋅

Under the careful direction of Team Manager Jan Kalmar, the newly formed Lotus Jetalliance team will field two Lotus Evora GTE cars in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). The two Evora GTE race cars, currently being developed by Lead Designer Nicola Scimeca, will be put through their paces as the team tackles some of the most challenging and competitive endurance races including the six hour race at Spa, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and of course the world famous Le Mans 24 hour race.

Commenting on the announcement, Lotus Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro said: “Moving into the ILMC is an exciting step for us and it will provide a good opportunity to showcase what can be done with the Evora. In every motorsport discipline that we participate in we aim to pick the best expertise to partner with and we have very high standards. The Jetalliance racing team has a lot of experience and a respected pedigree in this field so we’re delighted that they have agreed to work with us on what is bound to be an incredible challenge. We’re looking forward to seeing what ILMC 2011 brings.”

Jetalliance Chief Executive Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer said: “We’ve enjoyed success in recent years at iconic endurance events such as Le Mans and I’m looking forward to repeating if not improving on these results with Lotus. Some people have asked why we would take a risk working with new cars – my answer on this subject always remains the same: we believe in Lotus and we believe that in uniting with them will create something very exciting, very special and most of all very successful.”

Lotus Jetalliance will be contesting the following events:

8th May 2011 Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours (BEL)
11&12 June 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours (FRA),
3rd July 2011 Imola 6 Hours (ITA)
11th September 2011 Silverstone 6 Hours (GBR)
1st October 2011 Petit Le Mans (Road Atlanta, Georgia, USA)
12th November 2011 6-Hours race China

The driver line-up will be announced in due course.

[Rob]

Davidson predicts 'amazing' ILMC

By Matt Beer Sunday, January 16th 2011, 16:53 GMT

Peugeot's Anthony Davidson hopes the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup can bring sportscar racing to a much wider audience, having admitted that he had no idea how spectacular the discipline was until he dropped out of Formula 1.

LMP1 giants Audi and Peugeot last went head to head over a full season in the 2008 Le Mans Series, but both have now committed to the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's new ILMC - which combines top events from the LMS and American Le Mans Series, plus the Le Mans 24 Hours itself and an event in China, to create a season-long global contest.

With both Peugeot and Audi introducing new cars this year, Davidson reckons an epic battle is in prospect.

"I just can't wait for this season to kick off because I think the likes of Peugeot and Audi fighting each other tooth and nail throughout the season is something to behold," he said on the main stage at AUTOSPORT International.

"It's what Formula 1's about as well - the manufacturers doing battle - and that's what we've got this season."

Davidson said he has been amazed by how much he has enjoyed LMP1 racing since it became his main focus.

"After leaving the world of F1 and joining the sportscar scene, I suddenly realised it was like this secret of motorsport that no one has discovered," he admitted.

"The cars are fantastic and the scene is brilliant. The fans that are dedicated to that scene already know, but just because it doesn't get the same kind of marketing behind it and the same kind of fanbase in pure numbers, it was a big surprise to me just what a brilliant scene the whole sportscar world is, and it's something that I think a driver after Formula 1 can look to do for many a year."

He said his only regret was that the ACO's 2011 rules will slightly restrict the performance of the LMP1s.

"The rules are the dominating factor in the design of the car these days," said Davidson.

"With the restriction of the regulations for this year, they've been detuned not just power-wise but aero-wise as well.

"So all in all the cars are going to be a tiny bit slower, which is a real shame for drivers, because you always want to drive the fastest machine available."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88955

[Rob]

WEST RACING NAMES FIRST TWO DRIVERS FOR LAMBORGHINI EFFORT
2011-01-17

West Racing named Nicky Pastorelli and Dominik Schwager as the first two drivers of its Yokohama Tire Corporation-sponsored Lamborghini on Monday. The two were teammates in last year’s FIA GT1 championship and will campaign West Racing’s first ADVAN® A005 tire-shod Lamborghini in the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.


As reported earlier, the team hopes to test at Sebring later this month and plans to return for the annual Winter Test from February 9-10. It will make its race debut at the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on March 19.

“West Racing owner Eduardo Espindola has hired two top-notch, seasoned pros,” said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama senior manager of motorsports. “The competition will be tough, but Nicky and Dominik have experience racing Lamborghinis, so we’re anticipating an exciting, successful season. I’m confident Yokohama’s motorsports heritage will be very well represented by Nicky and Dominik and the entire West Racing Team.”

“I’m proud to be part of the West-Yokohama racing team,” said the Dutch-born/Italian-bred Pastorelli, who won the European F3000 championship in 2004. “It’s a great challenge to be part of a new project and help make it successful.”

Pastorelli has seven ALMS starts to his credit – all with VICI Racing in a GT2 Porsche. His best finish was a fifth-place showing with Johannes Stuck at Utah in 2009.

The ALMS campaign will reunite the German-born Schwager with Yokohama. In 2004, he was a driver of the ADVAN-shod Toyota Supra in the Japanese Super GT series. “I’ve always been interested in ALMS racing, so this is a tremendous opportunity,” he said. “Because we’re a new team, I know the task ahead is going to be demanding, but thanks to technology partners like Yokohama, I know we’ll be competitive.”

West Racing and the rest of American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will open 2011 at the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 19. The race, set for 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 19, will be shown in its live and in its entirety on ESPN3.com and americanlemans.com. ABC will provide coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 20. Visit the American Le Mans Series’ schedule page for information on tickets and area accommodations.

You can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes), on our Facebook page and the official YouTube channel.

[Rob]

Two-car entry for Pegasus Racing; more news to come

After a season with ups and downs Pegasus racing will return to the Le Mans Series in 2011 with a two-car entry. The French squad had a horrible Le Mans 24 Hours in 2010, but also secured a podium finish in the 1000 KM of the Algarve in July. For 2011 they are back fore more.

In a press release Pegasus Racing announced that it will return to the Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class, but that it will also make its debut in the Formula Le Mans category. The team will continue with the Courage-Oreca LC75 in the LMP2 category, albeit with a brand new HPD (Honda Performance Development) engine fitted instead of the AER engine that was used last year. A Formula Le Mans Oreca will be the second car of the team in the new season, while the team is also hoping to be accepted into the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The team also announced that a 100% electric prototype is being completed in conjunction with ‘big companies specializing in the engineering and the production of electronics and electric engines in order to develop a zero emission prototype.

On Wednesday January 19th Pegasus racing will be sending out more information about the Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hours. On Monday January 24th more details will be given on the electric prototype programme.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/01/...-news-to-come/

[Rob]

Sebring Winter Test: 25 cars on provisional entry list
BY MARCEL TEN CAAT ⋅ JANUARY 20, 2011

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) has released the first provisional entry list for the 2011 Sebring Winter Test to be held on February 8 – 9, 2011 on the Sebring International Raceway. Twenty-five cars in four categories are currently entered for the test.

While most of the front-runners in the American Le Mans Series or the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup will skip the official test and go out testing on their own in Florida two LMP1 cars, thirteen GT cars, four LMPC cars and six GTC cars are currently scheduled to test next month.

In LMP1 Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing will be bringing their new Lola Aston Martin for Greg Pickett and Klaus Graf, while Dyson Racing Team will bring one of their Lola Mazda’s for Chris Dyson, Guy Smith and Jay Cochran.

No LMP2 cars are currently set to take part in the Sebring Winter Test.

The current entry list shows thirteen GT cars, but several of them are still TBD. Corvette Racing should be out with two cars and drivers Olivier Beretta, Antonio Garcia (replacing Johnny O’Connell), Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen.
Two Doran Ford GT’s are currently entered for Robertson Racing, one for David and Andrea Robertson and the second car for David Murry and Anthony Lazzaro.

Flying Lizard Motorsports has entered its #44 and #45 Porsche 997 GT3 RSR race cars, but has not yet confirmed the driver line-up per car. A third Porsche taking part in the test should be the Falken car driven by Wolf Henzler and Bryan Sellers.

The list also shows five Ferrari’s, two F430 GT and three 458 GTC. The older F430 GT2s will be used by Krohn Racing (Tracy Krohn/Nic Jonsson) and Risi Competizione. Three new 458 cars are shown on the list but it remains to be seen if these will appear on the Florida circuit. Extreme Speed Motorsports has two listed for Scott Sharp, Johannes van Overbeek, Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo, while Risi has one car on the list for Melo and Vilander.

The final GT car is the Larbre Competition Corvette. The French squad will test their Corvette after delivery from Pratt&Miller and will use the Winter Test to give its drivers (Bornhauser, Canal, Gardel) some valuable track time before racing in the Sebring 12 Hours.

LMPC will have four cars in the test according to today’s list. Performance Tech Motorsports, Genoa Racing (2x) and Core Autosport have entered. For Core Autosport it will be the first outing with other LMPC teams.

And finally the GTC class, once again open for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars only. As it is now six cars will be taking part in the test. Newcomers JDX Racing, Alex Job Racing, GMG Racing, Kelly Moss Motorsports, Paul Miller Racing and TRG will all field a car, several drivers yet to be determined.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/01/...emans+Newsfeed)

[Rob]

INTERCONTINENTAL CUP

CRS Racing enters Intercontinental Le Mans Cup
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 19, 2011

CRS Racing will enter a Ferrari 430 into the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) in 2011. The car will be raced by Pierre Ehret, Shaun Lynn and Roger Wills in the GTE Am class.

The ILMC combines the best of the Le Mans Series, the American Le Mans Series and of course the Le Mans 24 Hours itself. This creates an exciting calendar of events that will take CRS Racing from Sebring in March, through Europe via Spa, Le Mans, Imola and Silverstone, before heading Stateside again for Petit Le Mans in October then the season finale in China in November.

Pierre Ehret is one of the best non-professional drivers in the business and with a Le Mans Series season already under his belt with CRS Racing, he is ready to take on the ILMC. He will miss a particular familiar face at CRS though, his race engineer, Craig Dawson, who very sadly passed away at Christmas.

“I am very excited to be driving in this newly created series which covers all of my favourite tracks and also to be back again with CRS,” said Ehret. “I will certainly miss though the input I received last year from our engineer, Craig, as he helped my driving a lot.”

Shaun Lynn has won many of the prestigious historic races, including the Le Mans Legends race, and now he will have his shot at the Le Mans 24 Hours itself.

“We’re not underestimating the size of the challenge ahead of us,” said Lynn. “But with CRS we feel confident that we can have a good year in the ILMC.”

Roger Wills is also a talented historic racer with multiple wins including at the Le Mans Classic. In addition he secured a debut class win when he raced at the Spa 24 Hours in an Aston Martin GT4 in 2010.

“The ILMC is a huge challenge for a non-professional racing driver and it is not something we have taken on lightly,” said Wills. “Both Shaun and I tested the Ferrari before Christmas and we are now looking forward to a great year of racing it at some of the top sportscar events in the world.”

“The ILMC presents CRS with a great opportunity to go and do the biggest GT races in the world,” commented CRS Team Principal, Andrew Kirkaldy. “It’s a fantastic series for the drivers to participate in a championship that incorporates the big three of Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. The GTE Am category is a great addition to the series and we think this will be hotly contested. Pierre has already been there and done these big events and knows exactly what to do. Both Shaun and Roger have got some impressive results not only in some quick historic cars but also in the modern racing that they have done; they also performed strongly in the tests in the GT2 Ferrari in December. Collectively they will be a very strong driving squad.”

In addition to the ILMC, CRS Racing will launch a full assault on the Le Mans Series in 2011. Driver line-ups are currently being finalised for this five-event series.

[Rob]

ProSpeed Competition announces 2011 LMS program

In 2011, ProSpeed Competition will compete again in the « Le Mans Series ». The international Belgian transport and haulage group CPL Trans-Alcra Flash will be a major partner of the Belgian team that will enter a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR « 2011 Spec. », the latest development of the mythical 911 series, in the LM GTE class.

Porsche Motorsport will continue its close collaboration with ProSpeed Competition and young German Marco Holzer will represent the factory. Official driver Holzer will get the experienced Belgian Marc Goossens in support.

ProSpeed Competition will continue its international program in the « Le Mans Series » 2011 and the team is very ambitious. One of the major partners of ProSpeed Competition in the international series is CPL Trans-Alcra Flash, a major player in the international transport and haulage market.

The « Le Mans Series » 2011 has a five-race schedule, with one on the home ground of ProSpeed Competition. The 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps will take place on the 8th of May. Before the season, ProSpeed Competition is heading towards the South of Europe in February for private testing sessions, followed by the official test days of the « Le Mans Series » and the season’s kick off on the track of Paul Ricard in April.

Charles Vande Craen (CPL Trans-Alcra Flash): -« The reason why we continue and even intensify our collaboration with ProSpeed Competition is obvious. For our company it’s very important to support a major partner in an international environment, especially as a major autosport brand such as Porsche is also involved in the « Le Mans Series » project. Our aim is to be successful and we can only be successful if there is a 100% commitment of all members of the team, something we also try to achieve with our company. We feel that we have a lot in common with ProSpeed Competition and that we share the same values. »

Rudi Penders (Team Principal): -« We ended the 2010 « Le Mans Series » on a high with a second place in Silverstone and 2011 has to go in the same direction. Today we know that all the necessary elements of new success are there : a brand new and performing car, a very strong driver line-up, the intense collaboration with Porsche Motorsport, our partnership with CPL Trans-Alcra Flash and of course our own experience and knowledge. If all those elements come together in a proper way, we should be able to be successful. »

Prospeed Competition’s records of achievements in 2010 include the following: FIA GT3 European Champion (2 victories); Vice-Champion of Europe Drivers FIA GT3 (2 victories); winners of the Porsche Manufacturer’s Cup; Vice-Champion Team and Drivers Belcar Endurance Championship (3 victories); podium achieved in the GT2 category of the Le Mans Series; Belgian Team of the Year (RACB).

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/01/...1-lms-program/

[Rob]

wow 3 458s are on sebring winter test list, really hope they do go and cannt wait see those beautys

[Rob]

Corvette Racing Announces 2011 Driver Lineup
BY TEAM UPDATE ⋅ JANUARY 22, 2011

Corvette Racing will have two new drivers in its lineup for the 2011 American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans (pending official invitation). Tommy Milner will join Olivier Beretta in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R for the full season, with Antonio Garcia continuing as third driver in the Sebring, Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans endurance races. Richard Westbrook will be teamed with Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R in the three long-distance events.

“At the conclusion of every season, we review and evaluate all aspects of the Corvette Racing program,” said GM Racing director Mark Kent. “The level of competition in the GT class is extremely high, and our goal is to make the team as competitive as possible. We are pleased to welcome Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook to Corvette Racing, and we believe that they will help us to reach our objective.”

The new members of Corvette Racing’s driver roster have extensive experience in world-class GT competition. Milner, 24, of Lake Mary, Fla., is a second-generation racer who has competed in formula and sports car series with distinction. Milner has driven for factory-affiliated teams representing Panoz, Porsche, and BMW, and has competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He finished third in the ALMS GT standings in 2010.

Westbrook, 35, of London, England, won the FIA GT2 championship in 2009, and scored podium finishes in 24-hour races at Le Mans (third in GT2) and Daytona (third overall) in 2010. A two-time Porsche Supercup champion, Westbrook notched an ALMS GT2 victory at Road America in 2008. He has competed in the Spa and Nurburgring endurance races, selected ALMS and Grand Am events in the U.S., and the FIA GT1 championship.

“We look at our competition continuously and intensely, and it became very clear that Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook have the qualities we value at Corvette Racing,” said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. “They are quick, intelligent, team-oriented, and disciplined in their approach. They will connect with Corvette fans and represent Chevrolet as a global brand. We are very excited to have these two talented young drivers join America’s most successful production sports car team, and we look forward to long and rewarding relationships with both of them.”

Milner and Westbrook will become the 21st and 22nd drivers to race with Corvette Racing since the team’s debut in 1999. Both have driven the Corvette C6.Rs in private tests, and will participate in the ALMS Winter Test in Sebring, Fla., on February 9-10, in preparation for the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

“When you look at sports car racing over the last 10 years, the biggest name in GT racing has to be Corvette,” Milner said. “With all of the team’s victories in Le Mans and the success they’ve had here in America, Corvette Racing has a history of winning. To have the opportunity to be a part of the Corvette program at this point in my career is very exciting. I’m looking forward to working with the engineers, the crew, and the other drivers to make Corvette the powerhouse in endurance racing.”

“I’ve raced against the Corvette enough times to know it’s better to be driving one than racing against one,” Westbrook said. “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the Corvette Racing program for 2011. The Corvette C6.R is an amazing piece of machinery, very well engineered, and it’s just an honor to drive one. Everyone on the team is hungry for success and expectations are high, so we have to deliver.”


good for Westbrook, think he is good GT driver.

[Rob]

24 HOURS OF LE MANS

Pescarolo Team confirms 2011 program and drivers
BY MARCEL TEN CAAT ⋅ JANUARY 22, 2011

Henri Pescarolo is set to return to racing with Pescarolo Team in the 2011 season and little by little the team is returning to its old glory. This week Pescarolo confirmed its drivers, its program and its engine choice.

Having raced for Porsche and Corvette in most international races in 2009 and 2010 Emmanuel Collard will return for a full season with Pescarolo this season, after having not race an LMP car for almost a year and a half.

Collard: “I am really happy to race in a prototype again and especially to work with Henri’s team again, who I’ve known for so long. To take part in the development of an LMP1 with Claude Galopin is always an exciting experience.”

Emmanuel Collard’s teammate will be another Pescarolo regular, Christophe Tinseau, whose last race in a Pescarolo 01 was at the Okayama 1000 kilometers in November 2009, the last race of the Pescarolo team before it was forced to sit out 2010.

Tinseau: “It is a return that I hoped for and that I waited for impatiently. I am also pleased to rejoin the team with whom I had so many successes. Sharing the Pescarolo-Judd with Manu Collard is an exciting project.”

Pescarolo Team has requested one LMP1 entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours and will also race in the five rounds of the Le Mans Series this season. Henri Pescarolo: “We chose to seize the opportunity we were offerted by the ACO to keep the Judd V10 for another year. The Pescarolo-Judd in its 2010 version never raced in LMP1, it has never been able to show its potential. We are confident that it will be competitive in 2011. The choice of drivers demonstrates our ambitions: to win the Le Mans Series and to get a good result in the 24 Hours.”

http://www.planetlemans.com/2011/01/...m-and-drivers/

[Rob]

^ yes i heard about this the other day that Pescarolo. So happy for Henri, after all the mess selling his team. Great for him, great for Le Mans aswell, to have his team and name back at the great race. I do really wish him good luck this year, will be cheering on his cars. Always have had soft spot for those Pescas.

[Rob]

INTERCONTINENTAL CUP

Team FS66 to enter Riley-Corvette C6 in ILMC?
⋅ JANUARY 24, 2011


Team FS66 – known as Atlas eFX-Team FS in the 2010 season – has changed its plans for 2011. Instead of a GT and LMP program from the start of the season the team is now set to kick-off with a single GTE Am entry in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Last year Atlas eFX-Team FS announced their intention to race a Panoz Abruzzi “Spirit of Le Mans” and a Creation LMP1 in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Earlier this month it became clear that these deals did not materialize and the team, now renamed Team FS66, had to find another car.

The team has now announced it has found a car to run this season, the Riley-Corvette C6 that was previously entered in the American Le Mans Series by LG Motorsports. The car, which was recently moved to the National Corvette Museum but is still owned by Lou Gigliotti, is set to be entered in all the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup rounds this season.

At Sebring it will be raced by Tomy Drissi – who will also race at Le Mans and Petit – and two other drivers. Even though Team FS66 announced that Stephane Lemeret will partner Drissi at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, the Belgian driver was quoted saying that he had not signed a full-season contract with Team FS66 yet. A third driver for the full 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup season is still to be determined.

Lou Gigliotti: “We will get the car next week. The team will work out of my shop in Dallas to get set for the Twelve Hours of Sebring. They will also use my transporter and equipment so they won’t have to ship theirs over. Then they’ll leave for Europe to compete in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup for the entire season.”

Dutchman Carlo van Dam, who was confirmed in a press release issued by the team back in 2010, will not be part of the squad that will race in Florida. The Dutchman could return to the team this season, but only for the three Euro rounds and the race in China.

In its latest press release the team also confirmed they are still looking at entering in the LMP category but not as early as Sebring. According to the release the team had a lot of help from Oreca to get the project running, but a spokesman from Oreca would only go on record saying that there had been some discussions between the French manufacturer and Norbert Walchhofer’s team.

The team changing names from Atlas eFX-Team FS to Team FS66 also seems to indicate that the title sponsoring of Atlas eFX was a one-year deal only. It remains to be seen if this affects the team in 2011. Given all the previous press releases and the actual outcome of all negotiations with manufacturers we definitely hope to see the Corvette in action in 2011, but will only believe it once it is rolled out of the trailer on the Sebring International Raceway in March.

[Rob]

McNish, Kristensen lead Audi in ILMC

By Steven English Monday, January 24th 2011, 11:05 GMT

Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen will lead Audi's assault on the full Intercontinental Le Mans Cup this year.

The German manufacturer today announced its driver line-ups for the American Le Mans Series opener at Sebring, the LMS round at Spa and the ILMC events after the Le Mans 24 Hours at Imola, Silverstone, Road Atlanta and in China, with its two lead drivers taking part in every event.

McNish and Kristensen will share with Dindo Capello at Sebring and Spa and will then tackle the remain events as a pair.

Last year's Le Mans-winning crew of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller will contest the same three opening events together, before Bernhand is joined by Marcel Fassler in the second car for the remaining ILMC races. A third Audi will run at Spa and Le Mans, with Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer sharing.

"Due to the clashing dates in the DTM and ILMC it wasn't easy to form the driver squad," said Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich. "For example, it prevented Mike Rockenfeller from driving a complete season in the R18.

"But with Porsche factory driver Timo Bernhard, Marcel Fassler, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish for the sport prototypes we have a strong core squad with which we are well placed.

"Now we can concentrate solely on the development of the Audi R18 and need not integrate any new drivers into the team, which would have been associated with additional work and risks. The schedule to Le Mans is tight enough as it is."

McNish added: "I am very much looking forward to racing the R18, having tested it before Christmas and again this month.

"The calendar of Sebring, Spa, Le Mans, Imola, Silverstone, Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta and then China is essentially a season of the very best sportscar races in one championship, which is tremendously exciting."

Audi confirmed that it will retain last year's 24 Hours rosters at the launch of the R18 in December.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89057

[Rob]

Full BMW ILMC campaign for Priaulx

By Steven English Monday, January 24th 2011, 14:46 GMT

Andy Priaulx will not return to the World Touring Car Championship this year, and will instead contest the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup for BMW.

The three-time WTCC champion will drive a factory M3 GT2 car in the full ILMC.

His campaign will begin with the American Le Mans Series' Sebring 12 Hours in March, followed by the LMS round at Spa, the Le Mans 24 Hours, LMS rounds at Imola and Silverstone, the Petit Le Mans ALMS finale at Road Atlanta and the last ILMC race in China.

"I am really looking forward to this year, as we are competing in some great races on three continents," Priaulx said. "I had my first taste of Le Mans last year and can't wait to get back there.

"The programme is very varied and, with testing duties for BMW with cars from other racing categories, I know I shall be just as busy if not busier than before."

BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen explained BMW's ILMC commitment: "The Intercontinental Le Mans Cup enjoyed a successful debut in 2011 and we were able to experience victory in the LM GT2 class. We have decided to continue to support this relatively young series and to line up with two cars in the new LM GTE Pro category.

"We expect a close competition again this year and for this class to be extremely hard fought in 2011. Fans of BMW Motorsport can look forward to some exciting racing on three continents."

[Rob]

Loeb says he won't race at Le Mans

By David Evans and Pablo Elizalde Wednesday, January 26th 2011, 10:37 GMT

Sebastien Loeb has ruled out racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours this year, despite speculation linking him with a return to the event.

The seven-time world rally champion contested Le Mans with the Pescarolo team in 2005 and 2006, finishing second overall in the latter event.

He then tested for Peugeot at the end of 2009 with the view of racing with the team in the 2010 24 Hours, but then decided against it.

The Frenchman has again been linked with a return to the historic race this year, but on Wednesday he denied he will be taking part in the event.

"I won't be doing Le Mans this year," said Loeb.

"In terms of schedule, with the development of the DS3 as well, it was too heavy to combine all," he was quoted as saying by the French media.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89074

thought he might of done it. Was looking forward to see him race there again. Another year wait

[Rob]

Luhr gets CytoSport ALMS role

By Sophie Williamson Friday, January 28th 2011, 16:47 GMT

Four-time American Le Mans Series class champion Lucas Luhr will return to CytoSport to drive the team's new Lola-Aston Martin LMP1 car this season.

Luhr first competed with the team in a one-off last year at Road Atlanta, taking second in the Petit Le Mans.

Alongside regular drivers Greg Pickett and Klaus Graf, Luhr will be the team's third driver for the major long-distance endurance ALMS races this season, starting with the 12 Hours of Sebring in March.

After spending much of his top-line racing career with Porsche and also being an Audi Le Mans driver, these races are Luhr's first major sportscar events outside the Porsche/Audi group.

"I'm very happy to be returning with the Muscle Milk team," Luhr said.

"I want to thank Greg for giving me this opportunity to compete with them in the ALMS endurance races this season. It will be the first time I drive an LMP1 coupe so it will be a new experience for me but I am really looking forward to it."

Luhr first competed in the ALMS in 2000, and has since taken class wins in 31 of his 69 starts, as well as winning titles in GT, LMP2 and LMP1.

"We're happy to welcome Lucas back to the team. We had a successful weekend with him at Petit Le Mans last season and truly enjoyed working with him," team owner and co-driver Pickett said.

The 2011 ALMS starts with a test at Sebring on 9-10 February ahead of the season-opening 12-hour race there on 19 March.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89129