gaijin
11-10-2004, 09:15 AM
Tracsport Team Eyes American Le Mans Series Debut at Sebring with New Courage
Andy Hall 11-10-2004
BRASELTON, Ga. - After a successful first season of Le Mans-style sports car racing in 2004, the British Tracsport racing team is looking to expand its horizons in 2005 by racing in selected rounds of the American Le Mans Series.
The European team would most likely make its American debut in the Mar. 16-19 running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway, the opening event of the 2005 ALMS season. Participating in the Sebring event would also give the team a chance to perform in a major long-distance event in front of the eyes of the selection committee for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which Tracsport hopes to run in 2005.
Tracsport recently began preparations for 2005 by testing a Courage C65 Prototype on the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans. The Daventry, UK, based team conducted the test under the guidance of the Courage works team and is currently in the late stages of negotiations to purchase a new Courage chassis. Tracsport raced an older Lola B2K/40 in the Le Mans Endurance Series in 2004, finishing third in the LMP2 class with drivers John Gaw, John Ingram and Rick Pearson.
Formed in 2001, Tracsport is owned by John Ingram, Sr., a lifelong motorsports enthusiast and former rally driver and now head of a financial business. The team raced in the Elf Renault Sport UK Clio Cup in 2001 and 2002, then in the Caterham R400 Challenge in 2003, winning the championship.
Tracsport would be the second team to run a Courage C65 in the LMP2 class of the ALMS, joining 2004 class champion Miracle Motorsports. The Miracle team acquired its chassis just before the Road America event and then qualified fastest and won the class during the race.
The Courage C65 was very successful in the inaugural season of the LMES, winning the LMP2 class in all three races it participated in.
"Prior to the test, I expected that driving the Courage would really highlight the great job we did this year in older equipment," said Gaw. "We’ve realized this season that if you push yourself both personally and in terms of your own ability and as a team in terms of what you can achieve together, then great things can happen."
"If we have the right kit - more power, better brakes and more downforce - we can seriously be challenging for class victories next year."
Andy Hall 11-10-2004
BRASELTON, Ga. - After a successful first season of Le Mans-style sports car racing in 2004, the British Tracsport racing team is looking to expand its horizons in 2005 by racing in selected rounds of the American Le Mans Series.
The European team would most likely make its American debut in the Mar. 16-19 running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway, the opening event of the 2005 ALMS season. Participating in the Sebring event would also give the team a chance to perform in a major long-distance event in front of the eyes of the selection committee for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which Tracsport hopes to run in 2005.
Tracsport recently began preparations for 2005 by testing a Courage C65 Prototype on the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans. The Daventry, UK, based team conducted the test under the guidance of the Courage works team and is currently in the late stages of negotiations to purchase a new Courage chassis. Tracsport raced an older Lola B2K/40 in the Le Mans Endurance Series in 2004, finishing third in the LMP2 class with drivers John Gaw, John Ingram and Rick Pearson.
Formed in 2001, Tracsport is owned by John Ingram, Sr., a lifelong motorsports enthusiast and former rally driver and now head of a financial business. The team raced in the Elf Renault Sport UK Clio Cup in 2001 and 2002, then in the Caterham R400 Challenge in 2003, winning the championship.
Tracsport would be the second team to run a Courage C65 in the LMP2 class of the ALMS, joining 2004 class champion Miracle Motorsports. The Miracle team acquired its chassis just before the Road America event and then qualified fastest and won the class during the race.
The Courage C65 was very successful in the inaugural season of the LMES, winning the LMP2 class in all three races it participated in.
"Prior to the test, I expected that driving the Courage would really highlight the great job we did this year in older equipment," said Gaw. "We’ve realized this season that if you push yourself both personally and in terms of your own ability and as a team in terms of what you can achieve together, then great things can happen."
"If we have the right kit - more power, better brakes and more downforce - we can seriously be challenging for class victories next year."