Core autosport has finalized its driver lineup for the American Le Mans Series LMPC–championship winning 06 Oreca FLM09: Venezuelan champion Alex Popow will team up with Grand Am driver Burt Frisselle and IndyCar’s E.J. Viso for the season-opening Sebring 12 Hours.
Popow will drive for Core through the full ALMS season; his co-driver for the rest of the year has yet to be determined.
The 36-year-old Popow, winner of multiple Venezuelan championships and currently a driver for Grand Am’s Starworks Daytona Prototype team, Popow brings 12 years of experience gained in prototypes, GT and formula cars as well as three seasons of off-road racing.
Popow was part of the team which finished second in the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona, and had driven 12-hour and 24-hour GT races in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this year; 12 hours at Sebring are well within his capacity.
“I originally was planning to do the WEC season, but plans changed and I wanted to run in ALMS instead,” Popow said on the Core website. “I was looking for the best team, so I contacted some of the people I know best to ask their opinion—Peter Baron, Starworks team owner and Ryan Dalziel, who is a good friend of mine. Peter is good friends with Jon Bennett [Core autosport team owner] and Morgan Brady [Core autosport team manager] and of course Ryan drove for the team in 2011. They told me that CORE had a car available, a winning car that could fight for the championship with the right co-driver.
“I’ve never driven an LMPC car and I’ve never driven at Sebring. It’s going to be a challenge, but I have driven all types of cars all over the world—in 2012 I have already done two 24 hour events and one 12 hour – so I think it shouldn’t be a problem.
“My co-drivers are going to be great. E.J. Viso is a very good friend of mine. I drove with him at the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona. I know he can run up front with the right car. And Burt Frisselle is a great driver. We are just going to have to see how this race goes to figure out who will be my co-driver for the rest of the year.”
E.J. Viso is another Venezuelan driver gone global. Most of his experience is in formula cars, with some time in a European GT series ride, but he did drive a prototype in the Rolex 24 in 2011. 2012 will be his fifth year in IndyCar, where he currently drives for KV racing. He may run some ALMS races with Core depending on schedule conflicts.
Viso, 26, has at least turned some laps at Sebring, if not on the full course: IndyCar uses half the track for its preseason testing.
“I’ve always been a fan...
“I’ve always been a fan of prototype cars and this is another dream come true, to be present in most of the races this year,” Viso said on the Core site. ““I’m happy to be sharing the car with my longtime friend and colleague, Alex Popow. I believe it’s going to be a great combination involving my Izod IndyCar Series program.”
Burt Frisselle has been driving Grand Am Daytona Prototypes since 2004, starting 96 races. The 30-year-old Frisselle will have no trouble adjusting to the Core Oreca; he co-drove the 95 Level 5 LMPC Oreca in 2010, winning Petit Le Mans and the PC title that year.
“This will be my first 12 hour and I’m super-excited because my dad (Brad) was a former overall winner and will be there for the 60th anniversary celebration,” said Frisselle. “To have an opportunity for him to be down there, celebrating his past win and for me to be there doing my first one is really unique, especially with an organization like Core autosport because I'll have the opportunity to be standing in victory lane at the end of the race.”
Jon Bennett, founder and owner of Core autosport and co-driver of the team’s 05 Oreca, was pleased to sign this driver lineup.
“The lineup of the 06 car led by Alex Popow is going to be nothing short of impressive for Sebring and the entire 2012 season. Alex is a smart businessman and has been successful in every form of racing he’s ever tried, and it’s an honor to have him and his co-drivers join our team.
“When Morgan [Brady] and I brought Core autosport into LMPC competition in 2011, we knew we had a big hill to climb, but the combination of the best people and great equipment resulted in two championships, for drivers and team. It was quite a thrill and an accomplishment, but now, it’s a new season and it’s time to repeat and enhance upon our success.
“With Alex and his co-drivers such as IndyCar Series star E.J. Viso, I think their chances are very good and can only help Core autosport as an organization.”
The 60th Anniversary Twelve Hours of Sebring starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, with practice and support races starting Wednesday. Tickets are available through the Sebring International Raceway website.
http://sebrignraceway.com
