Core Autosport, winner of the 2011 and 2012 American Le Mans Series LMPC team and driver championships, will return to the series in 2103 to defend its titles.
It is no surprise that Core would return, as the team has had nothing but success in its two years in the series, winning the PC championship plus finishing first and second in the drivers’ championships both seasons.
The team will be back with two cars, the 05 and 06 Oreca FLM-09s which have brought it so much success. Driver lineups for the two cars are not yet firm, though it is almost certain that team owner (and 2011 and 2012 drivers’ title runner-up) Jon Bennett will be back in the 05.
“What we’ve created at Core Autosport is really special, with a highly competitive crew and great drivers,” said Bennett in a press statement.
“[Team manager Morgan Brady] has done a fantastic job putting together all the pieces for our multi-championship seasons and it seems only fitting that we go out there and go for the three-peat in the last year of ALMS PC competition.
“I’m looking forward to what the future holds in sports car racing in the U.S. and know that Core Autosport will continue its highly competitive—race and championship-winning—ways.”
Winning ways is an understatement. After a close contest in 2011 (the drivers’ title was a three-way tie) Core captured the 2012 team title after seven of ten races, while Alex Popow won the drivers’ championship by 35 points, ahead of his Core teammates Jon Bennett and Colin Braun, who were themselves 32 points ahead of the nearest competitor. Core won eight races and earned 17 podium finishes.
With 2013 being the final year of ALMS before the new, merged ALMS/Grand Am series starts in 2014, Core is considering moving up in class, depending upon what classes are offered in the new series.
“We are very exciting about what the 2014 season will bring with one sports car series in the U.S. and we are constantly evaluating options to expand our winning program into additional categories,” explained team manager Morgan Brady. “There are many opportunities in this realm and we are exploring them all.
“Currently we are committed to defending our back-to-back PC-class championships for the 2013 American Le Mans Series season. The driver lineup will be announced shortly for the 05 car, and we’re in the process of evaluating candidates for the 06, and both will be on the starting grid at Sebring in March of 2013.”
Tickets for the final ALMS Twelve Hours of Sebring are available through the Sebring International Raceway website.
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