Ian Dawson’s Project Libra Racing will be back on the American Le Mans Series grid for 2012 with a Roush Yates-powered Radical SR9 LMP2.
The Radical chassis has been modified to 2012 specs, and the car with its 3.2-liter Roush Yates turbocharged V6 has already completed 200 miles of testing at Libra’s North Carolina Center for Automotive Research, where further testing is planned. After its successful test on Feb. 10, the team is confident it will be ready in time for Sebring.
“Radical Sportscars is pleased to see its SR9 LMP platform returning to international competition, in the American Le Mans Series with Project Libra,” said Radical co-founder Phil Abbott in a press statement. “It was always the aim of the SR9 to represent a cost-effective yet competitive entry onto the LMP grid; values which are more important than ever in the age of cost-capped prototype racing. We look forward to assisting Project Libra during the 2012 season.”
Libra has run the SR9 Radical before, most recently with a Nissan engine. The new Roush Yates power plant will be making its racing debut with Libra.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to showcase the advancement of our skills, personnel, and technologies in entering the American Le Mans Series,” said John Maddox, Roush Yates sports car program manager. “The collaborative effort with Project Libra is an opportunity for us to introduce our Ford-based race engine into competition with a partner that has as much devotion and interest in achieving success as does Roush Yates.”
According to both E-I and Planetlemans, Libra racing plans to enter a second Radical SR9 by the Laguna Seca race on May 12.
“Having stayed true to one of the most genuine cost-capped concept cars built, the Radical LMP2, we have continued to upgrade and develop what was originally a very fast and reliable design, which showcases Radical race chassis’ global presence,” Chief Operating Officer Ian Dawson told Planetlemans.
“The use of the Roush Yates 3.2L V6 Twin Turbo engine will give Project Libra the ability to show what opportunities the team has seen in private testing with a competitive and cost effective option in the now-growing LMP2 category.”
Libra will be announcing sponsors and driving teams prior to the season-opening 60th Anniversary 12 Hours of Sebring.
The Libra Radical-Ford will face tough competition in the P2 class, facing 2011 champs Level 5 entering two HPD-Hondas, the new Conquest Morgan-Judd, possibly the Dempsey entry and BAR-1, and also an HPD-Honda of GTC champs Black Swan, plus seven or eight European entries at Sebring.
Tickets for the Sebring event are available through the Sebring international Raceway website, sebringraceway.com.
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