Patrón Highcroft Racing has announced an addition to its 2010 American Le Mans Series team, signing former Dyson Racing driver Marino Franchitti to race and test the team’s new Honda Performance Development ARX-01c.
Franchitti won two races in 2009 driving the P2 Dyson Lola-Mazda, set three fastest race laps, and won three pole positions, co–driving with Ben Devlin and the now-retired Butch Leitzinger.
At Patrón Highcroft, Franchitti will team up with P1 winner David Brabham and former de Ferran driver Simon Pagenaud for the season’s three endurance races: The Twelve Hours of Sebring, Monterey Sports Car Championship at Laguna Seca, and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.
“It’s great to be joining the championship winning team and linking up not only with last year’s two fastest drivers in LMP1 in the American Le Mans Series, but also two good friends who will be my teammates,” Franchitti told reporters at a Miles to End Malaria Celebrity Karting Challenge event at the UK Autosport International racing car show (the interview was reprinted in a Patrón Highcroft press release.) “Brabs I’ve known and admired for years, and Simon became a friend almost from the time he came to the ALMS.”
Franchitti mas been racing in ALMS since 2001. He graduated from GT2 to P2 cars in 2007, driving an Acura ARX-01b for Andretti Green Racing. His performance in 2007 earned him a full –time ride in the Dyson Porsche Spyder RS for 2008, and he stayed with the team when it switched to Lola-Mazdas in 2009.
At 31 years of age the Scots driver, brother of two-time IRL champ Dario Franchitti, has many years of experience and many years of racing ahead. He hopes his role with team will grow as the team grows.
Highcroft Patrón owner Duncan Dayton has made no secret of his desire to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Marino Franchitti hopes to be there when it happens.
“Duncan has made no secret of his desire to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also expand the team into a second car, so obviously there are some great opportunities ahead. Knowing a few of the guys at Patrón Highcroft I know Duncan has given them the resources to get the job done. Duncan’s passion knows no bounds and that spreads right throughout the team.”
In two weeks, Franchitti and his teammates will take their first laps in the revised ARX-01c. The new car will be officially unveiled at the Wheels Down Winter Test at Sebring on February 22-23. The car will race for the first time at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 20, 2010, at Sebring International Raceway at Sebring Florida. Tickets are available at the Sebring Raceway Web site ticket page.
Franchitti won two races in 2009 driving the P2 Dyson Lola-Mazda, set three fastest race laps, and won three pole positions, co–driving with Ben Devlin and the now-retired Butch Leitzinger.
At Patrón Highcroft, Franchitti will team up with P1 winner David Brabham and former de Ferran driver Simon Pagenaud for the season’s three endurance races: The Twelve Hours of Sebring, Monterey Sports Car Championship at Laguna Seca, and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.
“It’s great to be joining the championship winning team and linking up not only with last year’s two fastest drivers in LMP1 in the American Le Mans Series, but also two good friends who will be my teammates,” Franchitti told reporters at a Miles to End Malaria Celebrity Karting Challenge event at the UK Autosport International racing car show (the interview was reprinted in a Patrón Highcroft press release.) “Brabs I’ve known and admired for years, and Simon became a friend almost from the time he came to the ALMS.”
Franchitti mas been racing in ALMS since 2001. He graduated from GT2 to P2 cars in 2007, driving an Acura ARX-01b for Andretti Green Racing. His performance in 2007 earned him a full –time ride in the Dyson Porsche Spyder RS for 2008, and he stayed with the team when it switched to Lola-Mazdas in 2009.
At 31 years of age the Scots driver, brother of two-time IRL champ Dario Franchitti, has many years of experience and many years of racing ahead. He hopes his role with team will grow as the team grows.
Highcroft Patrón owner Duncan Dayton has made no secret of his desire to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Marino Franchitti hopes to be there when it happens.
“Duncan has made no secret of his desire to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also expand the team into a second car, so obviously there are some great opportunities ahead. Knowing a few of the guys at Patrón Highcroft I know Duncan has given them the resources to get the job done. Duncan’s passion knows no bounds and that spreads right throughout the team.”
In two weeks, Franchitti and his teammates will take their first laps in the revised ARX-01c. The new car will be officially unveiled at the Wheels Down Winter Test at Sebring on February 22-23. The car will race for the first time at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 20, 2010, at Sebring International Raceway at Sebring Florida. Tickets are available at the Sebring Raceway Web site ticket page.
