Muscle Milk Pickett Racing announced a multiyear contract with Honda Performance Development to race an HPD ARX-03a LMP1 in the American Le Mans Series on Tuesday.
The contract, which is part of a multifaceted deal between American Honda and Cytosport, parent company of Muscle Milk, includes title sponsorship for the newly renamed Team Honda Muscle Milk motocross team.
Along with securing support from HPD, Pickett racing scored two great drivers: Klaus Graf, who has been with the team for five seasons, and Lucas Luhr, who in 2011 filled in for team owner Gregg Pickett after Pickett was sidelined with injuries.
Pickett racing also resigned Michelin as a tire supplier.
“We’re very proud to announce this deal with HPD as we feel confident that their car and engine package along with our tire partner Michelin offer us the best combination to achieve our ultimate goal of 2012, which is to win the LMP1 championship,” Greg Pickett said in an online statement.
“To begin a relationship with the iconic brand that is Honda, and to be involved in two out of three of its major U.S. motorsports programs is fantastic and I couldn’t be more appreciative.
“Finally, I am very much looking forward to having both Klaus [Graf] and Lucas [Luhr] back together again and this time for a full season,” continued Pickett. “They’ve provided us with many happy memories this past season and I can’t wait to see what they will achieve aboard our new Muscle Milk HPD ARX-03a this upcoming season.
“Between them and our LMPC drivers Memo Gidley and Mike Guasch, I think we will have a very exciting and competitive year.”
“We are really excited to work with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing. Having competed against them in the past we are well aware of their strong potential to win on any given race weekend,” commented Honda Performance Development Vice President Steve Eriksen. “We look forward to helping the team achieve their dream of winning the ALMS LMP1 championship in the coming year.”
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing has been racing ALMS prototype class since 2007; first with a Lola AER, then with an old Porsche RS Spyder, then with a year old Lola Aston Martin. The team finished second in 2010 and 2011.
The new Honda is...
The new Honda is a race-proven chassis—Highcroft Racing drove one to a second-place finish in the 2011 Sebring 12 Hours without having time to test the chassis. Given time to develop the chassis, the Muscle Milk crew should have no trouble building a strong contender.
The 3.4-liter AL7R V8 is also a tested engine, having powered many Acura and HPD prototypes to victory since 2007. With Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr sharing the driving chores, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing has its best chance ever at a P1 title.
Graf started driving for Greg Pickett in 2007, earning four podiums that year and four more in 2009. In 2010 Graf and Pickett had a breakout year, with two wins and five podiums, which earned them second in the championship. The following year, 2011 was even better, as Graf, Pickett, and Luhr combined for four wins and a second place finish, to again finish second in the championship.
“I’m very thrilled about our new LMP1 program for the 2012 ALMS season,” said Klaus Graf in a team press release. “The Honda Performance Development ARX-03a, powered by HPD’s proven 3.4-liter V8 engine, should be the right package to achieve our goal, which is to win the ALMS Championship. Every year, the team gets stronger and stronger and our four race wins last season have proven that.”
Lucas Luhr has won five ALMS championships: P1 in 2008, P2 in 2006, and GT in 2002, 2002, and 2003, and sits third overall in all-time wins in the ALMS with 35. He has also won the GT class at Le Mans in 2002 and 2003.
“I’m happy to be back with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and to once again team up with Klaus,” said Luhr. “It is great to be on board for the full ALMS season. Entering a season with a new car is always something special and I can’t wait to be in the car for the first time at the Sebring Winter Test in February.
“We had a good season last year, especially in terms of wins, but we are going for more in 2012 and I would like nothing more than to win an ALMS title for this team.”
The team should receive its HPD ARX-03a in mid-January, in time to prep the car for the ALMS Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway Feb. 8 and 9, 2012.
The 2012 American Le Mans Series season gets underway with the 60th Annual 12 Hours of Sebring on March 17.
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