ALTON, VA (September 10, 2012) – Michelin and its technical partner teams and drivers are closing in on a number of American Le Mans Series championships as the series heads to its penultimate event, the VIR 240, the inaugural ALMS event at Virginia International Raceway.
“Racing at a new track for the first time is always a big challenge, especially with the ALMS championships on the line,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager. ”Michelin is prepared to provide our technical partners the tire solutions they need to meet the track conditions and be successful.”
Corvette Racing co-drivers Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner hold a 28-point lead in the ultra-competitive GT class over teammates Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia heading to the four-hour race at the 3.27-mile circuit near Alton, Virginia.
Gavin, a three-time ALMS champion, and Milner have three wins and seven podium finishes in the first eight ALMS races. Corvette Racing also leads the manufacturer and team championships by 19 and 24 points respectively.
Michelin holds a 15-point lead in the GT Tire Manufacturer championship with five GT class wins (Corvette Racing (3); Flying Lizard Porsche (1) and Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari (1)) in eight races.
Six different cars from five teams and four manufacturers (Chevrolet Corvette, BMW, Porsche and Ferrari) have scored ALMS GT wins this season.
A similar story exists in the top P1 Prototype class where Michelin technical partner Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, drivers Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf and Honda lead the respective team, driver and manufacturer standings over the defending champions Dyson Racing, drivers Guy Smith and Chris Dyson and Mazda.
The Muscle Milk team reeled off five consecutive wins but has stumbled in the two most recent events with minor, but costly mechanical gremlins that left room for the defending champion Dyson squad to narrow the gap.
Michelin leads the P1 tire championship by eight points with just VIR and the 10 Hour/1000 Mile Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, October 20, remaining.
The four-hour race will be streamed live on ESPN3 from 2:15pm to 6:15pm (EDT) on Saturday, September 15. Two-hour race coverage will air on Sunday, September 16 from 5:00 -7:00pm (EDT).
Fans can also enjoy the latest stories, videos, photos and behind-the-scenes news at www.michelinalley.com.
For more information, visit www.michelinmedia.com or contact:
Sachin Deshpandé John Love
MichelinNorth America EMC Strategic Communications
office: 1 416 576 0226 office: 1 248 816 0106
sachin.deshpande@ca.michelin.com mobile: 1 313 506 2114
john@emcstrategic.com