The 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season finale
has taken place this
weekend at Road Atlanta and during the meeting it has been announced that the
Lamborghini name is set to return to the championship
next year.
A new team to the top-line U.S. sports
car series, West Racing, will run two Reiter
Engineering-built Gallardo GT2 racers in the ALMS GT class next year,
the Raging Bull brand name now appearing to be set to
return to grace the championship just over half a decade after its last, brief,
and quite disastrous appearance, in the ALMS
with the GT1 Murciélago R-GT. Little is known yet about
the new team yet, which is headed by Eduardo Espindola, described as "an international businessman", and there is no word on
drivers.
However it has been announced that Yokohama Tire Corporation
will sponsor the cars and provide tyres next year. The Fullerton, California-based tyre company announced at a press
conference at Road Atlanta that it has signed a deal with West Racing Team to provide
Advan tyres
for the team’s two Lamborghinis for their campaign in the ALMS GT Class.
“Advan represents Yokohama’s motorsports heritage,” said Mark Chung, Yokohama
director, corporate strategy and planning,” and we’ve had quite a bit of success
at the track with them over the last quarter century. From the eco-friendly,
orange oil-infused Advan ENV-R2 tires used today in GT3 and GTC, to the Advan
slicks campaigned in GT2, racing has always been the perfect opportunity to
showcase Yokohama’s technical capabilities. This will be especially true next year on West Racing’s Lamborghinis. That’s
why we’re look forward to a successful, winning relationship with owner Eduardo
Espindola and his team.”
Espindola, an international businessman, said, “Simply put, I chose Yokohama
because of their great history in motorsports and solid reputation. We have the
same values, vision and expectations and in one word, it means success. I’m a passionate guy and I feel Yokohama is the same way. Just look at the
success of their motorsports programs and their Advan race tires. I truly
believe Yokohama and their hi-tech know-how will be a perfect fit on our West
Racing Team’s Lamborghinis. I can’t wait until next season begins.”
Chung agreed: “With the Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes and everyone else battling
it out, we feel the GT Class is going to be super competitive and a lot of fun.
The West Racing Lamborghinis will be right in the mix and ready for the
challenge.”
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in the United States,
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American
manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing
and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing
a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S.,
Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and
innovation. The company’s complete product line includes
the dB Super E-spec - the world’s
first tire to use orange oil to reduce petroleum – as well as tires for
high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and
off-the-road mining and construction applications.
