American Le Mans Series

Substitutes in for Portland ALMS Race

The American Le Mans Series race at Portland this weekend will see a number of new faces for the series. A number of series regulars are committed to the Spa 24 Hours or the Grand American race at Birmingham, Alabama.

Maserati’s Andrea Bertolini, J3 Racing’s Tim Sugden, and BAM!’s Mike Rockenfeller all are joining teams for this weekend’s Spa 24 Hours. Panoz’s Bill Auberlen will be with the PTG Racing team at the Grand American race at Birmingham, Alabama.

Sitting in for Andrea Bertolini is former Toyota, Sauber, BAR, and Ferrari Formula 1 driver Mika Salo. Salo most recently has been driving in the FIA GT Series for the Maserati team.

Sitting in for Tim Sugden is American driver Michael Galati. Galati has long been a major driver in the US-based Speed World Challenge Series. The World Challenge Series is a production-based series that allows heavy modifications to the vehicles. Galati is a five-time champion in the series. Most notably, he drove for Champion Audi’s entry in the series. Saturday will be his first appearance in the American Le Mans Series.

Mike Rockenfeller will be replaced by Martin Jensen of Denmark. Jensen, 25, has appeared earlier this season for BAM! during this year’s 12 Hours of Sebring. Sebring was Jensen’s first American Le Mans Series race.

Christophe Tinseau will team with Marino Franchitti in the number 51 Panoz this weekend. Tinseau has previously driven for Panoz in the GT1 class GTR-1 in the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. Since then, he drove with the DAMS Cadillac entry at Le Mans in 2000, and with Panoz at the 2004 Petit Le Mans.

-Dennis Murray