American Le Mans Series

VICI Racing joins ALMS, will start at Sebring

© VICI Racing

VICI Racing and Kumho Tire are pleased to announce their participation in the 2008 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in a collaboration focusing on an innovative new tire development programme, which will center on the evolution of new compounds designed specifically for the GT2 class championship.

VICI Racing enter will a 2008-specification Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, starting at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, with a second car joining the line-up later on. The most powerful race car based on the Porsche 911, which last year scored wins at the 24 hour races of Le Mans and Spa, the GT2 class win at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and an overall victory at the Nürburgring 24 hours, the 911 GT3 RSR competes in the GT2 class at international long distance races. The most distinguishing visual feature of the new GT3 RSR is the front end which received major improvements to the aerodynamics. The majority of innovations, however, are hidden under the weight-optimized body.

After making a name for itself in several disciplines of motorsport, including a class victory at Le Mans and participation in the gruelling Dakar Rally, Kumho Tire dipped its toe into the water of ALMS GT2 last year at Mid Ohio. Flushed with this experience, the company is now ready to press on in this tangent with a tire development program using ALMS GT2 as a focal point.

With more than two decades of sportscar racing experience competing successfully at the top level behind them, including in GT and prototype categories, as well as a long term association with the most successful of all sportscar racing brands’, Porsche, VICI Racing is perfectly placed to partner for Kumho Tire in this exciting and challenging new venture.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to work with VICI Racing and Porsche Motorsports,” said Rudy Consolacion, motorsports manager for Kumho Tire U.S.A. “Like Kumho, Porsche has a strong following among amateur racers because there are so many grassroots racers running Porsches in the Porsche Club of America, the Porsche Owners Club, NASA, SCCA and vintage racing. Porsche is the world’s leading producer of factory built race cars. The company has achieved success at every level of motorsports in which it has participated,” he said. “VICI Racing has been involved in sportscar racing for more than 20 years, and they bring a wealth of knowledge that will help us develop our GT2 tires.”

After earning an LMP2 class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last June, Kumho tested the GT2 waters at the Mid-Ohio ALMS race in July, supplying tires for a one-off effort for the Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper. The car, team and tires all performed well, leaving Consolacion eager for a full-season effort in GT2. “The Viper was a great test for us, and we’ve had good success with our racing tires in Japanese Super GT,” notes Consolacion. “GT2 cars are harder on tires because they’re heavier than the prototype cars and they don’t make as much downforce. They rely on mechanical grip rather than aerodynamic grip so the tire really has to perform. We are eager to work closely with Porsche and VICI to develop a winning GT2 tire. GT2 is the most competitive class in the American Le Mans Series, so we’ll be making some radical changes that will put our tire technology on the leading edge. We won’t stand still.”

We’re delighted to announce this tire development program which will welcome Kumho Tire as a team partner,” says Ron C Meixner, VICI Racing President, the team founder who successfully raced sportscars at the top level.

“Kumho Tire fit will perfectly with our strategic values. It is a young, very ambitious company, who has already achieved much success already in the motorsport arenas it have tackled; and I have been thoroughly impressed with its focus, energy and most of all overwhelming desire to win. This will be a very tough development project, undertaken right from the start through a full racing program, and will require total dedication and a will to succeed- with Kumho Tire I am completely satisfied we will achieve the project’s goals.”

VICI Racing in association with Kumho Tire will campaign a 2008-specification Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the full American Le Mans Series, starting with the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring (12-15 March).

A second Porsche 911 GT3 RSR will be entered by VICI Racing after Sebring as part of the tire development program. The team is presently seeking drivers and sponsors for this car. Full details of all the teams’ pilots for 2008 will be announced shortly.

(VICI Racing)