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American LeMans
ALMS: 10 Questions With Joel Feinberg
Primetime Race Group owner/driver discusses move to new Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) category for 2010.
John Dagys  |  Posted January 15, 2010   Chicago, IL
In addition to his IMSA Lites championship last year, Feinberg also competed in the ALMS with his Dodge Viper Competition Coupe. (John Dagys)
Following two seasons campaigning a Dodge Viper Competition Coupe in the highly competitive GT2 category, Primetime Race Group steps up to the prototype ranks for 2010. The Hollywood, Fla.-based squad announced Thursday that it will compete in the new Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) class, with team owner Joel Feinberg pairing with up-and-coming racer Kyle Marcelli in the driver's seat.


Feinberg, the 2009 IMSA Lites champion and 19-year-old Marcelli, a two-time winner in the prototype development series, will co-drive the team’s ORECA-Courage FLM09 in the nine-round championship starting with the season-opening Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. It’s a potent pairing that’s already being touted as championship favorites in LMPC.

We caught up with Feinberg to discuss his team’s move to LMPC and what his expectations are for 2010. It’s all a part of the latest installment of “10 Questions.”

DAGYS: You've never hidden your desire of one day making it to the prototype ranks in the American Le Mans Series. Why make the move now?

FEINBERG: We have always had our sights set on the prototypes but have not found the right fit in LMP1 or P2. The new class structure in LMPC makes the most sense for us in that the results will come down to abilities of the teams and drivers rather than money and politics. The timing of this couldn’t be more perfect coming of a series championship in IMSA Lites and the 2009 Founder’s Cup.



DAGYS: It appears LMPC is gaining traction, with established ALMS teams like yourselves and Intersport fielding entries, plus teams new to the series such as Genoa Racing and Comprent Motorsports showing serious interest, too. What makes LMPC so attractive from an owner's perspective? What about from a driver's perspective?

FEINBERG: From an owner’s perspective, the attraction is that you don’t need to spend a million dollars to own a prototype. From the driver’s point of view, the attraction is that it’s a spec class getting full exposure while racing side by side with P1 and P2.  As a single-make spec class, I expect to see some great head-to-head racing with a great growth potential for teams and drivers.  


Powered by a Chevrolet LS3-based V8, the ORECA-Courage FLM09 is marketed as an affordable solution to go prototype racing. (John Dagys)

DAGYS: There's been speculation that the original estimated budget of $1 million to run a LMPC for a season may be a little low. Without asking for exact numbers, do you foresee the budget to be significantly more than $1 million or in the ballpark?

FEINBERG: I believe that budget to be very close to $1 million. The variable will be replacement parts, crash damage, and whether or not the life of the components will last in endurance races.



DAGYS: You were able to sample the ORECA-Courage FLM09 during a open series test at Road Atlanta last October. What were your first impressions of the car and how does it compare to an (IMSA) Prototype Lites machine?

FEINBERG: My first impression was that it was a big IMSA Lites car, just faster. Once I got on the track and started to push it, I felt very at ease with the car and was immediately up to speed and already quicker than the pole time in the Lites race. I thought to myself that if we had time to put our own setup on the car that we could really make this thing go. I expect a very smooth transition based on what we’ve learned in the Lites cars.  


DAGYS: When do you expect to take delivery of the car and what does the testing schedule look like?

FEINBERG: We are scheduled for delivery by the end of January and will debut at the ALMS Winter Test at Sebring in mid-February and possibly a private test before the 12-hour.



DAGYS: Is there a possibility of a third driver for Sebring or any of the other enduros?

FEINBERG: We’re talking to potential drivers for the enduros, but with Sebring being such an important first race it will just be Kyle and myself to keep things simple.



DAGYS: You're paired with Kyle Marcelli, who was considered to be one of the quickest Prototype Lites drivers in addition to yourself. Have you set any specific goals for the season?

FEINBERG: Our only goal is to win. I know Kyle and I will be one of the strongest teams and with his aspirations of being the youngest series champion at 19, I’m going to do my best to help make that happen for him.



DAGYS: What are your thoughts about the developing ladder system, between Prototype Lites and ALMS? Do you see that link strengthening with the addition of LMPC? Will Primetime continue fielding entries in Prototype Lites?

FEINBERG: The ladder system has always been something that IMSA wanted to see in the series, now with the LMPC bridging the gap between Prototype Lites and LMP the chain is complete. With this, I expect to see more up and comers as well as veterans finding their home under the IMSA umbrella. The Prototype Lites is by far the best bang for your buck in sports cars. We have had tremendous success in that program with our customers and we look to field another multi-car team for 2010 and hopefully a follow up championship to mine.



DAGYS: Do you see this opportunity in LMPC as a long-term commitment, or possibly a stepping stone into LMP1/2 ranks?
We may have not yet seen the last of Primetime's ground-thumping Viper in ALMS competition. (John Dagys)

FEINBERG: I look at this as another stepping stone for us. We are big thinkers and want to race at the highest level wherever we are. I would hope to see both Kyle and myself in a top P1 or P2 car within the next season or two.



DAGYS: One of the often untold stories in the paddock has been your team's drive and determination to develop the Dodge Viper into a successful GT2 contender. Considerable progress was made last year. What's the status of that program?

FEINBERG: The Viper program has given us a tremendous insight into the ALMS and how best to run our team under race conditions. That knowledge will ultimately be our best preparation for this next step and should prove to be useful against our competition. It has been an exciting project over the last two years and I would love to see it out there in GT2. We are currently working on getting it back out as a customer car for 2010.

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale: Jan 19th-24th
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