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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Dalziel Targeting Long-Term Success With Viper
Flying Scot discusses factory drive in SRT Viper GTS-R for Sebring, Le Mans Petit Le Mans...
Ryan Dalziel has landed a factory drive with SRT Motorsports for 2013, which will see the Scot look to defend class victories at Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. (Photo: John Dagys)
After having a career-defining season that included class victories at Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans, along with helping lead his two season-long teams to their respective championships, Ryan Dalziel has landed an opportunity of a lifetime, joining the factory SRT Viper program for 2013.
The 30-year-old Scot was confirmed last week as the final driver in SRT Motorsports’ two-car attack in the highly competitive GT ranks, which will see Dalziel compete in the three major enduros for the American manufacturer, including the Viper’s highly anticipated return to Le Mans.
SPEED.com caught up with Dalziel to get his thoughts on the drive, his first impressions of the Viper GTS-R, which he sampled for the first time Friday at Sebring, along with his outlook for the season.
Q: How does it feel to be part of the SRT factory Viper program?
DALZIEL: I think that if there was any year that I was hoping that I was going to get one of these phone calls, it was after last year. For any driver who has somewhat based their career around privateer efforts and privateer funding, it was a real refreshing call to get, where I got the opportunity to be part of the factory team.
To me, SRT Motorsports is one of the coolest brands out there at the moment. I think what they're doing on the street and on the track offers a big correlation. And you can tell they’re passionate about it as well.
But I think one of the big draws for a driver is just the way they run the business. It's definitely run more like a family. I feel like everybody can pick up the phone and talk to each other. There's no egos. I based a lot of my career around not having an ego and I feel like I will fit in here pretty well.
Q: What are your first impressions of the car?
DALZIEL: It's very good. Obviously, I haven't got a huge amount of [recent] experience in front-engined GT cars. The car doesn't do anything unsettling. It drives very nicely. It seems like we have a good package. For me, [Friday’s test] was more of adjusting to a front-engined car with big tires and just getting used to where all the buttons are.
Q: Does this factory drive change change your situation with Starworks Motorsport?
DALZIEL: I by no means have walked away from Starworks. I'm still committed to the GRAND-AM program. Starworks understands my situation in that every driver strives to be linked with a factory [program]. This was my opportunity. I've got to thank Peter [Baron] and Alex [Popow] for giving me the big shove to come and do this, with their blessing.
I'll do the non-conflicting FIA WEC races with Starworks in their LMP2 car, which will be six of the eight rounds.
The 30-year-old Scot was confirmed last week as the final driver in SRT Motorsports’ two-car attack in the highly competitive GT ranks, which will see Dalziel compete in the three major enduros for the American manufacturer, including the Viper’s highly anticipated return to Le Mans.
SPEED.com caught up with Dalziel to get his thoughts on the drive, his first impressions of the Viper GTS-R, which he sampled for the first time Friday at Sebring, along with his outlook for the season.
Q: How does it feel to be part of the SRT factory Viper program?
DALZIEL: I think that if there was any year that I was hoping that I was going to get one of these phone calls, it was after last year. For any driver who has somewhat based their career around privateer efforts and privateer funding, it was a real refreshing call to get, where I got the opportunity to be part of the factory team.
To me, SRT Motorsports is one of the coolest brands out there at the moment. I think what they're doing on the street and on the track offers a big correlation. And you can tell they’re passionate about it as well.
But I think one of the big draws for a driver is just the way they run the business. It's definitely run more like a family. I feel like everybody can pick up the phone and talk to each other. There's no egos. I based a lot of my career around not having an ego and I feel like I will fit in here pretty well.
Q: What are your first impressions of the car?
DALZIEL: It's very good. Obviously, I haven't got a huge amount of [recent] experience in front-engined GT cars. The car doesn't do anything unsettling. It drives very nicely. It seems like we have a good package. For me, [Friday’s test] was more of adjusting to a front-engined car with big tires and just getting used to where all the buttons are.
Q: Does this factory drive change change your situation with Starworks Motorsport?
DALZIEL: I by no means have walked away from Starworks. I'm still committed to the GRAND-AM program. Starworks understands my situation in that every driver strives to be linked with a factory [program]. This was my opportunity. I've got to thank Peter [Baron] and Alex [Popow] for giving me the big shove to come and do this, with their blessing.
I'll do the non-conflicting FIA WEC races with Starworks in their LMP2 car, which will be six of the eight rounds.
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