ALMS: ESM Adds Vilander, Lazzaro For PLM

Le Mans / ALMS

ALMS: ESM Adds Vilander, Lazzaro For PLM

Ferrari factory driver Toni Vilander joins ESM's No. 01 Ferrari, Anthony Lazzaro completes lineup in No. 02 car for Petit Le Mans...

Media Release | Posted October 11, 2012

Extreme Speed Motorsports has finalized its lineup for the Petit Le Mans. (Photo: John Dagys)

The Tequila Patrón Extreme Speed Motorsports assault on this year’s Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta has received a major boost with factory Ferrari driver and 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans GT winner Toni Vilander set to join the team.

In addition to Vilander, ESM also ramped up the driver line-up with 1999 24 Hours of Daytona winner Anthony Lazzaro returning for his second race for the team this year.

Vilander will co-drive with Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek in the No. 01 Tequila Patrón Ferrari 458 Italia. Lazzaro rejoins the No. 02 Tequila Patrón Ferrari Italia 458 driver line-up of Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo.

This is the first time Finnish driver Vilander will join ESM this American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season. Vilander has a long history racing, and winning with Ferraris, including the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans win and two FIA GT championship titles.

As a driver for Risi Competizione, Vilander made his ALMS debut in 2006 at Lime Rock Park where he qualified on pole and was runner-up at Mosport later that season. In 2010, his best finish at Petit Le Mans was in third, after running out of fuel a mere two turns from the checkered flag. He made amends for Risi in 2011 with victory at Road America.

“I’m very happy to be part of the team for Petit Le Mans this season," Vilander said. "The ESM team has had a great season so far and I’ve been following them closely.

“It has been a little while since I raced in the ALMS but I’m happy to be back racing and with the ESM team. I love racing in US and can’t wait to get in the Ferrari at Road Atlanta."

Atlanta native Lazzaro is familiar working with the No. 02 ESM Ferrari team. Lazzaro was a co-driver in the No. 02 machine during this year’s 12 Hours of Sebring where he finished in the ninth position after late race contact among the other competitors spoiled a top-five finish for the No. 02 team. Lazzaro has found success at Petit Le Mans in the past, he has five top-five finishes at Petit Le Mans including two second place finishes in 2006 (GT2) and 2000 (GT).

“I was comfortable with everyone at ESM since my very first day working with them at Sebring," Lazzaro said. "There’s a lot of good talent there, mechanics, engineers and drivers.

"The team energy as a whole is really fine tuned. They make me feel real comfortable and they have been one of the best teams to work with this season. I can’t wait to get back and race with the team."

Vilander and Lazzaro join Sharp, van Overbeek, Brown and Cosmo on-track for the first time as a team on Monday, October 15, for an open test session at Road Atlanta.

The Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda is the final race of the 2012 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón season. The 1,000-mile/10-hour race from Road Atlanta is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, Oct 20.

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