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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Flying Lizard Moves To GTC For 2013
Two-time ALMS GT champions to field Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars as part of new customer program...
Flying Lizard Motorsports will campaign Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars in GTC next year. (Photo: Bob Chapman/Autosport Image)
Following nearly a decade of success in the highly competitive GT ranks, Flying Lizard Motorsports announced Wednesday its departure from the popular category and a move to the American Le Mans Series GTC class for 2013.
The two-time series champions, which have accumulated three drivers’ titles and more than 20 class victories since its inception in 2004, will campaign at least one Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car in single-make category, with the possibility of additional cars through a new customer program.
READ: Q&A With Team Manager Eric Ingraham
The move comes in the wake of Porsche’s discontinued factory support for the 997-model 911 GT3 RSR, which the Lizards had helped develop under a partnership with the German manufacturer for the past five seasons.
“With the end of Porsche developmental support for the 997, it was clear that we needed to do something different for 2013,” explained team manager Eric Ingraham. “The team wants to continue to race competitively and GTC was a logical choice given our long history with 911s.
“A customer program is complementary: it allows both the team and potential customers to benefit from the efficiencies of a multi-car team and leverage our Porsche experience.”
The first car confirmed for the Lizard’s 2013 attack is the No. 44 entry, which will be driven by team principal Seth Neiman and Spencer Pumpelly, who will take on his first full season with the California-based squad.
Pumpelly has made two previous starts with the team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most recent coming this year in the GTE-Am category with Neiman and Porsche factory driver Patrick Pilet.
“I've been fortunate to have raced with Seth and the entire team at Le Mans twice now and I have nothing but confidence in their abilities,” Pumpelly said.
“Having raced in the GTC for the past several years I know how competitive the class is. The team's storied history with Porsche and their committed group of people will be a big advantage when it comes to making the transition.”
The 2013 season will mark wholesale changes for the Lizards, including a new program, which would see the team run Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars for customers in both the ALMS GTC and IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge series. It’s believed there is at least one interested party already in negotiations.
“In this production-based class all teams run a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car so there are no manufacturer differences and the GTC rules mandate more spec features than in GT,” Ingraham said. “This offers a level playing field that is still extremely competitive: to succeed, teams must differentiate through driving performance, race strategy, pit stops, car setup and thorough preparation.”
The Lizard’s departure from GT leaves Team Falken Tire and Paul Miller Racing as the only teams expected to fly the flag for Porsche in that ALMS class, while the status of the German manufacturer’s factory drivers, namely Patrick Long and Joerg Bergmeister, remains unknown for 2013.
Porsche is expected to make a formal announcement of their plans for next year during their end-of-season dinner in Germany next month.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
The two-time series champions, which have accumulated three drivers’ titles and more than 20 class victories since its inception in 2004, will campaign at least one Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car in single-make category, with the possibility of additional cars through a new customer program.
READ: Q&A With Team Manager Eric Ingraham
The move comes in the wake of Porsche’s discontinued factory support for the 997-model 911 GT3 RSR, which the Lizards had helped develop under a partnership with the German manufacturer for the past five seasons.
“With the end of Porsche developmental support for the 997, it was clear that we needed to do something different for 2013,” explained team manager Eric Ingraham. “The team wants to continue to race competitively and GTC was a logical choice given our long history with 911s.
“A customer program is complementary: it allows both the team and potential customers to benefit from the efficiencies of a multi-car team and leverage our Porsche experience.”
The first car confirmed for the Lizard’s 2013 attack is the No. 44 entry, which will be driven by team principal Seth Neiman and Spencer Pumpelly, who will take on his first full season with the California-based squad.
Pumpelly has made two previous starts with the team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the most recent coming this year in the GTE-Am category with Neiman and Porsche factory driver Patrick Pilet.
“I've been fortunate to have raced with Seth and the entire team at Le Mans twice now and I have nothing but confidence in their abilities,” Pumpelly said.
“Having raced in the GTC for the past several years I know how competitive the class is. The team's storied history with Porsche and their committed group of people will be a big advantage when it comes to making the transition.”
The 2013 season will mark wholesale changes for the Lizards, including a new program, which would see the team run Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars for customers in both the ALMS GTC and IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge series. It’s believed there is at least one interested party already in negotiations.
“In this production-based class all teams run a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car so there are no manufacturer differences and the GTC rules mandate more spec features than in GT,” Ingraham said. “This offers a level playing field that is still extremely competitive: to succeed, teams must differentiate through driving performance, race strategy, pit stops, car setup and thorough preparation.”
The Lizard’s departure from GT leaves Team Falken Tire and Paul Miller Racing as the only teams expected to fly the flag for Porsche in that ALMS class, while the status of the German manufacturer’s factory drivers, namely Patrick Long and Joerg Bergmeister, remains unknown for 2013.
Porsche is expected to make a formal announcement of their plans for next year during their end-of-season dinner in Germany next month.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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