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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Greaves Confirms WEC Driver Lineup
Reigning American Le Mans Series LMPC co-champion Ricardo Gonzalez joins fellow ALMS drivers Elton Julian and Christian Zugel in British squad’s Zytek-Nissan...
Christian Zugel, Elton Julian and Ricardo Gonzalez will pilot Greaves Motorsport's Zytek-Nissan in the FIA World Endurance Championship. (Photos: Dagys/DSC/Dole)
While this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship may see a lack of U.S.-based teams, there won’t be a shortage of American Le Mans Series drivers stepping up to compete on the world’s stage.
Proof of that is Greaves Motorsport’s Zytek-Nissan lineup, as Christian Zugel and Elton Julian have joined forces with reigning ALMS LMPC co-champion Ricardo Gonzalez to form what will likely be a championship-contending effort in LMP2.
The British squad, which captured the class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, as well as the European Le Mans Series title, will embark on an ambitious dual-season program in both the WEC and ELMS, with Zugel, Julian and Gonzalez leading the way in the global sports car championship.
All three are no strangers to international competition, with Zugel and Julian teaming in a Genoa Racing Oreca FLM09 in ELMS last year, as well as each making select starts in the ALMS. It was there where they fought tooth-and-nail with Gonzalez, who walked away with the LMPC title.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity, after winning the LMPC Championship in ALMS it made sense to step up to LMP2, and we couldn’t have found a better way than to do it than with Greaves Motorsport in the FIA World Endurance Championship,” Gonzalez said. “They are proven winners and I look forward to continuing that tradition with them.
“Racing at Le Mans has always been my dream and I can’t wait to do my first laps around the circuit with Christian and Elton who have been my fierce competitors in the past seasons but are also good friends, 2012 is looking very good for us.”
For Julian, who earned two wins in the ALMS last year and a pair of podiums in ELMS competition with Zugel, a move into the LMP2 ranks was a natural progression after achieving success on both sides of the Atlantic with the Oreca FLM09s.
“It’s a real pleasure to continue racing with Christian for a third year, together we have achieved everything possible in the LMPC class,” Julian said. “Joining a team like Greaves Motorsport, partnering with Ricardo and returning to Le Mans makes me the luckiest guy in the paddock. I’m looking forward to picking up where Greaves Motorsport left off and bringing this excellent team the results it deserves.”
While Julian made his debut in 2005, both Gonzalez and Zugel will be embarking on their first 24 Hours of Le Mans start this year. The veteran historic racer, who owns a wide variety of Porsches that have competed in the world’s greatest endurance race, got his first taste of the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe last April during the Le Mans Test Day.
“I am very much looking forward to our WEC adventure and to actually race at Le Mans for the first time,” Zugel said. “To be able to continue my driving partnership with Elton is really fantastic and to race with, as opposed to against, Ricardo will also be a great pleasure.”
At Le Mans, the trio will be joined by Formula One and sports car veteran Martin Brundle and his son, Alex, in Greaves’ sister Zytek-Nissan, which will also compete in the five-round ELMS championship. The team’s third driver has yet to be announced, although it won’t be Tom Kimber-Smith, who will share the ELMS car with Alex Brundle.
The FIA World Endurance Championship kicks off with the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March, where more than a dozen LMP2 cars are expected to take part in the combined WEC/ALMS event.
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
Proof of that is Greaves Motorsport’s Zytek-Nissan lineup, as Christian Zugel and Elton Julian have joined forces with reigning ALMS LMPC co-champion Ricardo Gonzalez to form what will likely be a championship-contending effort in LMP2.
The British squad, which captured the class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, as well as the European Le Mans Series title, will embark on an ambitious dual-season program in both the WEC and ELMS, with Zugel, Julian and Gonzalez leading the way in the global sports car championship.
All three are no strangers to international competition, with Zugel and Julian teaming in a Genoa Racing Oreca FLM09 in ELMS last year, as well as each making select starts in the ALMS. It was there where they fought tooth-and-nail with Gonzalez, who walked away with the LMPC title.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity, after winning the LMPC Championship in ALMS it made sense to step up to LMP2, and we couldn’t have found a better way than to do it than with Greaves Motorsport in the FIA World Endurance Championship,” Gonzalez said. “They are proven winners and I look forward to continuing that tradition with them.
“Racing at Le Mans has always been my dream and I can’t wait to do my first laps around the circuit with Christian and Elton who have been my fierce competitors in the past seasons but are also good friends, 2012 is looking very good for us.”
For Julian, who earned two wins in the ALMS last year and a pair of podiums in ELMS competition with Zugel, a move into the LMP2 ranks was a natural progression after achieving success on both sides of the Atlantic with the Oreca FLM09s.
“It’s a real pleasure to continue racing with Christian for a third year, together we have achieved everything possible in the LMPC class,” Julian said. “Joining a team like Greaves Motorsport, partnering with Ricardo and returning to Le Mans makes me the luckiest guy in the paddock. I’m looking forward to picking up where Greaves Motorsport left off and bringing this excellent team the results it deserves.”
While Julian made his debut in 2005, both Gonzalez and Zugel will be embarking on their first 24 Hours of Le Mans start this year. The veteran historic racer, who owns a wide variety of Porsches that have competed in the world’s greatest endurance race, got his first taste of the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe last April during the Le Mans Test Day.
“I am very much looking forward to our WEC adventure and to actually race at Le Mans for the first time,” Zugel said. “To be able to continue my driving partnership with Elton is really fantastic and to race with, as opposed to against, Ricardo will also be a great pleasure.”
At Le Mans, the trio will be joined by Formula One and sports car veteran Martin Brundle and his son, Alex, in Greaves’ sister Zytek-Nissan, which will also compete in the five-round ELMS championship. The team’s third driver has yet to be announced, although it won’t be Tom Kimber-Smith, who will share the ELMS car with Alex Brundle.
The FIA World Endurance Championship kicks off with the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March, where more than a dozen LMP2 cars are expected to take part in the combined WEC/ALMS event.
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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