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American LeMans
LMS: Kolles, JMW Confirm 2010 Plans
Kolles to return with Audi R10 TDIs, JMW to spearhead Aston Martin Vantage GT2 program.
John Dagys  |  Posted December 23, 2009   Chicago, IL
Team Kolles will make its North American debut at the Petit Le Mans, part of the Intercontinental Cup. (John Dagys)
Despite being in the midst of the holiday season, an increasing amount of European teams continue to finalize their sportscar programs for the 2010 season. Team Kolles and JMW Motorsport are two of the latest Le Mans Series squads to announce their plans.

Following an encouraging outing in the Asian Le Mans Series, which included a podium finish in race one at Okayama, Team Kolles will return to the Le Mans Series with at least one Audi R10 TDI. The German-based privateer team has also laid out plans to compete in the inaugural Le Mans Intercontinental Cup, a three-race championship for LMP1 cars that will include rounds at Silverstone, Petit Le Mans and a yet-to-be-announced venue in Asia.

The team will also enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an event where the Dr. Collin Kolles-owned squad had a breakthrough seventh place overall finish. Up until that point, both former factory Audi R10 TDIs had struggled in the Le Mans Series season-opening rounds in Barcelona and Spa-Francorchamps and questions had been raised over the team’s ability to campaign the technically advanced machines.

While nearly the entire prototype field have been forced to make aerodynamic adjustments to their cars for 2010, the ACO will allow the Audi R10 TDI to compete in 2009 specification, the only prototype fully exempt from next year’s regulations. The ACO, however, can impose balance of performance adjustments following the LMS season-opener at Paul Ricard in April.

Since Drayson Racing’s departure from the GT2 ranks, it appeared development of the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 would come to a standstill. But that’s changed following Wednesday’s announcement from JMW Motorsport that will campaign a Vantage GT2. The British squad has also become Aston Martin Racing's official global GT2 development partner.

“We have focused considerable engineering resource on improving the performance of the Vantage GT2,” said George Howard-Chappell, AMR Team Principal. “While we offer cars in every class from LMP1 to GT4, the GT2 car is probably the most important customer car and the one where we can make the most improvements. Working with a top professional team like JMW with their resources and commitment will mean we will be able to really challenge for GT2 honors in 2010.”

The Jim McWhirter-owned team ran a Ferrari F430 GT for Rob Bell and Gimmi Bruni in 2009, scoring two wins and placed runner-up in the championship standings. Prior to this year, the drivers and a number of key personnel were part of the two-time Le Mans Series championship-winning squad Virgo Motorsport.

JMW has signed a three-year partnership with AMR to develop the GT2 contender, with Bell already confirmed as one of the drivers. Dunlop will also return as the team’s tire partner.

“This is a very exciting development for our team and reflects the efforts invested over the past seasons,” said McWhirter. “This may be a new car for JMW, but the same desire, commitment and perseverance is still there and we are confident we shall be in the mix from the start.”

An intensive testing program begins in January prior to the Le Mans Series season opener at Paul Ricard on April 11.






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