Connecticut-based American Le Mans Series team Highcroft Racing is gearing up to race its new HPD ARX-01e LMP1 prototype in Europe in addition to its assault on this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Team owner Duncan Dayton has revealed that there is a good chance that the LMP1 contender, which finished second in its race debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring last month, will contest a number of Le Mans Series events in Europe. He said that discussions are ongoing as Highcroft works to put a program together for 2011 in the wake of the loss of title sponsor Tequila Patrón.
“We are interested in taking the car over to Europe for some more races,” he said, “but ultimately, whoever is paying the bills will decide where we go and race.
“HPD is very keen to get one of its LMP1 cars over there in Europe to show what it can do. It would like to sell some of the cars out in Europe.”
Dayton said there is no decision yet on which LMS rounds the car might compete in. Highcroft might struggle to get an entry for the races that also count toward the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.
Asked if it was certain whether Highcroft will accept its entry invitation for Le Mans in June, Dayton said, “I would say so. I think you can take it as read that we will be there.”
Highcroft began its preparations for the French enduro at Sebring the week after the 12 Hours. It put another 12 hours of running on the ARX-01e over two days with Marino Franchitti and Jonny Kane, who races the Strakka HPD in the LMS, sharing the driving duties.
very poor LMP fields, GT will be great though !
