POUGHKEEPSIE, NY September 9, 2011 – Butch Leitzinger, a fifteen-year veteran of Dyson Racing, will join the Oryx Racing team for the upcoming six-hour ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on September 17th and the 14th annual 1,000 mile/10 hour Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda two weeks later on October 1st. He will partner Humaid Al Masaood and Steven Kane in the #20 Oryx Dyson Racing Lola Mazda, first time ALMS winners at the Baltimore Grand Prix last weekend.
A fan favorite and a true sportscar legend, Leitzinger has thirty-four victories driving for Dyson Racing. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona twice, the IMSA World Sportscar Championship twice and the CanAm championship with Dyson Racing. He finished second in the 2009 ALMS LMP2 championship with two class wins at their home track of Lime Rock and also at the Petit Le Mans, helping to make Mazda the only Japanese manufacturer with victories in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Petit Le Mans. At Road America on August 20th, he took home the LMPC class victory driving for PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports.
“I have been very impressed with how quickly both Humaid and Steven have come to grips with the car,” said Leitzinger. From their first race at Lime Rock, they have been right on the pace. And when you look at the results from any session, they always have the speed. It is a credit to both of them that they have been able to jump right in with a new car, a new team and a new series and instantly be fighting for poles and now to win in their fifth race in the series.”
“When we were talking about possible additional drivers for the last two long endurance races of the season, the discussion centered around Butch,” said Al Masaood. “There is no one who matches his experience with the team, our cars and the Mazda Raceway and Road Atlanta tracks. It will be great for Steven and myself to be able to draw on his expertise. He does not have to sit in the car two hours to get a handle on it, he gets to the pace instantly, which will allow Steven and I more time to learn these legendary circuits. We feel Butch will help us deliver strong performances at both races.”
“We are thrilled to have been able to help Butch join Oryx Racing for these important races,” Chris Dyson said. “We could not think of a better fit for Humaid and Steven and the Oryx Mazda. We expect him to be a big contributor to the team’s efforts.”
