POUGHKEEPSIE, NY March 12, 2009 Andy Lally will be partnering with Chris Dyson and Guy Smith in the #16 LMP2 Mazda Lola Coupe for the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 21. Lally is a long-term contributor to Dyson Racing, having driven in prior American Le Mans Series races at Sebring and Petit Le Mans for the team. At last year’s Sebring Twelve Hour, he finished second overall with fellow Dyson drivers Butch Leitzinger and Marino Franchitti.
Lally is an accomplished sportscar driver. He won the GT class in this year’s January Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, his second Daytona win. He is the 2006 Grand-Am Rolex Series GT champion and is the only three-time Rolex Champion having also won Grand-Am championships in 2004 and 2001. When not claiming a championship, he was runner-up four times in the past seven years.
“Andy is a very natural fit with our team,” said Chris Dyson, lead driver and sporting director of Dyson Racing. “He tested with us and the new Mazda Lola Coupe at Sebring in mid-February and he was immediately quick. He is one of the best when it comes to knowing how to get the most out of the car in a long endurance race. He and the team go back to 2003 and we always look forward to his return to our racing family.”
“The history of the Twelve Hours of Sebring is built on classic battles between some of the great names in racing,” said Lally. “It is one of my favorite races and to be part of the Dyson Racing effort again is always one of the highlights of my year. Their new Mazda is a driver-friendly car and gives you the feedback you need to be quick for twelve hours. These long races are driven now as long sprint races and you need a car you can lean on with confidence.”
The American Le Mans Series will celebrate its 100th race and open its 11th season with the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 21. SPEED will televise the race live from 10 a.m. to noon and 2-11 p.m. ET. Live timing & scoring and ALMS Radio will be available at americanlemans.com.
Mazda is the brand choice of road racers across North America. On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race-tracks of America than any other brand. You will see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car.