Intersport to race in ALMS LMP1

Intersport Racing will move from LMP 2 to LMP 1 in the 2007 ALMS. The team, a regular contender for LMP2 honours over recent years, insists that it is 'eager to step up and face a new challenge'. The US Squad has acquired a customer version of the potent Creation CA06H. but leaves LMP2 just as the class is reaching new heights of competitiveness, with three Acura-powered teams joining the established Penske Porsche squad and new customer Porsche team Dyson Racing - which 'steps down' from LMP1 - for 2007. Intersport won the ALMS LMP2 championship in 2005 and the preceding LMP675 title in 2003. The team also won the P675 championship at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2004 and has racked up 20 class victories in the American series, but team owner Clint Field insists that the move to LMP1 has been debated hard. "We've thought long and hard about the team direction and have said for the past few years that we'd like to be in LMP1," he explained, "Granted, the numbers in LMP1 are down right now but, long-term, we felt the class will see renewed growth. This is as good a time as any for us to develop our programme. We know we can make the car fast - that's never been a problem for us - so the focus is going to be on making sure were durable and reliable. I think our guys are very much up to the challenge."

The British-built Creation chassis will be powered by a five-litre Judd GV5 V10 engine, and impressed the Intersport crew on its sporadic outings in the hands of Nicolas Minassian. "We chose the Creation after a lot of soul searching and study of last year's performance and lap times," Field revealed, "All in all, the car was very fast under most conditions. I think what really tipped the scales in its favour was that the car has excellent mechanical grip. Looking at the schedule and the types of tracks we encounter in the American Le Mans Series, we feel that will be an advantage for us." The team will take delivery of the car in next few days and begin its preparation for the season opener at Sebring, where Field will be joined by father Jon and third co-driver Richard Berry. Intersport will be up against the potent Audi team, which recently confirmed that it will defend its LMP1 title with the diesel-powered R10 TDI, but, with Dyson and Highcroft racing both opting to join the LMP2 ranks, the top class remains short on numbers.