This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member Edmund Jenks who was on the scene at the press conference held trackside - MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca.
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Scott Sharp Makes Jump To Race Team Owner/Driver
This excerpted and edited from Americam Le Mans Series -
SHARP CREATES NEW GT2 TEAM FOR 2010
Extreme Speed Motorsports to field Ferrari for Ed Brown
Champion race car driver Scott Sharp, who has made his mark everywhere from Trans-Am and Champ Car to IndyCar and the American Le Mans Series, announced Saturday his latest venture in motorsports. The Patrón Highcroft Racing star has created and will own a new race team called Extreme Speed Motorsports that will compete in the American Le Mans Series’ GT2 class.
The team will race a Ferrari 430 GTC and be sponsored by The Patrón Spirits Company (Tequila Patrón) and supported by Ferrari Corse Clienti. Sharp has also named the team’s first driver - Ed Brown, currently a Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama driver and American Le Mans Series GT Challenge class driver with ORBIT Racing. Co-drivers will be announced at a later date.
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Sharp has scored three victories with teammate Brabham for Patrón Highcroft Racing in the 2009 American Le Mans Series and also contested this year’s Indianapolis 500 aboard a Patrón-sponsored entry.
Team sponsor Patrón is a longtime supporter of motorsports, and brings a popular presence at American Le Mans Series races.
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“We’re excited and proud to associate the Tequila Patrón name with Extreme Speed Motorsports and Ferrari,” commented Matt Carroll, Patrón’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Our association with motorsports, and the iconic brands and top-notch teams in this premier racing series, fits perfectly with our ultra-premium Patrón brand. We’re looking forward to another great season in 2010.”
Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series added, “The announcement of this new team fulfills the vision we had when we launched the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama. This is especially gratifying because it involves individuals who have participated with us at other levels of competition, and are ready to do battle now in the Series’ most competitive class.
“When we created the GT Challenge class, it was designed so those drivers could progress to GT2. Clearly that’s what has happened in this case, and it is evidence that the plan is working. Ed and Scott form a unique team. They are the perfect pair to be the first to announce a venture of this type. I suspect this is only the first example of a new American Le Mans Series program growing out of the IMSA and Series ladder system."
Reference Here>>
The American Le Mans Series opens its season in 2010 with the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on March 20.
... notes from The EDJE
Edmund Jenks
Los Angeles, California, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 15:53 on October 12th, 2009
Do they make enough as drivers to be able to afford that, of do they know the sponsors?
- reply
jack mccoullagh (not verified)at 05:43 on October 13th, 2009
the driver is the sponsor!
at 06:55 on October 13th, 2009
The "opening comments" video confirms this fact. New American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT2 Team Owner, Scott Sharp gives the announcement and opening comment on the formation of Extreme Speed Motorsports. Ed Brown, named as first driver is the CEO of Patron Spirits Company and sponsor of Extreme Speed Motorsports. This conference was held trackside at MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca.