SRT Motorsports - Weekend Preview - June 20

SRT Motorsports’ Viper GTS-Rs Set for 24 Hours of Le Mans

 
Tickle Rides Momentum to Budds Creek for Motocross Series Event

June 19, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - 

It’s show time at Le Mans for SRT Motorsports.

 

On-track activities for the 24 Hours of Le Mans began in earnest Wednesday afternoon and evening at Circuit de la Sarthe with the first of three scheduled practice qualifying sessions that will set the starting lineup for the historic sports car race. The green flag for the twice-round-the-clock event is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday.

 

The Viper’s successful racing heritage began in 1996 with its first racing entry, the original GTS-R, which earned five international GT championships and the 1997 to 1999 FIA GT championships in addition to three consecutive one-two finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTS class.

 

Those fond memories are not lost on Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Brand and Motorsports.

 

“The return to Le Mans has happened faster than we expected but always engineered with that in mind,” Gilles said. “I still remember the excitement, euphoria and spill-off effect of having been in the 24 Hours of Le Mans before. We had a fantastic platform for the car and our No. 1 goal was to get back into racing and Le Mans was on the radar.”

 

Driver Marc Goossens will be making his 12th start at Le Mans and says the experience is still a thrill.

 

“I’ve had the opportunity to race there 11 times,” said Goossens. “Every time I go to Le Mans and get out on the track the first time, I get goose bumps. The return of the Viper makes it a unique situation for us. Fans worldwide will be watching us closely. We’re looking forward to being a part of Viper’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

 

Ryan Dalziel, who won at Le Mans in 2012 in the LMP2 class, said he was so impressed with the unique event that he vows to make the event an annual visit.

 

“Le Mans is just an amazing place with an electric atmosphere, something I had never experienced in any racing paddock,” said Dalziel. “It reminded me of world championship soccer matches in Europe, you know, an atmosphere where you can’t hear yourself think. I said after the first time there in 2010 that it’s my goal every year to make sure I go there.”

   

Consecutive Top-10 Finishes Carry Tickle to Budds Creek

Ram/RCH Racing rider Broc Tickle has reeled off two consecutive top-10 finishes in the Lucas Oil Motocross Series Championship and looks to keep that momentum going in Round 5 Saturday afternoon at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Md.

 

Tickle is making his second 450MX Class start at Budds Creek. He scored a second-place finish overall at last year’s event – finishing second in both Motos. It was his first podium finish in his fifth career start.  

 

“I really like the track there in Maryland and always seem to do pretty well there,” said Tickle. “Last year I had the best result I’ve ever had in outdoors, so that was awesome. I just enjoy the track. The track is fun and the dirt’s good. It has a variety of obstacles on the track, actually a lot off-cambers and some big rolling singles. It normally gets some pretty big ruts and some vaults. I think it’s got a good variety of things and I feel like I can get a flow there really easy, like it comes natural. That’s why I enjoy riding there.”

 

RCH Racing co-owner Ricky Carmichael, a 15-time AMA champion, said that he and Tickle will be testing extensively over the next month to improve their overall performance.

 

“We’re going to work really hard,” said Carmichael. “I’m going to push him and help him get better. He’s talented. He just hasn’t put it together on race day. That’s the struggle that I have as a race owner – not being able to go do it myself again on the bike. Broc works hard. We just have to parlay all the positive strides we make during the week into the Motos on Saturday.”

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Race:            24 Hours of Le Mans

The Place:           Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans, France)   

The Date:            Saturday-Sunday, June 22-23

TV:                        Live Coverage

Saturday, June 22, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (EDT)

Saturday, June 22, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (EDT)

Saturday, June 22, 7:30 p.m. – Midnight (EDT)

Sunday, June 23, Midnight – 9:30 a.m. (EDT)

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Race:            Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship - Round 5

The Place:           Budds Creek Motocross Park (Mechanicsville, Md.)   

The Date:            Saturday, June 22

TV:                        Moto 1 – FUEL TV, Saturday, June 22, 1:00 p.m. (EDT) LIVE

                              Moto 2 – NBC, Saturday, June 22, 3:00 p.m. (EDT) LIVE
                             
                              Moto Highlights Series – NBCSN, Wednesday, June 26, 11:30 p.m. (EDT)

                             

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