At the official American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway the Rock Hill, SC-based team was able to gel during the test as they prepare for 12 hours of battle, including the debut of race engineers Gary Davies and Ed Nathman.

The #05 Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) class #05 Composite Resources ORECA FLM09 driven by team owner / founder Jon Bennett, Colin Braun and David Martinez set a fast time of 1:55.256 around the 17-turn, 3.7-mile circuit.  This was good enough for a third-place finish in the LMPC class.

In the sister #06 Butterfield Farms / Lamex Foods / Hormel Bacon Bits machine, IMSA Cooper Tires Prototype Lites series stars Antonio, Lucas and Matt Downs continued to become more comfortable in the notably larger and more powerful LMPC car.  The time chart reflected this comfort, with all three brothers breaking the two-minute mark and the fastest lap time was 1:57.364.

Colin Braun, co-driver, #05 Composite Resources ORECA FLM09:

I felt a lot more comfortable today and as each lap went by I felt more comfortable

“We were able to get out and do a long run during one of the sessions, which was a huge help – I got to really play with the car for 20 laps.

“It’s all a matter of working on the car a little bit at a time, trying to figure this place out and getting ready for what’s going to be a great race next month.”

Jon Bennett, co-driver, #05 and owner / founder, CORE autosport:

 It’s been really good to get back to the track for the team and personally it’s been great to be back in the car.  I also really enjoyed spending time with my teammate Colin, David and the Downs brothers.

“Every time we went out on track we learned something, and to just be out here running as hard as we have makes for a good dress rehearsal for the main event next month.  We should be pretty competitive.”

David Martinez, co-driver, #05:

It was great out there today – the second day for me was much better than yesterday.

“The guys at CORE really did a great job making me feel at home in the cockpit and they made some good adjustments to the car.  The overall atmosphere of the team works really well, which I think is the most important thing in a really long race.”

Antonio Downs, co-driver, #06 Butterfield Farms / Lamex Foods / Hormel Bacon Bits ORECA FLM09:

What a day today.  I felt a lot more comfortable in the car and was able to run much faster than I did yesterday.  I know I still need to keep going and learning, but the car, and the team, is first-class.

“This test was a great experience and I thank CORE autosport for hosting me and my brothers.”

Matt Downs, co-driver, #06:

The car felt really good.  It was just more stable and stiffer today, which I liked.

“It’s a great sign when the car feels that good even though I was a little off the pace.”

Morgan Brady, CORE autosport Team Manager:

Overall I think it was a really productive test.  It gave us an opportunity to get back out on track, which was helpful because we haven’t done much off-season testing.

“In the #06 car, I think that the Downs brothers got a really good introduction to ALMS competition and we were impressed with their lap times.  They are a great example of how IMSA and the ALMS have a ladder system that allows drivers like them to make the progression from the Prototype Lites series into entry-level LMPC class in the ALMS, something that we did as an organization last year.

“Our #05 car did very well for this test. It’s great to get started working with Colin Braun, who’ll be with us all year, and it was a pleasure to work with David Martinez again. They’re both very talented drivers who help the team get stronger through their input and performance.”

The team debuted two new drivers alongside team owner / founder Jon Bennett in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) class #05 Composite Resources ORECA FLM09, Colin Braun and David Martinez.  For Braun, this session marked the first time in more than four years that he drove a race car without a roof, and for Martinez it marked a return to racing after some time off from the track.

The #05 set a fast time of 1:57.496 around the 17-turn 3.7-mile circuit, good enough for third place in the LMPC standings.  Of note, the top three LMPC cars were only separated by a mere 0.5 seconds, highlighting how close this class will be for the upcoming season.

The #06 Butterfield Farms / Lamex Foods / Hormel Bacon Bits machine, driven by IMSA Cooper Tires Prototype Lites series stars Antonio, Lucas and Matt Downs ran a fast lap of 2:00.092.  The brothers are investigating taking the leap into ALMS competition from the Lites series – interesting because it was only one year ago that CORE autosport itself with founder Jon Bennett took that very same leap.

Today marked the debut as well of the revised CORE autosport race engineering staff.  Lead Race Engineer Gary Davies was joined by Ed Nathman, who got his racing start with the storied Group 44 team owned by Bob Tullius and has an extensive resume with time in the top levels of sports car, open-wheel and NASCAR racing.

The ALMS Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway continues through tomorrow, February 9, 2012.  The first event for the CORE autosport team in 2012 will be at the 60^th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring powered by Fresh from Florida.

Colin Braun, co-driver, #05 Composite Resources ORECA FLM09:

I think today went really good.  There’s a lot for me to learn personally and it took me a few laps to figure it out.

“I’d never driven a car with carbon brakes and it’s been a long time since I sat in a car with an open cockpit or seating on the right-hand side of the car.  But the team as a whole – Gary Davies, Morgan Brady (team manager) and my co-drivers Jon and David – made me feel very comfortable.  Certainly a lot more than I did this morning!”

Jon Bennett, co-driver, #05 and owner / founder, CORE autosport:

It was great to get back in the cockpit, get the team back on track and spend the first ‘real’ day with Colin in the car.

“We made progress and knocked the rust off today and I think tomorrow we’ll continue advancing, learning and getting faster.”

David Martinez, co-driver, #05:

Overall it was a really good day.  The purpose of this test, especially for me, was to get some laps in the LMPC car, which I’d not driven before.

“But I must say the car was quite good out of the box, which I would expect from the team that won the championship last year.  Of course there’s always work to do because the track is constantly changing, but I’m very happy right now.”

Antonio Downs, co-driver, #06:

I’ve driven an LMPC car before, but the first time I’ve driven this type of car at Sebring.  The car has amazing horsepower – it feels like a big, live, huge race car, different than anything I’ve ever driven.

“At Sebring, there’s plenty of room to really open it up, which I’m hoping to do more tomorrow.  From where I’ve been, working to get to this level is a huge learning curve and I’m taking it step by step.

“I’m just working on gaining confidence and bringing down my times.”

Lucas Downs, co-driver, #06:

 I had a great time today.  There were a few scary moments and I know I have to drive a lot faster, but it’s been a lot of fun.

“I was a bit frustrated with my speed today, but I’m happy we’re all standing here with a clean car ready to run tomorrow.  I’m learning a lot in a short period of time.”

Matt Downs, co-driver, #06:

What a day.  It’s just good to be here.  I had only driven an LMPC car once before and the last time I was at Sebring in a Lites car, I wrecked into the Turn 17 wall.  So I owed this track one.

“It’s been great to get back out there in a powerful car and work on that corner – I don’t know if I tamed it, but I may have made it my ‘pet.’

“CORE autosport is a great, first-class organization.  It’s been a pleasure to work with people who really know what they’re doing.”

The new livery is just one of several new additions to the team for 2012 including new drivers and a new team headquarters.

The #05 Composite Resources ORECA FLM09 will feature Colin Braun and team owner Jon Bennett, along with newcomer David Martinez.  Martinez is a seasoned racer in the sports car and open-wheel ranks, with solid performances in the Atlantic and Champ Car series.  Additionally, Martinez and Morgan Brady, CORE autosport Team Manager, have successfully worked together in the past.

The line-up for the sister #06 Butterfield Farms / Lamex Foods / Hormel Bacon Bits machine for the Winter Test will feature the Downs brothers – Antonio, Lucas and Matt.  The trio most recently drove separate entries for Eurosport Racing in the IMSA Cooper Tires Prototype Lites series, winning the L1-class team championship for Eurosport and collectively scoring four wins and 11 podium finishes in 14 rounds of racing.

Also new for the team is the addition of Gary Davies, who will act as the Lead Race Engineer for CORE autosport.  Davies has years of experience in European open-wheel racing, ranging from A1GP to F3000 to Formula 1.  Davies also has a history with Brady, working with the CORE autosport team manager on an F3 team in Europe.

The ALMS Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway will take place on February 8 and 9, 2012.  The first event for the CORE autosport team in 2012 will be at the 60^th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring powered by Fresh from Florida.

Colin Braun, co-driver, #05 Composite Resources ORECA FLM09:

I’m really excited to get the season started off with CORE autosport.

“Jon and I have gone karting a few times, but I’m really excited to be hitting the track in the LMPC car.  Since I joined the team, there have been a lot of meetings with Gary Davies (Lead Race Engineer), Morgan and Jon, and I think we’ve done everything possible to be as prepared as we can for the test.

“The ability of having this test at Sebring is very important for my first test in this car, as well as to experience how the team and Gary work.  The fact that we’ll be back at the track a month later for the big event, it couldn’t be more valuable.”

Jon Bennett, co-driver, #05 and owner / founder, CORE autosport:

This has been a long off-season and I am ready to get back behind the wheel of the #05 machine.  I have been doing everything I can to keep myself in shape, physically and mentally, over the past few months, but nothing compares to getting back behind the wheel of the #05 car.

“Sebring holds a special place in my heart as our team’s first podium finish (2011), and I really love the track.  It will be great to get back out there, especially with my new co-driver Colin.”

David Martinez, co-driver, Composite Resources ORECA FLM09:

I’m very excited about this opportunity, the LMPC category has gotten very popular in Mexico after all the success that Mexican drivers have had there.  And what better way to try it out for the first time than with CORE autosport, the championship-winning team.

“I’m also very happy to be working with Team Manager Morgan Brady again – we had a lot of success together a few years ago in the Atlantic Series and we have great communication.  I have no doubt we’ll pick up right where we left off.

“Even though this will be my first time in an LMPC car, I’ve done hundreds of laps around Sebring in both sports cars and open-wheel cars, so I’m confident that I can be up to speed very quickly.”

Morgan Brady, Team Manager, CORE autosport:

The ALMS Winter Test is perfectly timed to get our team ready for the biggest race of the year, the 12 Hours.  Last year CORE autosport was a new team and Sebring seemed like a Goliath to our David, but we were able to score a double-podium finish.

“With two 2011 championships under our belt and new driver lineups in both cars, the CORE autosport team will have a bit of a learning curve, but that’s why this test is so crucial.

“We will have a month to continue to refine our procedures, processes and work on the cars to make sure that we’re as prepared as possible to take the top spot on the podium.”

Braun, 23, will co-drive the #05 Composite Resources ORECA FLM09 with Jon Bennett, CORE autosport team founder and owner, and second-place finisher in the 2011 ALMS LMPC driver standings.

Despite his age, Braun has more than 17 years behind the wheel of a racing machine, including seven years in sports car racing.  He has competed in multiple 24-hour events and is the youngest-ever podium finisher at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2007).

Braun’s talents extend from karts to quarter midgets to open wheel racers to sports cars and most recently in NASCAR competition.  He did make a few stops along the way in the ALMS, including running the 2011 Sebring event with Robertson Racing (GT class).

This is only the second season for CORE autosport in ALMS LMPC competition.  In 2011, the South Carolina-based organization won the ALMS LMPC team championship and the drivers of the sister #06 machine won the LMPC driver’s championship.

Braun will make his debut with CORE autosport at the ALMS Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway on February 8 and 9, 2012.  His competition debut in the #05 will be at the 60^th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring powered by Fresh from Florida.

Colin Braun, co-driver, #05 Composite Resources ORECA FLM09:

My personal mantra is simple – I want to win races.

“After looking at a lot of different options for 2012 I knew that I wanted to drive a prototype in the ALMS.  I spoke with a lot of teams and on a chance I called Morgan (Brady – CORE autosport team manager) to see if there was some availability for me.  Luckily there was.

“CORE autosport won two championships in only its first season in the ALMS and I understand why once I got to know Morgan and Jon.  For Jon to do as well as he did in 2011 for only his first year was very impressive and I know that between the two of us we can win a lot of races.

“I’ve spent a lot of time driving high-downforce machines like those in the LMPC class in the open-wheel and sports car worlds and I really enjoy it.  I’m also a fan of Michelin race tires, which the LMPC cars use.

“I can’t wait for the ALMS Winter Test at Sebring and to really shake down the #05 machine, as well as spend more time with the team.”

Jon Bennett, co-driver, #05 and owner / founder, CORE autosport:

I’m thrilled to be partnered with Colin this season.  I’ve spent a lot of time with him in the off-season and know that our chemistry will prove to be successful on the track.  Colin has a lot of experience and I look forward to learning from him and working with him in 2012.

“Looking at the 2012 ALMS LMPC roster, competition is going to be pretty stout with some returning teams and a fair amount of new teams.  We needed a professional driver to join me in the #05 car who is ready to take the top spot on the podium and repeat our 2011 championships, and Colin is just the partner to do that.”

Morgan Brady, team manager, CORE autosport:

Having a talent like Colin come to CORE autosport is a testament to the hard work of the guys and to what Jon created when he started the team.  Colin is a professional in every sense of the word and I’m looking forward to working with him in the #05 car this year.

“We are still searching for the right combination of drivers for the sister #06 car, but we feel confident that the #05 is primed for the top spot on the podium.”

Aboard the #05 Bayshore Recycling  / Composite Resources ORECA FLM09, Montecalvo and Bennett racked up four podium spots in nine races, with second-place finishes at their first-ever race at Sebring (with endurance co-driver Ryan Dalziel) and at Mosport, behind the sister #06 car; and third place finishes at Road America and the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix.

The near-21 year old New Jersey native only began his interest in sports car racing when family friend Christian Zugel brought him to the 2008 Petit Le Mans. Growing up on a steady diet of motorcross and ATV racing, as well as drag racing, the ALMS event was quite a change for the young man and he knew that his life was going to take a different direction than originally planned.

Another introduction by Zugel to Montecalvo was to sports car stalwart Gunnar Jeannette and the entire Jeannette family.  Like Jeannette, Montecalvo is an unabashed thrill-seeker, and a friendship quickly emerged, as did Jeannette’s role of driver coach to the new driver.  Montecalvo is even doing some driver instructing himself at Miller Motorsports Park.  A full biography is available here.

Recently Montecalvo kicked off some off-season testing for the CORE autosport team and was able to sit down and discuss his first full ALMS season.

What did you think of your time with CORE autosport in 2011?

I’ve got to give my co-driver Jon Bennett and team manager Morgan Brady a lot of credit for what they’ve accomplished in such a short time.  We started off at Sebring this year and we weren’t sure how it was going to go, but as each race happened I felt like the team was growing and growing.

“I want to congratulate Jon and Morgan, as well as all the team members, for what they’ve done this year to get the team championship and a one-two in the driver championships.  It was great to be a part of.”

Talk about how you feel about your driving performance in 2011:

I did OK, but I’m really not happy about it.  I want to keep driving and learning, to get better and better.

“In 2010 I drove in multiple series and did about 20-something races that year.  I was very busy, but the more I drove the better I did.  In 2011 it was a little harder to stay sharp because of the time between some of the races, but I did get better, especially in the LMPC car.”

So what are you doing during the off-season?

I know I can get better in 2012 so my main focus in the offseason is to keep driving whatever I can – vintage cars, karts, you name it – to keep my skills up and learn more.

“First thing I did when I got back home from Petit was to head out to Rennsport to spend time with the Jeannettes and Christian Zugel. Talk about some incredible cars and a lot of fun.

“As soon as that was over it was off to Miller Motorsports Park to give some driver instruction.  Instructing has definitely helped me – I learn about myself as I’m teaching other people how to drive and when I get out there on the track I criticize myself the same way I do with other people.

“Also, instructing helps reinforce the basic concepts of performance driving, which really don’t change no matter what level you’re at.  It’s like having a refresher course every day!

“Unfortunately the fall instructing season in Utah is very short, so that ended in a couple of weeks and Morgan [Brady, CORE autosport team manager] invited me to do some testing for the team.  I’m always up for free track time and working with the guys however I can, especially because I want to be on that top spot in 2012. “

Where will you be spending your time in the offseason?

Most of the time I’ll be back home in New Jersey.  I have a lot of things to take care of there with my family business and training for next season.  I also hope to get my kart ready and ship it down to Florida.  After the new year Gunnar and I are probably going to spend some time at his parent’s place in Florida and get as much karting in before Sebring.  So I’ll kart and try to run as many cars as I can if they’re available, just to stay sharp and keep up my skills.

“I’m also going to be doing a lot of physical training and I like to mix it up a bit.  I do go to the gym, but also mountain bike and ride my dirtbike a lot.  Something that I was very much into before racing and only have done a little bit lately is mixed martial arts training.  It’s just like racing in that it’s so physical but you’ve got to think the entire time.  Only problem with MMA is that you can get hurt – I think I broke my knuckle a few weeks ago, which is not fun.

“Truth is, I don’t want off-time, other than the holidays.”

Do you have any projects that you’re working on outside of racing?

I work with my parents in their business (Bayshore Recycling).  I even have a little shop on the grounds which I’m finishing out.  I’m also planning on building a rally car – a Mitsubishi Evo – to run around in.  Those cars are great for practice because car control is vital to stay out of the bushes.

“I also love building my own toys.  I’ve built drag racing muscle cars, a drag racing Evo, dirtbikes, quads, jetskis – generally anything that’s fast enough to do something stupid on.  So may end up with a few projects if I have any down time. “

What’s it like working with Gunnar Jeannette as a coach?

Well Gunnar and I really jumped into the deep end.  He really pushes me to the limits and has been a great coach.  His whole family took me in and has done so much for me that I can’t thank them enough.

“I remember our first run together in 2009 in a BMW GS car.  It was at Sebring and there were a ton of GT cars out there, fast and slow.  I’d never been to the track and never been in traffic before – what a surprise it was when some of the bigger cars would be coming at you 40 mph faster.  That was quite a learning experience!”

So is being a professional race car driver what you want to do with your life?

Yes, this is what I want to do and I couldn’t see it any other way.  I didn’t start out that young in racing, so I’m trying to hit it hard and make a splash.”

Is there any particular type of racing or cars you would like to try?

I love sports car racing and I’m really enjoying my time in LMPC right now, but I’d love to drive Le Mans.  What a great race.  At this point I’d be willing to drive just about any type of race car, even open-wheel, and in sports cars I do love the prototype / downforce cars, but I definitely want to try out a GT car.  They have some great races and the cars are pretty amazing.”

ROCK HILL, SC, Friday, November 11, 2011: CORE autosport is preparing for lightning to strike twice in American Le Mans Series (ALMS) competition.  Team founder and driver Jon Bennett and team manager Morgan Brady have decided to re-enter their two Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) cars for the 2012 ALMS season.

CORE autosport’s success came quickly after its debut at Sebring in March 2011. Over nine races, the team racked up two wins, 10 podiums and three pole positions, claiming the ALMS LMPC team championship and the first and second spots in the LMPC driver championship.

During the off-season, CORE autosport is set to expand further by moving into its all-new, purpose-built 30,000 square-foot facility by the end of this month. The new CORE autosport headquarters is located right next door to the team’s parent company, Composite Resources.

The complete 2012 CORE autosport driver lineup will be announced at a later date, but Bennett is confirmed to again climb behind the wheel of the #05 machine to continue his championship quest.

Morgan Brady, Team Manager:

2011 was a great year for CORE autosport and we’re very pleased to be returning for 2012. The LMPC class has proven to be some of the best competition in the ALMS, evident by the close margin of both of our championships.

“We’re excited about moving into our new facility and have a solid group of engineers, shop staff and crew members ready to go for the new season.

“We’re also flattered by the interest in our program and we’re very close to finalizing our driver lineup, although there still are some opportunities available which we hope to fill soon.”

Jon Bennett:

When I started CORE autosport I knew that having the best people around me would be crucial in our success, especially for the position of team manager.  Morgan (Brady) has certainly set the bar high for future accomplishments and has set out on a path to insure CORE autosport’s future as championship contenders.

2012 will be an evolutionary season for the team and we look forward to sharing all of our upcoming news with our fans within the next few months.”

The first-year Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) team scored both the 2011 ALMS LMPC team championship and the driver championship for Gunnar Jeannette and Ricardo Gonzalez.

The team championship came down to one point over Genoa Racing – quite an accomplishment for CORE autosport, who only announced their intention to move from IMSA Prototype Lites to ALMS competition less than a year ago.  Over the nine-race 2011 season, the two-car team won two races, was on the podium 10 times and scored three pole positions.

The 2011 ALMS LMPC driver championship race came down to an even tighter margin – zero.  The prize for Jeannette and Gonzalez, co-drivers of the #06 Excel Consultants / Composite Resources ORECA FLM09, is shared with Eric Lux of Genoa Racing.  The drivers all scored the exact same number of wins, second, third, fourth and fifth place finishes.  This is the first time in ALMS 13-year history that such a tie exists and cannot be broken.

But championships were merely a result of the rollercoaster that was Saturday’s Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda – the 1000-mile ALMS 2011 finale at Road Atlanta.

For the #06 machine, driven by Jeannette, Gonzalez and Rudy Junco, the day began with a bump off-track by a GT car, shoving the car into gravel.  The car was unharmed but lost two laps and Gonzalez drove the car from the sixth spot until turning it over in fourth to Jeannette.  A combination of driver skill and strategy allowed Jeannette to lead the LMPC class until just after halfway, when the engine threw the accessory belt that drives the water pump and power steering.  The #06 crew worked hard to fix the car and was able to get it on track, many laps down, but still running strongly.  Junco took over and was able to maintain pace, eventually bringing the car into third spot even after an off-course excursion due to cold tires after a restart.  Gonzalez brought the #06 home in the third LMPC spot (30^th overall).

The sister #05 Bayshore Recycling / Composite Resources machine, driven by team principal Jon Bennett, Frankie Montecalvo and Ryan Dalziel, encountered even more drama.  Montecalvo was able to stay out of trouble during his stints, despite minor on-track contact with a variety of aggressive traffic.  About six hours into the event, Bennett was spun by a GT car, resulting in a lock-up of the #05’s transmission.  The car was quickly fixed by the CORE autosport crew and was laps down, but still ahead of the Genoa team.

It wasn’t until Dalziel’s final stint, nine laps to the finish, when tragedy struck.  When exiting pit road, Dalziel was involved in an on-track incident with the #16 LMP1 machine – severely damaging the car and forcing it out of the race.  The #05 machine ended the race in fifth spot (35^th overall).  The Genoa team was able to claim the fourth spot, which allowed for the driver championship tie.

To see highlights of the Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda, tune into ABC-TV, who will televise a tape-delayed highlight of the event on Sunday, October 2 at 4 p.m. EST.

Morgan Brady, team manager, CORE autosport:

Overall it was a phenomenal first season for CORE autosport.

“The year had its ups and downs, but at the end of the day we were able to walk away with the team championship, which is something we set out to do from the beginning.  And to be tied with Eric Lux for the driver’s championship is quite an accomplishment.

“I really want to thank everyone, but especially the folks that work at the shop day-in and day-out make this happen, including Mike Sales, Eric Vanbibber, Jay Ribas, Adam Wareing, Neal Everhart, Jamie Brooks, Alec Crabbe, Michele Henn and Lindsay Brown.

“And on behalf of the entire team, I’d like to thank Jon Bennett for making CORE autosport possible.”

Gunnar Jeannette:

A championship is never a bad thing.  I didn’t want this to end as a tie, but we had a great battle with the Genoa guys all year long.  Having the exact same points with the exact same finishes is quite amazing.

“It’s been a fantastic year co-driving with Ricardo and a lot of fun to be a part of the CORE autosport organization.  To see a team that was involved in the IMSA Lites series last year evolve into a championship ALMS team had to be one of the steepest learning curves ever in professional motorsports.

“I give a lot of credit to Morgan Brady and Jon Bennett putting together a great team and a great operation.  Congrats to the crew as well for all their hard work, which has paid off.”

Ricardo Gonzalez:

I’m very happy for the team in its first year in the ALMS.  The team did a great job including putting together first-class talent. Gunnar is a great co-driver and thanks to Rudy, who joined us on our longer races this year and added a lot of value.

“Also congratulations to Eric Lux – we had some good fights with him this year and he’s a very good driver.

“When I started in LMPC last year I had to get used to the car itself and this year I could just concentrate on getting the most out of it. Next year I want to go for even more success.”

Rudy Junco:

I had a lot of trouble out there in my first stint with the GT traffic, but the second stint was better for me.  I got a rhythm down and was very comfortable in the car, but I did slide off.

“Luckily that didn’t put us too far behind and I could get the car to Ricardo to get the job done.

“Congratulations to the CORE autosport team, Gunnar and Ricardo.  Everyone did a great job this season and I enjoyed driving with them.”

Jon Bennett:

I’m very proud of our season and all the people at CORE autosport.  It’s been a real pleasure to work with such a group of professionals.

“In March of this year we barely knew each other’s names and over the year we’ve really gelled into a great team and a great company.

“I’m really looking forward to having everyone back for 2012 and having an even stronger season.”

Frankie Montecalvo:

It was a long race and a long day.  We really tried to do well out there and stay clean, but it didn’t work out that way.

“The guys did a great job getting the car back together after Jon got spun out.   What a day it was for them, between the #06 car needing the belt replaced and then rebuilding our locked-up transmission, they worked hard.  I drove the car after the transmission work and it was great – the guys just keep on working hard and bringing it together.

“I just tried to keep it all clean to give the car to Ryan and after what happened to him our hearts dropped. That was hard for all of us to take, but we did win a championship, so congratulations!”

Ryan Dalziel:

It’s a disappointing end to what could have been what should really have been a good day for us.  We got involved in other people’s stupidity – it was just one of those days.

“To have it finished off by being hit at the end of pit lane was just the worst. I feel really bad for the guys – it’s miserable when you have to have a big repair after nine hours of running.  But that’s racing.

“I’m really appreciative of the opportunity from CORE and had a blast working with Jon and Frankie.  And hopefully we can do more next year.”

BRASELTON, GA, Friday, September 30, 2011: No points are issued for starting spots, no prize money, and with two championships on the line, CORE autosport elected to continue to hone their race setups during today’s qualifying session for the 2011 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) finale – Saturday’s Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda.

The 15 minute qualifying session resulted in some startlingly fast times in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) class, with many competitors apparently setting up their cars for a one-lap run for the pole position around the 12-turn 2.54-mile Road Atlanta circuit.

CORE autosport did well with their two cars optimized for the upcoming 1000-mile event.  Gunnar Jeannette drove a best lap of 1:15.688 behind the wheel of the #06 Excel Consultants / Composite Resources ORECA FLM09 for a fourth position class starting spot (21^st overall).

Frankie Montecalvo drove the sister #05 Bayshore Recycling / Composite Resources machine to a sixth place in class starting spot (23^rd overall) with a best lap of 1:16.533.

Both times were the fastest registered for the CORE autosport machines since the team arrived at the track.

In preparation for the gruelling day-into-night contest, the entire CORE autosport team worked hard throughout a variety of practice sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to find a balance of speed, stability and comfort.  These are all essential elements for the first-year team to complete a successful run for two 2011 championships – a mere three points separate Jeannette and Gonzalez from leader Eric Lux for the driver championship title and CORE autosport is two points behind Lux’ Genoa Racing for the LMPC team championship title.

Their efforts paid off – the #06 team, made up of Jeannette, Ricardo Gonzalez and Rudy Junco, emerged on top of three out of the four practice sessions leading up to the race – Wednesday, Thursday morning and night, and the final practice on Friday morning.  The only other practice – Thursday afternoon – was led by the #05, driven by Montecalvo, team principal Jon Bennett and Ryan Dalziel.

53 cars will take the green flag for the Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda, which will be aired live on ESPN3.com on Saturday, October 1 at 11:15 a.m. EST.  ABC-TV will televise a tape-delayed highlight of the event on Sunday, October 2 at 4 p.m. EST.

International viewers can see the event live on MotorsTV, Rogers Sports Net, Fox Sports Middle East and Fox Latin America Networks.  Live radio broadcasts are available at www.americanlemans.com.

Gunnar Jeannette:

Obviously fourth is not where I’d like to be, but all week we focused on a good race car, not a good qualifying car.

“We might not have the ultimate pace over one lap, but I really like the car and I think it’s going to be good for us in the race.

“It’s a long day tomorrow.”

Ricardo Gonzalez:

It’s going to be a matter of being there at the end.

“It’s a ten hour or less race, and definitely it will not be decided in the first three hours, but the last two, or maybe one.

“We have to keep the car in good shape, make sure our strategy works and just be ready to race at the final stint or double-stint.”

Rudy Junco:

It’s a very long race and I think we have a very good race car.

“I have two great co-drivers in Gunnar and Ricardo. I’m not worried at all.

“The objective is there – we want a nice clean race, to get a rhythm going and be there at the end.  That’s about it.

“I think we’re going to be where we want to be at the end.”

Jon Bennett:

I think we’re in a good position for a really good result tomorrow.   This week we’ve really been focusing on getting a car that drives well for long periods of time – a car that can cut good lap times while being comfortable and easy on the tires.

“I think while we would’ve liked to have qualified better, we have two cars that are set up to be high-performing endurance cars and with our lineup of drivers I’m confident that we’ll have a good result.

“I’m hoping to be spraying some champagne on Saturday night.”

Frankie Montecalvo:

I had a lot of fun out there and tried to drive as hard as I could.  The team gave me a great car – it just kept getting better and better during and I just kept finding the grip.

“Unfortunately due to a variety of circumstances I haven’t had a lot of time in the car over the past few days, but when I got into it today I found that the longer I drove it, the more I could find in the car and the better it got.  I wanted to run even more laps out there during today’s session!

“I’m very happy with the team and the car and I think we’ll have a good run.”

Ryan Dalziel:

These endurance races are not won on the first lap.  For a race like this with so much time to run and so many cars on the track qualifying is far less important.

“The key is to have a good car and keep out of trouble, as well as have some solid co-drivers.  Then the pieces fall into place for a good result.

“I’m lucky to have all those pieces.  We have a good car, I’m proud of what Frankie’s done and how Jon has developed into a solid teammate.  I think we have what it takes to do well in the race.”

The first year team has minor deficits to make up – three points for the drivers, two for the team – but CORE autosport has been putting the “hammer down” throughout the event practice sessions, with the #06 Composite Resources / Excel Consultants ORECA FLM09 of Jeannette, Gonzalez and Rudy Junco in the class lead of ton Wednesday and both the Thursday morning and night sessions.

Thursday afternoon’s session was topped by the sister #05 Composite Resources / Bayshore Recycling machine of team founder Jon Bennett, Frankie Montecalvo and ace Ryan Dalziel.  The #05 was second on Wednesday’s session as well.

Times between the CORE autosport and Genoa teams and drivers are tight – sometimes measured by tenths of seconds, so the American Le Mans Series Finale – the 2011 Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda – will be 10 hours / 1000 miles worth watching.

The drivers, team manager Morgan Brady and team principal Jon Bennett discussed the race, the championship and CORE autosport.

Morgan Brady, team manager, CORE autosport:

Looking back 12 months ago, CORE autosport and ALMS was just a rumor.  It was at the 2010 Petit Le Mans that we initially announced that the team was going to move from IMSA Prototype Lites to the ALMS in either the LMP2 or LMPC class.

“I think at Sebring we showed up with a good two-car LMPC program and finished second and third.  We were able to prove that we were in the ALMS as a real team – not just a rumor.

“Starting this LMPC team with Jon (Bennett) and seeing how the team has developed over the course of a year, I’m really proud of where we are and what lies ahead for CORE autosport in the future.  The combination of our team members, driver lineup and of course Jon and Composite Resources has resulted in a very competitive racing organization.”

Jon Bennett, founder and owner, CORE autosport, co-driver, #05 Composite Resources / Bayshore Recycling ORECA FLM09:

As someone who’s spend their childhood in the mid-‘70s watching Bob Tullius and Group 44 do a very professional job at preparing race cars and winning championships it’s an honor for me to be here at Road Atlanta this weekend competing at one of racing’s highest levels.

“I’m very proud of the work that CORE autosport has accomplished which has put us in contention for both LMPC driver and team championships.  This team is a validation of what  I learned when building up Composite Resources – hire the best people that you can find, empower them to do their jobs and success will follow.

“We’re just hoping for a good race and looking forward to celebrating on Saturday night.”

Gunnar Jeannette:

Rudy, Ricardo and I are happy with the car and we’re looking to optimize it over the next few test sessions as the Petit Le Mans is quite the challenge for all competitors.  But the CORE autosport guys have given us a good race car.

“I’m not really thinking about what the #063 (Lux / Genoa) car is doing right now because we at CORE autosport just have to go out there and do our own thing.  If it’s good enough, it’ll pay off, but if it’s not we’ll know that we tried as hard as we could.

“I think that the #06 car has the strongest LMPC lineup of drivers out there, but that may not matter when it comes to traffic and the LMP1 Audis and Peugeots battling it out at such high speeds.

“Hopefully on race day we’ll all keep it clean, the car will remain in one piece and we’ll make it to the night portion of the race and really push it when we get there.”

Ricardo Gonzalez:

How tight the LMPC championship is only speaks well for the class.  All the decisions that were made in creating this class – from requiring the same equipment to its affordability – only makes for better racing.  I think that LMPC should be more of a focus thanks to the incredible competition that results.

“With regards to the championship possibilities, this isn’t quite the position I wanted to be in right now.  We started the year up in points, but we had a few bad races and now we’re three points down to for the driver championship lead.

“It’s a tough race to have it come down to this. It’s so long that anything can happen – a mechanical issue, an accident, anything.  But that’s the bad side.  The good side is that the championship race is great for the fans and for the class itself.  I bet that even more teams may consider joining LMPC because of how close the cars are on the track.

“What I hope is that the race with Genoa and Lux is decided on the track, not because of an accident or mechanical failure.  Genoa does a very good job – they have proven to be fast and win races.  Saying that I’m confident about CORE autosport and what we’ve been doing. I know that every time we put our heads down and do our work, we show up strong.

“The car was very good off of the transporter and now it’s a matter of working out different options and strategies while remaining fast. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed the whole time.”

The final race of 2011 – the 10 hour / 1000-mile Petit Le Mans presented by Mazda – will be the ultimate test for what has been a ground-breaking American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season for the two-car CORE autosport team. In eight races, the CORE squad has racked up two wins, nine podium spots and three pole positions. The efforts have put the team in championship contention – just three points separate Jeannette / Gonzalez from driver leader Eric Lux and two points are needed to catch the Genoa LMPC team.

Another challenge for CORE autosport will be the re-introduction of the 60mm engine air restrictor in the LMPC class, 10mm smaller than what was run in the majority of the 2011 events. With the additional restriction of air flow to the engine and the resulting power loss, the team and drivers will have to re-adjust driving style and pit strategy to compensate. This will be vital in a combined field of U.S. and European entries comprising 53 cars.

Leaving nothing to chance, the CORE autosport team returned to the Rock Hill shop after its podium showing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on September 17 to prepare the #05 Composite Resources / Bayshore Recycling ORECA FLM09 and its sister car, the #06 Composite Resources / Excel Consultants entry.

Driver lineup for the Petit Le Mans includes Jeannette and Gonzalez with Rudy Junco in the #06 – a combination that produced podium finishes at the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and penultimate Laguna Seca Round. Jeannette has run nine Petit Le Mans races with a variety of teams and considers Road Atlanta his “home” track, Gonzalez finished third in the LMPC class in the 2010 event and Junco has never run at the track before, but tested well at the circuit earlier this year.

The #05’s lineup will mark the return of veteran driver Ryan Dalziel, who will join team principal Jon Bennett and Frankie Montecalvo. Dalziel has been constantly connected to CORE autosport throughout 2011 as a consultant to the team, and also drove the #05 to a second-place LMPC finish with Bennett and Montecalvo at Sebring. Dalziel is ready to take on the Petit Le Mans the team after a thrilling final round Grand-Am Rolex Series victory at Mid-Ohio.

Qualifying for the Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda will be aired live on ESPN3.com on Friday, September 30 at 2:55 p.m. EST, with live race coverage on ESPN3.com on Saturday, October 1 at 11:15 a.m. EST. ABC-TV will televise a tape-delayed highlight of the event on Sunday, October 2 at 4 p.m. EST.

International viewers can see the event live on MotorsTV, Rogers Sports Net, Fox Sports Middle East and Fox Latin America Networks. Live radio broadcasts are available at www.americanlemans.com.

Gunnar Jeannette:

This is my tenth Petit Le Mans.  This race means a lot to me – it’s one of the races I’ve not finished on the podium yet.  I’m definitely looking to change that for this weekend.

“The race and Road Atlanta are very special to me.  I have literally thousands of laps around the track and know that with the field we’re going to have for this year’s Petit Le Mans, it’s going to be an extremely challenging race.

“Obviously all of us at CORE autosport are thinking about championships, and it’s been an interesting second half of the 2011 season where we’ve had some issues at each race – sometimes mechanical stuff, sometimes just silly stuff – that we’ve seen our points lead turn into a deficit.  To be completely honest I really don’t think that’s a bad thing.

“We’re three points behind and we know exactly what we have to do, and that’s finish ahead of the Genoa car.  I am super-confident with our driver lineup and our engineer (of the #06) Tom Brown, who is still somewhat new to sports car racing, but is now fully up to speed.

“I’m ready to get the race started and I can’t think of any better way of finishing the season and capping off a championship than standing on the top step of the podium.”

Ricardo Gonzalez:

This is going to be a very important race for us obviously.

“Unfortunately the last few races we haven’t been able to capitalize on our speed because of many different circumstances and we lost the championship lead coming into Petit Le Mans.

“It’s obviously a frustrating situation but in another hand it is actually a positive for us because it makes things very simple – we have to go for the win no matter what, which is something we know we can do.  I have no doubt we’ll be the strongest car and driver combination out there.

“For much of this year we were a bit conservative, but now we just get to go have fun and be fast and do whatever it takes to win.

“It’s going to be a crazy race with 53 cars out there.  Road Atlanta is a very challenging track when you’re out there by yourself, let alone with constant traffic.

“Obviously it’s a long race and you have to be there at the end to win it, so being smart in traffic is going to be very important.  Last year I finished third there and we were very quick in the race.  This year Gunnar, Rudy, and I have only one goal – to win the race!”

Rudy Junco:

Petit is a very important race for us, especially for my co-drivers who are trying to win the championship.

“It has come down to the last race of the season but we are trying to keep our focus on finishing, since it is very long race. Obviously traffic and the sheer amount of cars on the track will make it a very challenging race, but we were very strong at Sebring and I am sure we will be very strong here as well.

“This will be my first time racing at this track but I felt pretty comfortable when I tested here a few months ago and it definitely should be a lot of fun.

“The team has done a great job in giving us a fast car every time so we just want to focus on the objective of getting my co-drivers the LMPC championship and hoping we pull through in the end.”

Jon Bennett:

I took my driver’s school at Road Atlanta in 1992 and have enjoyed the track since.

“At this final race of the season, I’m very proud to be taking the CORE autosport team to our first-ever ALMS race at Road Atlanta.  No matter what happens with the championship, I am proud of our performance in our first year.

“Of course I’m looking to punctuate our excellent season with a podium spot at the Petit Le Mans.  These long races really suit our team due to our high level of car and driver preparation.

“The cars are put together very well and reliable for the long distances and the drivers have proven over the season that we can be patient when we need to be and aggressive at the right times.

“I think all of those factors will see this race fall into our favor.”

Frankie Montecalvo:

I raced at the Petit Le Mans last year (finishing fifth in class), but it was with the larger engine restrictor.  With the smaller restrictor it’s certainly going to be tougher to pass other cars.

“At Road Atlanta there are some corners where the LMPC’s downforce will be good for passing, especially at turn 12.  As long as you time your passes correctly it won’t be too bad out there, but traffic could cause some problems.

“53 cars out on the track is going to make for constant work for all of us.  It’s going to be hard to keep your nose clean out there – it’s just going to be a big mental game, staying smart and not getting into trouble.

“The team has been growing, getting better and better with each race.  With this long event it’s going to be a big test for all of us – drivers, crew, engineers – everyone.  Should be a great show for the fans!

“I’m really glad to be working with Ryan again.  I learn so much from him and really enjoy co-driving with him.  It’s been great for my learning curve to have such experienced co-drivers – last race was Andy Wallace and this week it will be Ryan Dalziel.”

Ryan Dalziel:

I’m really excited to get back to driving with CORE autosport, which I haven’t done since Sebring.  However I have been fortunate enough to spend all of my off-weekends with the team at ALMS events and it’s been great to see how the team has built up over the year.

“I know that the #05 car will be competitive.  Frankie’s really good and Jon has been very impressive in his debut LMPC season.

“Petit Le Mans is one of the hardest sports car endurance races in the world. I’ve done it a couple of times in the past.  The track itself is good, but it can be more challenging than Sebring, especially as the sun goes down – the elevation changes at Road Atlanta can make the lighting and the angles very difficult to see.

“The key to Petit Le Mans is to get out front early and try to stay trouble free, which is going to be hard with that record 53 car field.  The CORE autosport crew will be giving us a really good car and I’m sure they’ll give us great pit stops.

“We’ve just got to make the most of it and work to one step up on the podium from our Sebring finish.”