Autocon Announces Plans to Add Second Lola P1 for 2007

Autocon Motosports took a big step forward in 2006 by acquiring an ALMS race-winning Lola EX257 from Dyson Racing, and has shown great success so far this season with two podium finishes and four consecutive points paying finishes. Today team owner Mike Lewis announced plans to expand to a two car effort for 2007 by adding another identical Lola to his stable.

“We fell in love with the Lola this year and have learned a ton about how to make it successful within the framework of our team," said Lewis. "Just as in any major racing effort we see some terrific advantages in a multi-car effort to increase performance and gain even better results.”

“Our second car will benefit from the experience we gained this year, and the ability to share data and development next season will be huge. It just makes sense all around to expand,” added Lewis. "The Lola is an outstanding race car capable of podiums and victories. We received our first car just prior to Sebring this year and it took a couple of races to start to realize its potential. Each event we attend puts us in a better position to exploit that potential. Next year will be even better."

"We have the infrastructure in place to expand. As a leading privateer effort our overhead is less than the factory teams and that allows us to add the second car at a reasonable cost. We have not selected a driver lineup for the new car and are open to discussions with talented and funded drivers. We look for a three driver lineup for the longer events, Sebring, Petit Le Mans, and Mazda Laguna Seca, and two drivers at the remaining events. This allows for surprisingly affordable major league racing."

Autocon co-driver Chris McMurry gave a ringing endorsement of the expansion and the team. "This has been the best year of my racing career, and a lot of it has to do with the Lola and the team. It is a thrill to compete in a very competitive prototype on a world-stage with top quality television coverage where you mix it up with Audi, Dyson, Mazda and Penske, and next year with the factory Acura effort."

No doubt 2007 will be the biggest and most competitive year in ALMS history, particularly in the prototype classes. Factory efforts are expanding with the addition of Acura and Lexus teams, the arrival of Andretti Green and Fernandez Racing which will greatly increase the profile of the entire series.

ALMS prototypes can be viewed as a destination for a driver seeking world-class competition, driving against some of the best drivers of all time. It can also be a launching pad for other major league racing. Jeff Bucknum is a terrific recent example as he has parlayed his ALMS prototype accomplishments into a valuable career move to IndyCars piloting A.J. Foyt’s #14 car on a full-time basis.

Interested parties can receive additional information by contacting team owner Mike Lewis at lewism@atigrp.com.