Drayson-Barwell Motorsport has announced that former title-wining team manager Dale White is to join the Aston Martin outfit for the 2008 American Le Mans Series season.

White, whose own Petersen/White Lightning team has elected to take a sabbatical from the ALMS this season, will join the British outfit as strategic consultant to team principal Mark Lemmer as the Drayson-Barwell embarks on its first season of racing in the United States with the new Aston Martin Vantage GT2.

"I am very excited for this opportunity with Drayson-Barwell," White enthused. "I have known several of the key people at Aston Martin Racing for a number of years. It is an absolutely top organisation and I am quickly learning Drayson-Barwell is also a well structured and professionally run group.

"It was disappointing not being able to continue our programme this year. However, as they say in life, as one door closes, so another one opens.

"I was contacted by a number of teams but the fit here seemed perfectly matched to my goals. Having an engineering background and experience in alternative energies, I was especially excited about Paul Drayson's push to run an E85 fuel in the Aston Martin Vantage GT2. It is going to be a very exciting year with a lot of new challenges. I am really looking forward to staying involved in the American Le Mans Series."

Drayson himself, who has competed with Barwell in recent seasons in the British GT Championship said he was delighted to have White on board for the 2008 campaign.

"I am delighted we will be working together with Dale this year," he said. "He has a tremendous track record in GT racing and will be a major asset to the team. I know we have a lot to learn in our first year in the American Le Mans Series, but with Dale's help, I am sure we will learn fast."