Tafel Racing team owner Jim Tafel has said that he has been 'blown away' by news that his outfit has been invited to participate in the road-based LM GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The second-year American Le Mans Series team will be making its first appearance at Le Mans with team regulars Dominik Farnbacher and 2007
FIA GT Series GT2 class champion Dirk Muller sharing the #81 Tafel Racing
Ferrari F430 GTC with Sebring team-mate and 2007 Australian GT champion Allan Simonsen.
"I am floating pretty high right now. You hear rumours that you are going to get in but when we got the invitation, it blew me away," said Jim. "To me this says that there is no silver bullet that got Tafel Racing into Le Mans.
"I believe they look at your image, your attitude, your competitiveness, your acceptance of responsibility; everything that it takes to be a part of a world class event. To receive an invitation we must have fit those criteria.
"Last year we didn't get into the race but I wasn't upset. That gave us more time to focus on getting there with a good year of ALMS GT2 behind us. This is the cherry on the sundae. I am going through a full range of emotion."
Tafel Racing technical director Tony Dowe meanwhile will oversee the preparations and he is confident they can go for 'gold'.
"You do not go to Le Mans if you don't expect to win and we have planned accordingly," he added. "The driver line-up and the team, the way we are approaching the race; I expect to win.
"Of course, there are twelve other teams that are working to make sure that we don't win this race. With the teams that are in the GT2 field it is going to be an awesome race.
"I am really pumped to be involved in it. This is going to be a spectacular battle in each class whether you are looking at Audi versus Peugeot or Ferrari versus Porsche. It is going to be an absolute barnburner."
