VICI Racing and Kumho Tire have announced their participation in the 2008 American Le Mans Series in a collaboration focusing on an a new tyre development programme centred on the evolution of new compounds designed specifically for the GT2 class championship.
VICI Racing will enter a 2008-specification Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, for the season opening Twelve Hours of Sebring, with a second car joining the line-up later on in the campaign. Drivers for the programme have yet to be announced.
Kumho Tire dipped its toe into the water of ALMS GT2 last year at Mid Ohio in a one-off deal with the Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper but will now work with the VICI team to further its development programme.
"We're excited about the opportunity to work with VICI Racing and Porsche Motorsports," Rudy Consolacion, motorsports manager for Kumho Tire USA said. "Like Kumho, Porsche has a strong following amongst amateur racers because there are so many grassroots racers running Porsches in the Porsche Club of America, the Porsche Owners Club, NASA, SCCA and vintage racing. Porsche is the world's leading producer of factory built race cars.
"The company has achieved success at every level of motorsports in which it has participated. VICI Racing has been involved in sportscar racing for more than 20 years, and they bring a wealth of knowledge that will help us develop our GT2 tyres."
Having already tasted success in LMP2, with a win at Le Mans last season, Consolacion added that a GT2 programme would provide a new challenge for the company.
"GT2 cars are harder on tyres because they're heavier than the prototype cars and they don't make as much downforce," he said. "They rely on mechanical grip rather than aerodynamic grip so the tire really has to perform. We are eager to work closely with Porsche and VICI to develop a winning GT2 tyre. GT2 is the most competitive class in the American Le Mans Series, so we'll be making some radical changes that will put our tyre technology at the leading edge. We won't stand still."
