Wednesday, 14th May 2008

Second Porsche comes in for Utah.

VICI Racing has announced that it will expand its programme to run a second car in the latest round of the American Le Mans Series this weekend in Utah.

Having conducted a number of practice laps ahead of the St Petersburg race, Brazilian racer Ruben Carrapasoto will return at the wheel of the #18 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR where he will be joined by the Pastorelli brothers Nicky and Francesco.

Former Champ Car racer Nicky previously raced for the team during the Rolex 24 Hours last season and also conducted testing of the #5 car prior to the start of the new campaign.

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“I'm very excited to be driving at Utah,” he said. “I know the team well as I drove for them in the Daytona 24 Hours last year and they are a professional, dedicated bunch. I'm keen also to get behind the wheel of the RSR in a race as I did the car's shakedown runs pre-season for them and it felt like a superb race car that has, as we have seen since, already become a proven GT2 winner.

“ALMS is the most professional sports car series around so I'm looking forward to being involved. Of course having Francesco in the line-up is a bonus and it's great to have him in the car. Ruben is obviously very fast, so I think we will be the young, hungry line-up and I'm looking forward to making some waves and surprising a few people.”

The #5 car will again be shared by Craig Stanton and Nathan Swartzbaugh and team president Ron Meixner said he was looking forward to a race where the team has both cars on track for the first time.

“I'm pleased with the progress of the new programme so far, and the fact that Utah will represent another big step forward,” he said. “Kumho Tire has been working hard to develop new compounds and we have all learnt a lot after three races. Everyone is fully committed, our new personnel without exception have brought new strengths in their respective areas and the team did an expert job in recovering so well from the setback at St. Petersburg. I'm also very satisfied with the new team management structure we have put together for this year.

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