Muscle Milk Pickett Racing completed a multiyear LMP1 deal with Honda Performance Development to run its HPD ARX-03a in the American Le Mans Series beginning in 2012.
MyMotorways was told that this was going to be announced in early November, but it did not get official until just last week. Details below
The deal is part of a multifaceted, long-term relationship between CytoSport–Greg Pickett’s health and nutrition company and the maker of Muscle Milk–and American Honda, which includes Muscle Milk’s title sponsorship of the Honda factory motocross team now known as Team Honda Muscle Milk.
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, which is entering its third full season of competition in the ALMS, will also be celebrating the continued support of longtime partner Michelin as its tire supplier and the return of Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr to its driver lineup.
“We’re very proud to announce this deal with HPD as we feel confident that their car and engine package, along with our tire partner Michelin, offer us the best combination to achieve our ultimate goal of 2012, which is to win the LMP1 championship,” team owner and CytoSport founder Pickett said in a team statement. “I am very much looking forward to having both Klaus and Lucas back together again. They’ve provided us with many happy memories this past season, and I can’t wait to see what they will achieve aboard our new Muscle Milk HPD ARX-03a this upcoming season. Between them and our LMPC drivers Memo Gidley and Mike Guasch, I think we will have a very exciting and competitive year.”
The pair of Graf and Luhr finished runner-up in the standings in 2011 with a class-leading four wins. They have one goal in mind for 2012–winning the championship.
Graf, who has finished second in the standings the past two years, will be competing in his fifth season with the team in the ALMS as well as his eighth in the sports-car series.
“I’m very thrilled about our new LMP1 program for the 2012 ALMS season,” Graf said. “The Honda Performance Development ARX-03a, powered by HPD’s proven 3.4-liter LM-V8 engine, should be the right package to achieve our goal, which is to win the ALMS championship. The HPD LMP1 prototype is a state-of-the-art LMP1 [car] built with the latest technology and resources.”
“I’m happy to be back with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and to once again team up with Klaus,” he said. “Entering a season with a new car is always something special, and I can’t wait to be in the car for the first time at the Sebring winter test in February.
The team expects delivery of its HPD ARX-03a in mid-January and plans to be on track for its first outing with its new HPD prototype at the ALMS Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway on Feb. 8-9, 2012.
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111220/ALMS/111229990#ixzz1icMjgC4Y
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