GIL DE FERRAN ANNOUNCES PANASONIC AND PAGENAUD FOR 2008
CAMPAIGN
• Simon Pagenaud to join de Ferran as co-driver
• Panasonic join de Ferran Motorsports
• Team livery revealed
• Salt Lake City debut for new team
 Former
Indy 500 winner and two-time CART Champion Gil de Ferran today
unveiled details of de Ferran Motorsports’ Acura ARX-01b
bid for the LMP2 class championship in the 2008 American Le
Mans Series.
Team owner and driver, Gil de Ferran, will team up with 23-year-old
ex-Champ Car Atlantic champion Simon Pagenaud for the remainder
of the 2008 American Le Mans Series, starting at the fourth
round of the championship – the Larry H. Miller Dealerships
Utah Grand Prix presented by Grand & Little Hotels.
de Ferran Motorsports also announced it is in the process
of completing a sponsorship contract with Panasonic which
will utilise its association with the team to promote their
relationship with Acura and the ELS Surround premium audio
system which is available on the Acura TL, Acura RDX, Acura
MDX and the all-new Acura TSX.
After announcing his return to the track and his debut as
a team owner in late January, de Ferran is delighted to be
able to detail his campaign.
“Considering this started as a conversation about a
potential race team only a few months ago, it is quite emotional
to witness what has happened and see it become reality,”
said de Ferran. “I was in the workshop last week and
all our mechanics, engineers and technicians were there –
in all we had more than 20 people working incredibly hard
inside a facility, which a couple of months ago was just an
empty building. Now, not only have we begun testing, but we
have also gained the support of an internationally recognised
company like Panasonic, and secured Simon’s as our driver
– all major endorsements for our nascent team.”
The de Ferran Motorsports’ iconic red, white and blue-liveried
Acura hit the track in testing for the first time at Sebring
International Raceway this week, bearing preliminary Panasonic/ELS
branding.
Today’s announcement takes place at the Long Beach
Grand Prix, where the final-ever race for Champ Car machinery
will run this weekend alongside the Patron Tequila American
Le Mans Series event. The team will also undertake an additional
test session at Sebring at a later date, with de Ferran and
Pagenaud behind the wheel, before making its American Le Mans
Series race debut on May 18.
Poitiers-born Pagenaud joins de Ferran Motorsports after
competing for Walker Racing in the 2007 Champ Car World Series,
where he finished eighth in his rookie season. Previously,
the Frenchman clinched the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic Championship
while also competing for Walker. His new team boss also drove
for Walker Racing between 1997 and 1999.
“Simon has a very good reputation in the industry -
this was the first thing that attracted me to him,”
de Ferran said.
“This goes beyond just his on-track results, which,
of course, have been very impressive; it is about the overall
package – how he works with the team, his work ethic,
fitness, how he works with sponsors, etc.”
Pagenaud, who will become the youngest driver in the Acura
American Le Mans series line-up, is clearly delighted with
his employment. “I am really thrilled to be given this
opportunity,” he enthused. “It is not every day
that a two-time CART Champion and Indy 500 winner calls and
says he wants you to be his co-driver. At this stage of my
career, it is an outstanding opportunity and I can’t
wait for the first race.
“I am so proud to be part of the Acura family. I have
been looking for a chance like this for a long time - being
part of a manufacturer programme is just outstanding. Going
ahead, the future looks very bright, but it will be up to
me to do a good job and repay the faith that Gil and Acura
have bestowed on me.”
Joining de Ferran Motorsports and Acura is sponsor, Panasonic’s
ELS Surround system, which was developed in conjunction with
multiple Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner
and is available on the Acura TL, Acura RDX, Acura MDX and
the all-new Acura TSX.
“Panasonic ELS Surround is pleased to be a part of
the new Acura ALMS team led by a champion, Gil de Ferran.
ELS Surround is focused on technology, innovation and authenticity
to create a world-class audio experience for Acura vehicle
owners. These themes are aligned with the goals of the American
Le Mans Series to provide a world-class racing experience
which explores the boundaries of technology” said Vince
Sarrecchia, President, Panasonic Automotive Systems Company
of America.
Acura debuted in the American Le Mans Series last year, taking
a class victory on debut at the Twelve Hours of Sebring and
welcomes de Ferran Motorsports to its fold as the fourth factory-supported
squad to tackle the LMP2 class championship.
Gil de Ferran is no stranger to the Honda/Acura family. He
won both of his CART championships with Honda power and was
recently based in the UK as the Sporting Director for the
Honda F1 Racing Team.
“Gil de Ferran’s association with our racing
programmes goes back more than a decade,” said John
Mendel, Executive Vice President, Auto Operations for American
Honda. “His expertise as a driver, and now as a team
owner, will bring numerous and immeasurable benefits to the
Acura American Le Mans Series effort. We look forward to witnessing
many successful results from the de Ferran Motorsports team
in the coming months and years."
|
