Scott Sharp has elected to take his newly formed LMGT2 team, Extreme Speed
Motorsports, from a one-car Ferrari team to instead challenge for the
American Le Mans Series GT2 championship with two Ferrari 430 GTCs in 2010.
Thus the former Trans-Am and IndyCar driver will step out of the cockpit of
the Highcroftt Racing LMP1, leaving David Brabham to defend the Drivers' P1
championship with a new to-be-named teammate.
 |
|
Championship celebrations: American Le Mans Series 2009 champions David Brabham and Scott Sharp celebrate with Patron Highcroft Racing team members. Photo by Bob Heathcote.
|
 |
"I'll really miss working with the guys and driving the prototype cars
but the opportunity to establish my own team and really prolong my
career way beyond when I eventually hang up my helmet is too good an
opportunity to pass up," said Sharp. "I grew up watching my dad run
his race team, so to be able to follow in his footsteps will be really
rewarding."
Coming off of a remarkable season, Sharp and Brabham notched three wins
this season to clinch the championship in the season finale. The team
they had a great battle with, de Ferran Motorports, has yet to confirm
their return in 2010, even tough team owner Gil de Ferran did indicate
that he "is hopeful". The former Indy 500 winner de Ferran will field an
IndyCar team in 2010.
"It has been great to drive with Scott over the past two years. We've
had some great times both on and off the track and it was a pleasure to
share the championship with him," said Brabham. "I'd like to thank him
for all his efforts over the past couple of years and wish him the best
of luck with the Ferrari campaign."
Sharp, who announced his new GT2 team at the Petit Le Mans event at Road
Atlanta, had originally planned to stay with the Duncan Dayton owned
Highcroft Racing team but now will compete in the GT2 class. The good news
is that Sharp's long-time sponsor, Patron, has enjoyed their past two
seasons in the American Le Mans Series and will continue to sponsor not just
Sharp and his new team but also will remain on board with Highcroft Racing.
"We have enjoyed some great times with Scotty over the past two years
and will certainly be sorry to see him go," Dayton said. "He played a
key role in turning our team into a championship winning outfit and we
will all be forever grateful for that."
|
 |
|
Scott Sharp and David Brabham. Photo by Eric Gilbert.
|
Dayton will search, with the help from his star driver, Brabham, for a
suitable replacement driver in their quest to defend their P1 crown.
"We're looking closely at our driver options for 2010 and will be
identifying drivers who will be able to work as well with Brabs as
Scott has done over the past couple of years," he said.
Sharp will be one of the four drivers taking on the very tight battle
in GT2. The Patron Spirits Company's CEO, Ed Brown, will take to the
Ferrari cockpit. Brown has been a competition in the Patron sponsored
Porsche GT3 Cup challenge. Brown actually made his debut in the ALMS at
Miller Motorsport Park in the ALMS Challenge Class.
"As a driver and a sponsor, I really have the best of both words
for 2010," Brown said. "Patron is again backing the championship
winning squad as Highcroft aim to take back-to-back title wins. From my
perspective as a driver, it will be great to have Scott as my team owner
and teammate. He has a played an enormous role in helping me develop my
professional driving career and having him as a benchmark to aim for
will be very beneficial."
