CRS Racing have announced they will enter the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) – the new six race championship that brings together some of the biggest sportscar races in America and Euope into a single Auto Club de L'Ouest run championship.
The team will campaign a single Ferrari 430 for drivers Pierre Ehret, Stuart Lynn and Roger Wills in the GTE Am class – the class structure shaken up in light of the LMGT1 class bowing out – the series taking CRS around the world, starting with Sebring in March and ending with a race in China in November. The team will also enter the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours.
“The ILMC presents CRS with a great opportunity to go and do the biggest GT races in the world,” said team principal, Andrew Kirkaldy. “It's a fantastic series for the drivers to participate in a championship that incorporates the big three of Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. The GTE Am category is a great addition to the series and we think this will be hotly contested.”
Kirkaldy – an experienced GT driver himself – calls the driving trio 'very strong'. Ehret – an amateur driver who is a veteran of seasons with CRS Racing – being joined by historic racers Lynn and Wills, both of whom have previously driven in, and won, events at Le Mans. Wills also took a class win at last year's Spa 24 Hours in a GT4 Aston Martin.
“The ILMC is a huge challenge for a non-professional racing driver and it is not something we have taken on lightly,” said Wills. “Both Shaun and I tested the Ferrari before Christmas and we are now looking forward to a great year of racing it at some of the top sportscar events in the world.”
As well as their ILMC commitments, CRS Racing are also planning a full season in the Le Mans Series in Europe. The driver line-up for that five series championship is currently being finalised.
