Petit Le Mans class winners Team Falken Tire have announced their intention to join the GTLM class of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (USCC) for next season.
However, the team’s brand new 2014 spec Porsche 911 RSR will be absent from January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, their season instead set to begin at the second round of the season – the 12 Hours of Sebring when they are expected to be one of relatively few privateer teams in the class.
Both of the team’s regulars drivers will return as the squad make the move to the new series that combines the American Le Mans Series and Rolex Series fields with Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler set for a fifth full time campaign on Falken tyres
“I am very excited and honoured to be returning with Falken Tire, especially after a victory like the final Petit Le Mans.” said Sellers. “After all the work, it was truly breathtaking. It’s very important I have continuity in a program and I am glad Wolf and Derrick will be returning as part of the program as well. I am very hopeful for the future of our program.”
“I’m very happy to return to Falken as they continue in the TUDOR United SportsCar series,” added Henzler. “It is an exciting time for racing and I’m glad to be a part of it with Bryan Sellers. To win Petit Le Mans was unbelievable and shows how dedicated this team is to win. I look forward to what we can do in the new series with the new car.”
Team manager Derrick Walker will also remain with the outfit as team manager, the team being run from Walker Racing’s Indianapolis workshop.
“To go out in the last ALMS race on top, it was a great victory for Falken Tire. They worked so hard to get this victory. It’s great to see Falken continuing on into the United SportsCar Series,” said Walker. “The commitment they’ve given to racing has been amazing. They’re a very determined company to produce quality tires in the toughest environment.
“This news is great for racing. When you look at the new 911, it’s a bigger step from the current car in terms of optimizing what it needs for a very competitive GT series. It will have all the things every racer needs: more downforce, lighter, more power, more grip, more mechanical grip. Porsche is continuing to make a serious commitment to GT racing and I couldn’t be happier.”
