Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) is hoping to have a successful debut at the premier road course in the USA as the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship rolls into Watkins Glen.
Whilst it will be the first time at the upstate New York for the team’s HPD Prototypes, their drivers have a combined 16 starts at the track with three pole positions and three wins setting them up for potential success at the track.
Team boss Scott Sharp said: “Patrón/ESM couldn’t be more excited to go to Watkins Glen and chase the third round of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup!
“Fortunately we were able to test at The Glen in late May and we’re ready to get to the circuit this week. All of the prototypes are flat through the Esses and it is an awfully long straight from Turn 1 to the Bus Stop. At the test we were down 8-9 mph to the DP cars heading into the Bus Stop. Luckily through many of the medium-speed corners, we are able to make some time back so it will be interesting to see how things shake out in the race.
“I grew up in the Northeast and Watkins Glen was the third track I ever drove on and I have many fond memories. Watkins Glen is truly one of my favorite tracks and I can’t wait to get back!”
Watch: Scott Sharp laps Watkins Glen with a helmet cam:
In the #1 Sharp will be joined by the Flying Scotsman himself in Ryan Dalziel in what will only be a duo for the first ESM machine, but in the second there will be a three pronged attack on the prototype class as Anthony Lazzaro joins full season drivers Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek in the #2.
Lazzaro commented: “I’m looking forward to driving the HPD prototype for ESM, especially at Watkins Glen – one of the best road courses in the world. Driving a race-winning car for a race-winning team is a privilege and I know I’m racing with the best team in the paddock. I was thrilled for Ed and Johannes when they won at Laguna Seca. Hopefully the three of us can get back to the podium and get these guys another win, especially since this is one of the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup races.”
