The Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda of Butch Leitzinger and Marino Franchitti won the LMP2 class at Lime Rock over the weekend.

“It was a great day to win at home,” Rob Dyson said afterwards. Dyson Racing won their first race with Mazda at their home track of Lime Rock, the same track where Dyson Racing’s first professional race win came in 1985. Marino Franchitti and Butch Leitzinger took the win in the # 20 BP Lola-Mazda Coupe at the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix, leading 166 out of 172 laps. “This was the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort and lot of passion on the part of so many people at Mazda, BP, Lola and AER. We are honored to be part of it,” added Dyson. Franchitti set the race’s fastest class lap on his way to his first win in the ALMS. “From the moment you join Dyson Racing, you are part of a family,” said Franchitti. “We missed giving Rob a win last year for his celebration of 25 years in professional racing, so this is a belated gift. This one is for the passion and the commitment of this incredible team.”

This is Leitzinger’s fifth career win at Lime Rock. Leitzinger noted that “this means a lot for our team and the guys who put so much pride into their racing. Their friends and family come here and it is fitting that they can share his home win with them.”

Chris Dyson and Guy Smith were not able to share the podium with their winning team members. The #16 car was retired an hour into the two hour and forty-five minute race with electrical problems. “Every year we come here and the enthusiasm of the fans is incredible,” commented Chris Dyson. “I am happy for Butch and Marino and everybody at Dyson Racing. We are delighted to give BP and Mazda an ALMS LMP2 win, and we really appreciate their passion and commitment to this program. Also, to put Lola back in victory lane along with Advanced Engine Research is a real thrill for us as we’ve all done this before in the ALMS. Winning never gets old.”

John Doonan, Manager of Motorsport Team Development for Mazda, commented that “when you combine the Dyson tradition and commitment with the passion for motorsports at Mazda, BP and Castrol, it is a strong combination. When you see the number of media and fans who came out for this race, it is a great statement about what the American Le Mans Series stands for. It was a good day all the way around."

The next round of the 2009 American Le Mans Series takes place at Mid-Ohio on August 8.

Pos Drivers Car Time/Gap

1. Gil de Ferran/Simon Pagenaud Acura 2h45m14.053s
2. David Brabham/Scott Sharp Acura +43.776
3. Johnny Mowlem/Stefan Johansson Ginetta-Zytek +7 laps
4. Butch Leitzinger/Marino Franchitti Lola-Mazda +12 laps
5. Jorg Bergmeister/Patrick Long Porsche +17 laps
6. Tony Burgess/Chris McMurry Lola-AER +18 laps
7. Adrian Fernandez/Luis Diaz Acura +18 laps
8. Jaime Melo/Pierre Kaffer Ferrari +18 laps
9. Joey Hand/Bill Auberlen BMW +18 laps
10. Wolf Henzler/Bryce Miller Porsche +19 laps
11. Richard Westbrook/Johannes Stuck Porsche +21 laps
12. Dominik Farnbacher/Ian James Panoz-Ford +21 laps
13. Johannes van Overbeek/Seth Neiman Porsche +25 laps
14. Joel Feinberg/Chris Hall Dodge +26 laps
15. G.van der Steur/Adam Pecorari Radical-AER +27 laps
16. D. Robertson/A. Robertson/D. Murry Ford +31 laps
17. Wesley Hoaglund/Bob Faieta Porsche +35 laps
18. Ed Brown/Bill Sweedler Porsche +38 laps
19. Nick Parker/Don Pickering Porsche +40 laps
20. Martin Snow/Melanie Snow Porsche +42 laps
21. Dirk Müller/Tom Milner BMW +42 laps

Retirements

J. Field/C. Field/C. Ducote Lola-AER 38 laps
Chris Dyson/Guy Smith Lola-Mazda 63 laps
John Baker/Guy Cosmo Porsche 52 laps

All pictures Lola Heritage.

The LMP2 class-winning Lola-Mazda of Dyson Racing.



The Dyson Team celebrate their victory.



Butch Leitzinger and Marino Franchitti look justifiably delighted.