Intersport Racing adds Faulkner for Mid-Ohio

JOHN FAULKNER JOINS INTERSPORT RACING AT MID-OHIO

Dublin, Ohio - Intersport Racing announced today Star Mazda veteran John Faulkner will join Champ Car Atlantic star Ryan Lewis in the team's second LMP1 car as driver for the Acura Sports Car Challenge July 17-19 at Mid-Ohio in the 2008 American Le Mans Series.

Lewis will be behind the wheel for the balance of the season while Faulkner is slated to drive at Mid-Ohio, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Jon and Clint Field and Richard Berry will continue as drivers of the No. 37 Very Berry Exotics entry. The trio is fresh off a second place finish in the Utah Grand Prix at Miller Motorsports Park, having led the race overall for a brief period.

Faulkner began racing in 1995, winning various national races in Spec Racer Ford, C Sports Racer and Mazda up until 1998. He then competed in the American City Racing League in a Toyota WSR Sport Racer, claiming the championship and winning several races. The 2003 season saw Faulkner step into the Star Mazda Series, where he won the Masters division. He also placed second in 2005 and 2006. Last year, Faulkner tested Velocity Motorsports' Lola B06/10, which is now Intersport's No. 37 car.

Intersport Racing announced earlier this month that it will field a second Lola prototype in the American Le Mans Series starting at the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio on July 17-19. The Ohio-based squad has purchased Team Cytosport's former Lola B06/10 AER and will run it alongside its other ex-Dyson Lola. Champ Car Atlantic star Ryan Lewis will be joined by Star Mazda veteran John Faulkner as drivers for the Mid-Ohio round.

This isn't the first time Intersport has run two cars in the Series. In 2004, the team fielded a Lola B160 Judd and a LMP2 Lola B2K/40 Judd. That year, Clint and co-driver Robin Liddell combined to win six races, finishing runner-up in the P2 drivers and teams' championship. The following season, Clint scored five class victories en route to the P2 class championship. More success may just be right around the corner for the ever-expanding team.

Attending a test session this week where both drivers performed well in the car, team owner Clint Field expressed is confidence in the direction of the Intersport Racing expansion.

"We definitely feel the momentum is building, especially after our good run in Utah," Clint added. "Now with the addition of Ryan and John, the team will be elevated to a whole new level. Ryan's past experience in Atlantics and John's success in Star Mazda will help make Intersport a serious contender at every race."

NEXT UP: The American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix is race is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12 at Lime Rock Park. SPEED will televise the race from noon to 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 13. XM Satellite Radio will air the event live on XM Sports Nation Channel 144. Additional live coverage from American Le Mans Radio and IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring also will be available at americanlemans.com.

-credit: ir