Team RLR set for Le Mans Series debut

The UK’s newest Le Mans team has unveiled its plans to challenge for honours in the world’s premier endurance racing series.

Team RLR - based in Bolton, Lancashire - will field the class-winning MG Lola EX265 in the LMP2 category at the final two rounds of the 2010 Le Mans Series, Hungaroring and Silverstone. The events will be used as preparation for a full assault on the Le Mans Series by Team RLR in 2011. The all-British squad will be led by team principal Nick Reynolds, who has extensive experience in both historic and modern sporstcar endurance racing. Drivers will include Barry Gates (2009 SPEED endurance racing Euro series winner) and Rob Garofall (2009 SPEED endurance racing UK series winner). Team RLR has left no stone unturned in its preparation for graduating to the highest level of endurance racing. The team has tested the MG-powered Lola EX265 on no less than eight occasions during 2010 at the Hungaroring and Silverstone as well as at other venues in the UK and in Spain. With such an extensive testing programme covering thousands of kilometres under its belt the squad is aiming to hit the ground running when it takes to the track in Hungary for the penultimate round of the Le Mans Series 2010, and will be looking to be on the pace from the word go. Team RLR’s long-term goal is to compete for honours in the Le Mans 24 Hours and bring through new British sportscar racing talent as the squad develops its presence in the Le Mans Series over the course of the next three seasons. Its home city of Bolton already has strong links with Le Mans, having been twinned with the French city since 1973, and Team RLR wants to use this unique link to generate support locally as it takes on the challenge of endurance racing events across Europe. Team RLR is already in talks with a number of high-profile partners and sponsors as part of its three-year plan to win titles in the LMP2 class. Nick Reynolds, Team RLR Principal, said: “We have a lot of experience in historic and modern endurance racing so it was a natural progression for the whole team to step up to the Le Mans Series. The decision was taken earlier this year to do some testing with the car in order to ensure we were up to speed before going racing, and we will use the last two events of the season to put what we have learned into practice. If we are as successful as we believe we can be then it will be ideal preparation for tackling a full season next year.” Barry Gates Team RLR driver, said: “I have been racing sports prototypes with the guys behind Team RLR for the last two years, winning the SPEED Euro series last year and finishing runner up in the SPEED UK series. Making the move to the Le Mans Series is a big jump for the team but we are eager to take it to the next level and challenge in the LMP2 class. The car has great pedigree and has won in the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in the past, so we know we have the equipment to be competitive right from the start. A strong finish in each of the remaining rounds this season would set us up nicely for coming back with an even stronger package in 2011.” Rob Garofall, Team RLR driver, said: “I’m really excited about the prospect of taking up the challenge of racing in the LMP2 class of the Le Mans Series. It really is a dream come true. To have been involved with the team right from the outset of the project has been a great, and to see it all come together over the past few months has been very satisfying. We had very good tests at the Hungaroring and Silverstone so we are going into it as prepared as we can be. With all the preparation done I now really want to get out there and go racing. We want to give a good account of ourselves and show that we can be right up there at the sharp end. I am confident we will be able to do that.” ENDS Notes for editors: To find out more about Team RLR and its Le Mans Series campaign log on to: www.rlrrmotorsport.com You can also follow Team RLR on Facebook.

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