;)
"I'm not sure if it's because of the long break since Long Beach or the excitement of heading home," said Cosmo, "but I'm pumped. Obviously it's great to be heading home, but climbing back behind the wheel of this ESM Patrón Ferrari 458 continues to be a thrill. With all the driving I do throughout the year and the variety of cars I drive, knowing I'll be driving one of the baddest Ferrari's on the planet at a legendary sports car course like Lime Rock… it just doesn't get any better."
This will be the eighth year of the American Le Mans Series Presented by Tequila Patron at Lime Rock Park. The track is a fast lap of up the hill and down again - a track that looks deceivingly simple but is immensely challenging to drive quickly. Unique in that it is only 1.5 miles in length, Lime Rock offers up only eight corners and the lap times are typically under a minute. With the high-tech ALMS cars, negotiating your way through traffic can and will make all the difference in the outcome of your day.
Looking back, the 2010 trip to Lime Rock was not a banner weekend for the No.02 Patrón Ferrari F430. Ever-changing conditions and limited track time had everyone chasing their set-up and suffering from the heat. Teams practiced and qualified in the rain while race day was dry, hot and humid. It was a tough weekend for everyone.
"We've put last year behind us," said Cosmo referring to the 2010 stop at Lime Rock. "I think we have a better handle on the 458 and results from recent testing have been very encouraging. We should roll off the trailer fairly close to race ready. Everyone at ESM is very optimistic. We'll be ready."
Guy will not be the only one enjoying the trip home. Teammate and ESM driver/owner Scott Sharp also has family history at Lime Rock. Scott went to his first race at Lime Rock Park when he was just 6 months old to watch his dad race in a variety of GT cars.
"We have lots of friends and family that come out to support us," noted Guy. "Just having everyone here along with all the guests from Patrón to experience the excitement of an American Le Mans Series race first hand, is great. I think it gives the whole team an emotional lift."
The American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 9. Live video coverage is available on ESPN3.com in the US and americanlemans.com for international users. Worldwide radio coverage is available on American Le Mans Radio at americanlemans.com. ESPN2 will air the race starting at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 10.
Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year competed last season in the No. 02 Extreme Speed Motorsports Patron Ferrari. Cosmo is a race record-holder at Mid-Ohio (for fastest lap in the GTC series, which he set in 2009 in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup). Cosmo has 28 starts in the American Le Mans Series, finishing in the top-five 18 times and has been on the winner’s podium twice. In addition to being an accomplished driver, Cosmo is also a highly sought-after driving instructor. Find out more about Guy Cosmo at http://www.guycosmo.com and follow Guy through the racing weekend on Twitter @guycosmo.
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is the world`s leading sports car championship and is recognized as the Global Leader in Green Racing. In the tradition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, multiple classes of cars - purpose-built prototypes and production-based Grand Touring automobiles - race on the track at the same time to create compelling race action and constant passing. All cars in the Series compete using one of five approved alternative fuels or energy sources: clean sulfur-free diesel, cellulosic E85 or E10, Isobutanol and electric hybrid technologies. The Series has more automobile marques involved than any other major race series in the world as manufacturers develop relevant technologies on track that transfer directly to the customer showroom. The ALMS competes at North America`s premier road racing tracks and selected temporary street circuits in major urban markets.