;)
It's no secret the team has had its fair share of bad luck over the first half of the ALMS season. While the crew, drivers and the cars have all shown positive signs of improvement, tough luck on the track has overshadowed their efforts.
"You know, we've had a tough season thus far," said Cosmo. "In every race we've had some bad luck and contact with other cars that's resulted in going laps down to make repairs. We are keeping our spirits high, though. We know that with a clean race without avoidable contact from other drivers, we'll get results. TheTequila Patron ESM crew has worked tirelessly and our Ferrari's are getting faster every weekend. We're hopeful this weekend will give us the result we deserve."
Momentum is a big part of racing, and nowhere does that apply more than the 13 turn, 2.258-mile circuit at Mid-Ohio. The event comes at the mid-point of the 2011 American Le Mans Series season and every team knows now is the time to have your program in order and head into the final stretch of the summer.
"Mid-Ohio is a very challenging course," Guy duly noted. "And quite a workout on the driver as well. You have to really think and plan your way around this track as if you're playing a game of chess - because whatever move you make for one corner will definitely have an effect the following corners. I've been around here so much that it's 2nd nature to me, but to a driver that doesn't know the nuances of Mid-Ohio, it can be very frustrating!"
"Last year Ed and I ran well here," recalled Cosmo. "I started the race and kept us in the hunt for the first half, and then turned over to Ed - who did a great job, but got hit by another car and ended our race. Ed and I are both looking for redemption from last year and finish where we deserve - in the top five."
The action gets underway Thursday afternoon with two promoter testing sessions. There will be two practice sessions on Friday ahead of GT qualifying at 2:40 pm ET. The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 6 with ESPN2 airing the race starting at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 7. Live video coverage on race day will be available at 3:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3.com in the US, and americanlemans.com for international viewers. Canadian fans may also watch live coverage on Rogers Sportsnet starting at 3:30 p.m. ET. Worldwide radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio at americanlemans.com.
Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year competed last season in the No. 02 Extreme Speed Motorsports Patrón 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.