;)
"It's going to be good having a couple of weeks with friends and family," noted Guy. "Living in Florida and being on the road so much, I don't get to see everyone as often as I'd like to. Even though we're up here racing, driving has been such a huge part of my life, everyone comes out to support me at the track and it's just like old times. It's great!"
Cosmo's last run with the Grand Am Series set a couple of "firsts" for the native New Yorker. Guy's pole position at the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle was his first pole in Rolex Series competition, the first pole for the Ferrari 458 Italia in Grand Am competition and the first pole ever for Extreme Speed Motorsports.
While this weeks event is a six hour endurance race and will require a different strategy, Cosmo is confident they can continue the No. 03 Tequila Patron Ferrari 458's Detroit momentum at the Glen.
"The car was so good at Belle Isle," said Guy. "I have no reason to believe we won't be just as strong here at the Sahlen's Six Hour. In fact, having practically grown up at Watkins Glen, I'm pretty confident of our chances here. I'll be sharing the car with Johannes [Van Overbeek] and Mike Hedlund."
Mike Hedlund will make his ESM debut with van Overbeek and Cosmo in is his second professional start and second GRAND-AM race.
There will be 23 GT entries competing on the 3.4 mile, 11-turn road course. The Glen provides the perfect blend of altitude changes, sweeping turns and long fast straights. Long a favorite of road racers world wide, Cosmo gives hi-marks to the legendary track.
"As a proud New Yorker," said Cosmo, "and even though I defected to Florida before retirement - Watkins Glen holds a very special place in my heart. You don't have to be a New Yorker to realize the sheer beauty of upstate New York and the Finger Lakes region that the quaint town of Watkins Glen resides. Race drivers world-wide recognize Watkins Glen International Raceway as one of the greatest race tracks in the world with it's flat-out climbing esses, elevation changes and the challenges of a truly high-speed race track."
"Add to that," Cosmo continued, "the Glen's rich history in motorsports, dating back to the beginning of road racing in America, and having played host to all the major racing series including Formula One for so many years, Watkins Glen is definitely one of the greatest race tracks on this planet."
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen is a three-day event. The team practices on Friday and Saturday, June 29-30. Qualifying takes place on Saturday, June 30, at 12:05 p.m. (ET). Green flag for the race is on Sunday, July 1, at 11 a.m. (ET). Live race coverage will be available starting at 11 a.m. ET on SPEED.
The next race for the Extreme Speed Motorsports team is the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park on July 6-7.
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.