Returning to the site of his first American Le Mans Series win, Guy Cosmo is pinning his hopes on returning to the podium at Mid-Ohio when the Extreme Speed Motorsports team heads to Lexington, Ohio for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge. With last week's Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport win in their back pocket, the team has high expectations for the No. 01 and 02 Patrón Ferrari GT458's in this Saturday's race.
"I'm really thrilled with and proud of the team's progress this season," noted Guy. "We've been very competitive with strong performances from both cars. We've even squeaked out a win with the 01 team at the last race. We've got the momentum. I hope that momentum builds and winds up like a steam-roller flattening everything in it's path."
While the 02 car has generated lots of on-track excitement and shown speeds and lap times capable of winning, Cosmo and co-driver Ed Brown have not yet put it all together to take a spot on the podium. None-the-less, their confidence and team preparation continue to pose a threat.
"For the 02 car," continued Cosmo, "Ed and I need to take the best aspects of our performances this season and pull them all together for a good result. In the last two races, we've started strong, charged through the pack, led in dominant fashion, but in the end, either had bad luck or just plain got it wrong. We are on the verge of a great finish together, and we are pushing for that this weekend."
A popular circuit among drivers, the legendary Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a natural terrain road-racing circuit featuring 13-turns and several elevations changes over 2.25 miles. The track has tested the courage of some of the world's top drivers for more than 40 years.
"I've got fond memories of this place," added Guy. When I first started racing, I raced there so many times to get prepared for the SCCA National Run-offs, which took place at that track. I think my father and I practically lived in Ohio in 1997 in efforts to race in everything that they had there under the sun. I’ve won more races at that track than anywhere else I’ve been… including my first win in the American Le Mans Series back in 2005 in LMP2… but I haven’t won there since."
“A good lap around Mid-Ohio is like playing a game of chess," said Guy. "You have to strategize your way around that course, not just drive your way around. Placement is really important. It is very slippery and you really have to think ahead because it is such a twisty and tight course that if you mess up one corner, you’re going to mess up two more corners after it. You really need to plan ahead."
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a two-day event. The team will take to the track for two practice sessions on Friday, August 3, followed by qualifying at 1:55 p.m. (ET). Green flag for the race is on Saturday, August 4, at 1:05 p.m. (ET).
Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year drives 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 38 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. You can find out more about Guy Cosmo at http://www.guycosmo.com or follow Guy through the racing weekend on Twitter @guycosmo and on Facebook.
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.