Guy Cosmo and Extreme Speed Motorsports Turn Up The Heat At Long Beach

Driving the No. 02 Patron Extreme Speed Motorsports GT2 Ferrari F430, 2005 ALMS Rookie of the Year Guy Cosmo and co-driver Ed Brown continued the team's attack on the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron points championship. Cosmo rounded out the weekend with a solid qualifying run and followed team owner Scott Sharp in the No. 01 Ferrari home for 7th and 8th position in the crowded and highly competitive GT2 division.

"What a great weekend," said Cosmo enthusiastically. "It's been a few years since I've raced at Long Beach and I'd forgotten what a fantastic experience it is. As a driver, it's like everything is in motion. And, you're working with very little track time, so you can't afford any mistakes. Everyone is under pressure to perform. Personally, that's the way I like it."

"The real bonus at Long Beach is the fan experience," Cosmo continued. "It's definitely a party. The fans are totally into it, there's a buzz over the entire city… and for me, this year, I'm right in the thick of things representing Patron. It's amazing. It's pretty fantastic to be supported by a partner that embraces every opportunity to interact and entertain the fans of your sport. With my Patron relationship, it's not just about driving these great ESM Ferraris. We're meeting Patron's corporate guests, mixing it up with fans and living the Patron brand lifestyle. Long Beach was all of that and more."

As much as Guy was enthusiastic about the Long Beach event and the weekend's festivities, he was equally enthused about Extreme Speed Motorsports' growth and progress as a team. For a team that didn't exist at the end of last season, ESM has shown incredible professionalism and poise in the early going of the ALMS season.

"Our team's growth is right on schedule," noted Guy. "Short of the fire with the No. 01 car at Sebring, ESM hasn't missed a beat. It's real a boost to a driver's confidence to know he has a great car and that it's been prepped by one of the best crews in the business. With the Ferraris we've got that and more. The cars are a dream to drive."

Guy went to say, "The ESM guys had realistic expectations coming into Long Beach. It's a tough circuit and one that can be treacherous in traffic. Those walls can get pretty close in no time at all and they're not very forgiving. With the tight schedule, the last thing you need to do is bring your crew a car to repair. There's just no time. So, all-in-all, both Ed and I are pleased to come out of there with a good solid run, our cars in one piece and more set-up information to take to Monterey."

The next round of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is the American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patrón. The six-hour race is set for 2:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 22 from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. CBS Sports will broadcast the race from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 29. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 242. Visit the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.

Guy Cosmo Launches New Web Site
Guy's fans can follow the weekend's activities at his newly designed Web site http://www.guycosmo.com - The site will feature news and photos from the event along with personal entries from Guy posted daily to his blog.

Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year and also a former ORBIT Racing driver, competed last season in the No. 47 Porsche 911 GT3. He finished the season 3rd in the Challenge class championship qualifying on the pole three times. Cosmo has 19 starts in the American Le Mans Series, finishing in the top-five 17 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.

Extreme Speed Motorsports is sponsored by Tequila Patrón, along with support from Ferrari Corse Clienti and the team’s official tire technical partner Michelin.

Patrón, a longtime supporter of motorsports racing, also recently signed on as presenting sponsor of the full American Le Mans Series.

Guy Cosmo and Extreme Speed Motorsports Taking It To The Streets

After a successful inaugural run at the 2010 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, Guy Cosmo and teammate Ed Brown will put the Patrón Extreme Speed Motorsports No. 2 Ferrari F430 GT2 car through its paces on the streets of Long Beach for the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series At Long Beach.

In just its second race, the team will go from competing in the longest race of the year to the shortest. The abbreviated 100 minute format denotes Long Beach as the shortest race on the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón schedule.

While the Long Beach Grand Prix will be the first time the Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferraris compete on a street course, team owner Scott Sharp is no stranger to North America's longest running street event. He and teammate David Brabham were victorious in 2008 in the Highcroft Patron Acura prototype.

"I'm excited to be heading out west," said Guy Cosmo, "and equally excited to get the rest of the season underway. We're currently sitting 6th in the points standings, so I'm anxious to find a rhythm and score more points toward the championship."

"I've only raced at Long Beach once before," recalled Guy. "It was in 2001 in the Toyota Atlantic Series and I drove for Chuck West's World Speed Motorsports.  As I recall, I had a top-10 finish…  and absolutely loved the event. The energy of the city and the people was infectious and the track layout was great. As far as street circuits go, Long Beach is definitely the granddaddy of them all. I can't wait to get the ESM Patrón Ferrari on track!"

The team will have their work cut out for them given the compressed schedule. Cars will hit the track for a two-hour practice round at 7:15AM Friday then a short 1/2 hour session at 5PM. Qualifying for the GT teams will be a 20 minute session beginning at 5:40PM.

The 100 minute Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach race will take the green flag at 4:40PM Saturday.

Guy Cosmo Launches New Web Site

Guy's fans can follow the weekend's activities at his newly designed Web site http://www.guycosmo.com - The site will feature news and photos from the event along with personal entries from Guy posted daily to his blog.

The Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach is the second round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. The race, set at the historic Long Beach street circuit, is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 17 with coverage on SPEED set for 8 to 10 p.m. ET. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 245. Visit the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.

Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year and also a former ORBIT Racing driver, competed last season in the No. 47 Porsche 911 GT3. He finished the season 3rd in the Challenge class championship qualifying on the pole three times. Cosmo has 19 starts in the American Le Mans Series, finishing in the top-five 17 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.

Cosmo and Extreme Speed - A Force To Be Reckoned With at Sebring

Photo by John Thawley Guy Cosmo along with Extreme Speed Motorsports, debuted a new team and two new Ferrari F430 GTs at the 58th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. The week-long event kicked off the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron championship season. From wheels down to the checkered flag, Extreme Speed Motorsports, sponsored by Patron Spirits, leveraged their on-track performance making a clear statement to all competitors in the GT2 division, they came to race and they're prepared to win.

Driving the #02 black Ferrari F430 GT, trimmed in the familiar Patron green, Cosmo was joined by co-drivers, Ed Brown and Joao Barbosa. The trio worked the 12 hour endurance race with precision and harmony, never missing a beat or putting a wheel off while delivering a 6th place finish in their division.

"It was a very long week," noted Guy Cosmo. "But it finally provided the team with an opportunity to make real-time comparisons against the best in the GT class. We were able to make solid gains all week long - not only in the car, but also in our pit stops, teamwork and with the drivers. It was instrumental in accelerating Ed's pace and getting him more comfortable behind the wheel."

"Personally, I really enjoy driving this Ferrari F430 GT," added Cosmo.  "It's a great match for my driving style and it's the kind of car that puts a smile on my face lap after lap. Michelotto and ESM have done an incredible job building and preparing these cars. They've contributed to our confidence and made us competitive right away. And to think, this is just the beginning.  There is a lot more to learn and extract from our cars and the team. We've only just started to scratched the surface."

Late in the race the #02 Ferrari's sister car, #01 Ferrari F430 GT driven by Scott Sharp, Johannes van Overbeek and Dominik Farnbacher, experienced a fire in the rear wheel housing. Scott Sharp, who was driving at the time, had the keen sense to pull the car into a safe area, virtually delivering it to the safety crews, who got the fire under control. Scott walked away from the incident unharmed.

"I felt terrible for our teammates Scott, Johannes and Dominik," said Guy. "They were close to grabbing a podium finish before the fire took them out of the race.  The Extreme Speed crew have a tremendous task ahead of them rebuilding the #01 car for Long Beach. Fortunately, they're the right crew for the job."

"After such a long week, I'm ecstatic with our 6th place finish," exclaimed Guy. "This was our first outing and Sebring is arguably the most demanding track in the world and the 12 Hour one of the toughest races. I'm happy to have played a part pulling in a solid result for Extreme Speed, Ferrari Corse Cliente, Michelin and our sponsor Tequila Patron. Now I just can't wait for Long Beach!"

Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year and also a former ORBIT Racing driver, competed last season in the No. 47 Porsche 911 GT3. He finished the season 3rd in the Challenge class championship qualifying on the pole three times. Cosmo has 19 starts in the American Le Mans Series, finishing in the top-five 17 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 Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach is the second round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. The race, set at the historic Long Beach street circuit, is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 15 with coverage on SPEED set for 8 to 10 p.m. ET. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius and XM. Visit the the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.

GUY COSMO BEGINS A NEW CAREER CHAPTER AT 58th MOBIL 1 12 HOURS OF SEBRING PRESENTED BY FRESH FROM FLORIDA

When the field takes the green flag for Saturday's 58th running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, Guy Cosmo will shift his driving career into high gear.  Piloting a brand new Ferrari F430 GT car under the banner of Tequila Patrón Extreme Speed Motorsports, Guy will rejoin the upper echelon of sports car racing competing in America's premier sports car series, the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.

Extreme Speed Motorsports will compete with two cars, one piloted by Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek, and the other with Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo behind the wheel. Tequila Patrón, a longtime supporter of motorsports racing, is sponsor, along with Ferrari Corse Clienti and the team’s official tire sponsor Michelin.

Sebring, a former WWII airfield, is known for it's unprecedented abuse of cars and drivers alike. It is one of the most difficult sports car endurance circuits in the world. For many, simply finishing the 12 Hours amounts to a victory of sorts. In a word, the 12 Hours of Sebring is brutal.

For Guy Cosmo, the 58th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring comes down to a lifetime of preparation.

"This is huge for me," noted Cosmo. "You think of all the corny cliches you hear athletes say in interviews, and suddenly, in a situation like I'm in today, they don't seem quite so corny."

"When you find yourself in a scenario where everything feels right, your confidence soars," explained Cosmo. "Not that you want to be over confident, but you step outside of yourself and review the task at hand. Driving in the American Le Mans Series and at this level of racing is what I've worked and trained for my whole career. Driving for a high-caliber team like Scott Sharp's Extreme Speed Motorsports is where I'm supposed to be… it's a seat I worked for and I've earned. On top of all that, I understand the professional requirements of working with a partner like Tequila Patrón. So upon personal review, I'm ready for this. This is what I've worked for and this is where I'm supposed to be."

Extreme Speed Motorsports and the Ferrari F430:

"I can't say enough about the car and the team," said Guy. "The testing and development program has gone very well. I think Scott's assembled a fantastic team and it's remarkable what they've accomplished to get us to this point. And, the cars… well, I chuckle to myself now and then… but after all, it's a Ferrari. Seriously, how can you not love driving a Ferrari. They're just great cars to drive."

Michelin Tires:

"If there is one single component on the car a driver is intimately attached to, it's the tires," expressed Cosmo. "The tires are your sensory connection to the track. They tell you everything you need to know in order for you to attack the track intelligently. The Michelins do it in spades. You can have the best car in the world, but if it's not on the right tire, it doesn't matter... "

Sebring and the 58th running of the 12 Hours:

"My first American Le Mans race ever was the 2003 Sebring 12 Hour," Guy recalled. "I've only raced in it a handful of times, so I can't wait to get another one in the log book. As a start-up team and as our first race, we are approaching Sebring with realistic expectations… from both cars. I certainly expect us to be right in the mix, contending with the best in the class and sending a message that the Patrón Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferraris are strong and the team a force to be reckoned with. We have no intentions of writing off the year simply 'coming-up-to-speed.' We're here to race."

Guy will be joined in the car by Ed Brown. Brown is formerly a Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama driver who made his debut in the American Le Mans Series in 2009 in the GT Challenge class with ORBIT Racing. Brown’s best finish in the GT Challenge class last season was in the runner-up position at Lime Rock Park.

Joao Barbosa and Dominik Farnbacher will join the team for the 58th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, and Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans later this year.

Barbosa, who won the 24 Hours of Daytona earlier this year, will compete with Cosmo and Brown while Farnbacher, a four-time winner in the Series driving an F430 GT, will join Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek in the team’s other entry.

Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year and also a former ORBIT Racing driver, competed last season in the No. 47 Porsche 911 GT3. He finished the season 3rd in the Challenge class championship qualifying on the pole three times. Cosmo has 19 starts in the American Le Mans Series, finishing in the top-five 17 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 will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED starting at 10 a.m. ET. Live coverage also will be available on American Le Mans Radio, as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 245. Visit the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.

Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Presented by Fresh from Florida Schedule (All times local):

Monday, March 15
10:00am - 12:00pm: Testing
3:00pm - 5:00pm: Testing

Tuesday, March 16
11:20am - 12:20pm: Testing
3:20pm - 4:20pm: Testing

Wednesday, March 17
2:20pm - 2:50pm: Testing LMP classes only
2:50pm - 3:50pm: All classes

Thursday, March 18
10:30am - 11:30am: Practice
2:05pm - 3:05pm: Practice
7:15pm - 9:00pm: Practice

Friday, March 19
9:40am - 10:40am: Practice
12:00pm - 1:00pm: Driver autograph session
2:25pm - 2:50pm: Qualifying LMP classes

Saturday, March 20
8:00am - 8:25am: Warm-up
10:30am - 10:30pm: Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida

The Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame to Honor Guy Cosmo with the Dick Moroso Memorial Motorsports Award

On March 21st 2010, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission will honor Guy Cosmo with the Dick Moroso Memorial Motorsports Award at the Sports Hall of Fame. This award honors the person that has contributed and made a mark on motorsports in Palm Beach county.  Covering all aspects of racing, from drivers to sponsors, the Dick Moroso Memorial Motorsports Award brings awareness to the impact of motorsports while keeping alive the memory of Dick Moroso and his passion for sportsmanship and competition.

As one of the most recognizable names within Palm Beach road racing community, Guy Cosmo's hard work, self-determination and natural skill have driven him along the path of his dreams.  Guy found his calling at the early age of 14 when he started racing Karts. And while many children will tell you that they want to be a race car driver when they grow up, few actually realize those dreams. More than Guy's impressive list of successes during his young career, it is his charisma and love for the sport that truly define him as a driver of character.

As a result of his extensive background, for 2010, Cosmo will join Extreme Speed Motorsports. Under the helm of Indy Racing League champion race car driver Scott Sharp, of Jupiter, FL, Patron Tequilla Extreme Speed Motorsports has established their new state-of-the-art race shop in Stuart, FL. Guy will co-drive one of the teams two new Ferraris in the highly competitive GT class of the American Le Mans Series. The GT class attracts manufacturer-backed teams from Corvette, Porsche, BMW, Jaguar and Ferrari. The American Le Mans is a top-tier pro Series and races on road courses throughout North America.

A proven front-runner in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype category, Guy also plans to compete this year in Grand-Am's Continental Tire Challenge, driving a 911 Porsche for BGB Motorsports. He also completed the 2010 24 Hours of Daytona with Orbit Racing, of Riviera Beach.

A knack for teaching also has Guy in high demand by both driving schools and private individuals. His entrepreneurial spirit created Cosmo-Sport and COSMEDIA, two companies that cover everything from retail to driving schools.

Much of Guy's success stems from supportive family, friends and fans. He won the Formula Ford SE Division in 1997 at the age of twenty, the USF2000 American Continental Championship in 1999, the Star Mazda North American Championship in 2002, and the 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year award.

In addition to the recognition of Guy Cosmo’s accomplishments, the Dick Moroso Memorial Motorsports Award helps highlight the economic and social impact of motorsports to Palm Beach county. In addition, the Award brings awareness to the Sports Hall of Fame, paving the way for future Hall of Fame inductees from the motorsports community.

The banquet will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center March 21, starting at 5:30 PM. Tickets may be purchased individually for $75 (members) or $85 (non-members) and are also available for full-table purchases.

Visit the website www.palmbeachsports.com for more information or contact Laura South at LauraSouth@comcast.net 561-371-7818.


________________________________________________________
John Thawley  ~  Creative Communications Group ~ 248.227.0110




Orbit Porsche Suffers a Fiery Finish at Daytona

Photo: Rick DoleAs hard as they tried,  when the checkered flag fell on the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Roxlex 24 at Daytona, Guy Cosmo and Orbit Racing's No. 88 GT3 Porsche came up a few hours short. Teamed up with drivers John Baker, Johnny Mowlem, Tom Papadopoulos and Lance Willsey, Cosmo could only look back with disappointment as the team loaded up the charred remounts of the No. 88 Porsche.

"It was really fun while it lasted," exclaimed Guy. "Orbit did a great job and the car felt fantastic!"

The team had gotten off to a great start with co-driver Johnny Mowlem advancing the car to 3rd place while driving in the wet.

"Yeah, the race started well," said Cosmo. "The race started out in wet conditions, but Johnny did a great job and got us up to 3rd. Unfortunately we suffered a right rear tire blowout - no damage, but with the time we lost in pits we fell to the back of the pack."

Tom Papadopoulos took the second stint but he would climb out early as the car developed an electronic issue.

"Tom had a really solid stint going," noted Guy. "It ended short though when an O2 sensor went bad. So Tom pitted early for quick fix and then I got in. I got us back up to 12th or so during my stint."

Car owner Lance Willsey took to the wheel after Guy for a double stint as well, suffering mild damage to the rear wing after a small spin.  When Johnny Mowlem's turn came back around, tire problems once again reared their ugly head.

"This is one of the crazy things about endurance racing," said Guy. "Johnny got back in and began having more tire trouble. Locating the problem resulted in 3 trips to the pit box. Ultimately it was discovered we had a punctured tire."

The team's strategy of having the drivers do double stints was displaying a positive effect. Tom Papadopoulos climbed back in after Johnny and all was ok. Tom had an excellent stint and turned the car over to Cosmo for the long lonely night shift.

With Cosmo running late into the night, he was eventually forced to pit for a fix to the rear tail lights which weren't working & a brake change. His final stint ended at about 5:30am.

"My final stint was simply the best," said Cosmo, grinning. "There really is nothing like doing the double-graveyard shift at Daytona - some of the most peaceful and rhythmic driving a racer can do - especially in a really well prepped car... I loved it!"

Cosmo's late night afterglow would be nothing but a memory by sunrise. While back at his hotel for a few hours of down time, Cosmo was awoken with a phone call and the news that John Baker had just gotten in the car and radioed in that he thought he smelled smoke.  He came around to the start finish line once before the car caught fire.

Baker was able to scramble to safety, but the No. 88 Orbit Racing GT3 Porsche was out of the race.

"Bummer!" was the only description Cosmo could muster.  "Like I said, the car really was fantastic. The guys from Orbit busted their behinds and really did a great job. But, hey… that's racing.  I'd like to thank Orbit Racing and all the drivers for the opportunity to drive with them.  We certainly had fun while it lasted.  We'll just move on to the next one."

The next race for the GRAND-AM Rolex Series will be the Grand Prix of Miami on March 6 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Live timing/scoring will be available at grand-am.com.

Guy Cosmo is one of the most successful and versatile young racing drivers of his day.  Guy is recognized as a first-class professional racer in the sports car road racing industry, having won the 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year award and positioning himself as a proven front-runner in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype category.  Guy's success stems from supportive family, friends and fans that have helped him through race wins and championships from Kart Racing, Formula Ford, Formula 2000, Star Mazda and Toyota Atlantic, to his professional endeavors in the Grand-Am and American Le Mans Series.  Guy’s extensive background between open-wheel formula cars, sports prototypes and GT sedans make him one of the most diverse and accomplished young drivers in the world. You can read more about Guy at http://www.guycosmo.com

In recent news, Guy has been signed to drive with Extreme Speed Motorsports in a Tequila Patron Ferrari GT car. He will join Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek in the two car effort. The team will campaign the full 9-race 2010 season across North America in the American Le Mans Series. More information about the ALMS can be found at http://www.americanlemans.com

Guy Cosmo Spotters Guide for Daytona

Here are some event details to help you follow Guy during this weekend's races at Daytona.  Guy will be competing in two separate races this weekend, driving for two different teams.

Event: The 48th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona (24 hour race)
Series: The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series & the Continental Tire Challenge
Track: Daytona International Speedway's 3.56-mile, 12 Turn road course

Continental Tire Challenge Fresh From Florida 200 (2.5 hour race)

• #83 BGB Motorsports Porsche 911

  FRIDAY, JANUARY 29TH at 1:45PM: 
• Car: #83 BGB Motorsports Porsche 911
• Teammate: Stuart Tetreault.
• Broadcast: Tape-delay, SPEED, February 13th 7:00PM ET.
• Live Timing & Scoring

48th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona (24 hour race)

• #88 Orbit Racing Porsche GT3-CupSATURDAY, JANUARY 30TH at 3:30PM:
• Car: #88 Orbit Racing Porsche GT3-Cup
• Drivers: John Baker
              Johnny Mowlem
              Lance Willesy
              Tom Papadopolous.
• Broadcast: LIVE - SPEED, January 30th at 3:00PM ET (repeat) January 31st at 7:00AM ET.
• Live Timing & Scoring

Guy Cosmo Teams Up With Orbit Racing for The Rolex 24 at Daytona

Double Duty with BGB Motorsports for Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge

With the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 season having it's annual kick-off at Daytona International Speedway, Guy Cosmo will lend his driving talents to Orbit Racing for the Rolex 24 at Daytona driving the No. 88 Orbit Racing GT3 Porsche Saturday, Jan. 30 and Sunday, Jan. 31. He will be teamed up with drivers John Baker, Johnny Mowlem, Tom Papadopoulos and Lance Willsey.

"On a personal level, this will be my first time driving competitively in the Rolex GT class," noted Cosmo. "I'm looking forward to adding to my already wide range of experience. In addition, I'm really happy to be back with the Orbit team and joining John Baker. I like being a part of John's exploits behind the wheel and helping him with this next big step. It's a great experience for him."

"I should also point out," said Guy, "we're with a good line up of drivers, so we're looking for a solid finish. After all, Orbit has WON this race in the past with Johnny Mowlem; I hope we'll have a shot at another victory for Orbit, while getting my first at Daytona."

Cosmo will also drive the  No. 83 911 Porsche with BGB Motorsports in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Fresh From Florida 200 on Friday, Jan. 29.

"Friday I'll be in BGB Motorsports No. 83 911 Porsche," Cosmo continued. "It's the familiar Orange car I've made guest appearances in over the past two seasons and I'll be driving with Stuart Tetreault, another former BGB driver. I really enjoy racing with the crew at BGB. They always put a car on the grid that is capable of winning. I think we've got a genuine shot at getting BGB's 2010 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season off to a good start with a win on Friday."

Guy Cosmo is one of the most successful and versatile young racing drivers of his day.  Guy is recognized as a first-class professional racer in the sports car road racing industry, having won the 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year award and positioning himself as a proven front-runner in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype category.  Guy's success stems from supportive family, friends and fans that have helped him through race wins and championships from Kart Racing, Formula Ford, Formula 2000, Star Mazda and Toyota Atlantic, to his professional endeavors in the Grand-Am and American Le Mans Series.  Guy’s extensive background between open-wheel formula cars, sports prototypes and GT sedans make him one of the most diverse and accomplished young drivers in the world. You can read more about Guy at http://www.guycosmo.com

In recent news, Guy has been signed to drive with Extreme Speed Motorsports in a Tequila Patron Ferrari GT car. He will join Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek in the two car effort. The team will campaign the full 9-race 2010 season across North America in the American Le Mans Series.

The 2010 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge gets underway with the Fresh From Florida 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Jan. 29. SPEED will provide television coverage at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 13.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 30 and Sunday, Jan. 31 on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway infield road course in Daytona Beach, Fla. The race will start and end at 3:30 pm ET. It will be telecast live on SPEED on Jan. 30 from 3 pm to 10 pm and on Jan. 31 from 7 am to 4 pm ET. Live timing/scoring will be available at grand-am.com.

Testing With Extreme Speed Motorsports at Sebring

It was a great week testing with Scott Sharp's Patron sponsored Extreme Speed Motorsports team in the two new Ferrari GT cars. We tested at Sebring in preparation for the 2010 American Le Mans Series Championship. Drivers: Scott Sharp, Johannes van Overbeek, Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo.

Check out the photo gallery here: [GALLERY]

Guy Cosmo Named To Drive Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari In ALMS

EXTREME SPEED MOTORSPORTS NAMES DRIVERS: SCOTT SHARP, JOHANNES VAN OVERBEEK, ED BROWN AND GUY COSMO
New Ferrari F430 GTC Completes First Test Yesterday at Sebring

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (December 17, 2009) – Extreme Speed Motorsports, the new race team created and owned by veteran race car driver Scott Sharp, has revealed the driver lineup to compete for the team in the American Le Mans Series’ GT2 class in 2010. The announcement follows a successful day of testing the team’s first new Ferrari F430 GTC at Sebring International Raceway – the car’s first run on American soil after arriving from the factory in Italy.
 
“The Ferrari F430 is beautiful, and definitely one of the best handling cars I have ever driven,” Sharp said today. “The team is incredibly enthusiastic about our relationship with Ferrari, and I’m very excited that we are already hitting the track, testing.”
 
The team will compete with two cars, one piloted by Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek, and the other with Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo behind the wheel. Tequila Patrón, a longtime supporter of motorsports racing, has signed on as a sponsor, along with Ferrari Corse Clienti and the team’s official tire sponsor Michelin.
 
Scott Sharp
Sharp, who last season helped Patrón Highcroft Racing bring home the ALMS LMP1 Championship victory, began racing karts at the early age of 8. His celebrated career on the track has included racing in the Champ Car series, and the Indy Racing League (including nine IndyCar event wins and 35 top-five finishes, along with 14 Indianapolis 500 starts) before he began competing in the American Le Mans Series in 2008.
 
Johannes van Overbeek
Sharp’s partner Johannes van Overbeek began his racing career at age 23, purely as a hobby. He’s since become one of the world’s top-ranked Porsche drivers, competing in the American Le Mans GT2 series with Flying Lizard Motorsports since 2005. He has amassed six wins in the ALMS, and has finished in the top five 54 times in 77 starts.
 
“I'm very excited about joining ESM and Patrón in the ALMS. Scott has been working tirelessly to ensure that we have all the tools in place to be successful,” commented van Overbeek. “Having been a part of a successful start-up team in the past, I know it won't be easy but I look forward to contributing to ESM's long term success and working hard to ensure that Patrón's investment in the team and the series is maximized.”
 
Ed Brown
Ed Brown will drive the team’s other full-time Ferrari 430 GTC, with partner Guy Cosmo. Brown is formerly a Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama driver who made his debut in the American Le Mans Series in 2009 in the GT Challenge class with ORBIT Racing. Brown’s best finish in the GT Challenge class last season was in the runner-up position at Lime Rock Park.
 
“There’s nobody in racing today more passionate and committed to this sport than Scott Sharp, and I can’t think of anybody else I’d rather be racing with than the talented and professional team we’ve assembled here,” said Brown.
 
Guy Cosmo
Guy Cosmo, 2005 American Le Mans Series Rookie of the Year and also a former ORBIT Racing driver, competed last season in the No. 47 Porsche 911 GT3. He finished the season 3rd in the Challenge class championship qualifying on the pole three times. Cosmo has 19 starts in the American Le Mans Series, finishing in the top-five 17 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
 
“Joining Scott Sharp's Extreme Speed Motorsports for the 2010 American Le Mans Series GT2 championship is a great opportunity,” added Cosmo. “This program is exactly what I've wanted to be part of for several years now. It's the ultimate trifecta; Patrón-sponsored, Ferrari-driven, and in the American Le Mans Series. What more could a driver ask for? I'm really looking forward to contributing to the team and making this program a success.”
 
Commented Sharp, “This is such an incredible time! We have been able to formulate an incredibly strong team in short order, but not only do we have the best drivers in racing, we also have unbelievable support from the league, and from our partner sponsors. What a combination – Patrón, Ferrari and Michelin – the premium brands in each of their markets.”
 
Michelin is the recognized leader in developing technologies that help provide the right tires for competitive motorsports.
 
“Extreme Speed Motorsports is thrilled to add Michelin as a technical partner to our team,” Sharp added. “After driving on Michelin’s for the last two seasons, I know how important it is to run on the best tires out there, and having them on our cars will immediately bring confidence to everyone on the team.”
 
The American Le Mans Series opens its season in 2010 with the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on March 20.