By ESM PR: STUART, Fla. – Friday, March 1, 2013 – Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) approaches the 2013 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón season with an arsenal of new elements – cars, liveries and driver lineup.
In mid-February, ESM announced it will campaign two purpose-built Honda Performance Development (HPD) ARX-03b prototypes beginning with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida in March.
Now ESM, in accordance with IMSA driver classification rules, makes a driver lineup change for the season.
STUART, FL – Tuesday. February 26, 2013 – Guy Cosmo, co-driver of the Tequila Patrón-sponsored Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) P2 racing machine, took to the track for the first time during a private test at Sebring International Raceway last week. Cosmo eagerly approaches the season already a P2 race winner with a 2005 victory in a Mazda-powered prototype. Cosmo talks about the pre-season test session, the difference in racing P2 and his goals for the season.
In mid-February, ESM announced it would compete in American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón P2 class in 2013. ESM will campaign two purpose-built Honda Performance Development ARX-03b prototypes beginning with the 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida in March.
STUART, Fla. – February 14, 2013 – Tequila Patrón and Scott Sharp will return to their American Le Mans Series roots in 2013 with Extreme Speed Motorsports set to swap to the P2 prototype class.
Moving into the purpose-built Honda Performance Development ARX-03b prototypes, Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) and Tequila Patrón will run for the P2 championship beginning with the 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida next month.
Guy Cosmo announced today he
will withdraw from the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Cosmo, full time driver
for Extreme Speed Motorsports and Tequila Patron in the 2013 American
Le Mans Series, was scheduled to lend his talents to defending Rolex
Series GT Champions, AIM Autosport FXDD Racing With Ferrari.
Earlier
this month, Cosmo underwent emergency endoscopic surgery of the
posterior nasal canal from a sudden onset of epistaxis. While the
surgery was successful, Cosmo is recovering and his doctors are urging
him to rest and give himself time to properly recover.
After enjoying a solid test
session at Daytona, Guy Cosmo and defending Rolex Series GT Champions
AIM Autosport FXDD Racing With Ferrari report all systems go for the
upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 26 -27, 2013. Cosmo, full time
driver for Extreme Speed Motorsports and Tequila Patron in the 2013
American Le Mans Series, is lending his talents and Ferrari experience
to defending Rolex Series GT Champions AIM Autosport FXDD Racing With
Ferrari for the annual 24 hour classic.
Cosmo
spent his week working with team principal Ian Willis and with
co-drivers Emil Assentato, Anthony Lazzaro & Nick Longhi. The team
and drivers worked on reliability and car setups throughout the week,
focusing on developing a strong 24 hour strategy.
"It
was great getting acclimated with the AIM Autosport FXDD Racing With
Ferrari team this week," said Cosmo. "We had a very successful test. I
really enjoyed working with the AIM crew and my long-lost engineer Ian
Willis. Of course, hanging with Segal, Lazzaro, Papis, Vilander, Longhi
& Assentato was a total rip. Those guys are characters, and we had a
blast."
Adding to his full time
position with Extreme Speed Motorsports and Tequila Patron in the 2013
American Le Mans Series, Guy Cosmo will take advantage of his 2013 Grand
Am Rolex Series "free agent" status lending his talents and Ferrari
experience to defending Rolex Series GT Champions AIM Autosport FXDD
Racing With Ferrari for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 26 -27, 2013
Cosmo
will make his debut with the team January 4-6, joining co-drivers Emil
Assentato, Anthony Lazzaro & Nick Longhi at this week's ROAR Before
the 24 testing at Daytona International Speedway. Tickets for the 2013
Roar Before the Rolex 24 are $15 per day and include garage access. Kids
12 and under and 2013 Rolex 24 ticket holders will receive free
admission to the Roar Before the Rolex 24.
"I'm
thrilled to be joining AIM Autosport FXDD Racing With Ferrari for the
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona," said Cosmo. "It's an event every driver
dreams of winning... and what better chance of doing it than with the
team and the Ferrari that won last years Championship."
Joining Extreme Speed Motorsports and their 2013 driver announcement, Guy Cosmo confirmed his return to the team to compete in the 2013 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón. This will be Guy's fourth season with the team co-driving the No. 02 Tequila Patrón Ferrari Italia 458 with Ed Brown.
“I’m thrilled to be back with ESM for 2013," said Cosmo. "Next season will mark my fourth year with the team, and it's been a very enjoyable and exciting three years thus far."
After a season of often having the fastest car on the track, Guy Cosmo was hoping the No. 02 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari team would end a year of bad luck with a win at Road Atlanta for the 15th running of the American Le Mans Series presented by Patrón, Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda. It was simply more of the same.
"This final race of the season was representative of how the whole year has gone for Ed [Brown] and I in the 02 Ferrari," said Cosmo. "We just can't catch a break! We were strong… really strong. But once again, the result we deserved just didn't come our way."
Adding insult to injury, on Friday Cosmo made a last lap blast into the record books grabbing the GT pole and setting a new track record. Only hours later, IMSA officials sent No. 02 Ferrari to the back of the pack citing a ride height infraction. Fortunately for ESM, the No. 01 sister car qualified second thereby inheriting the pole position.
While teammate Tony Vilander was
in pit lane enjoying the start of a pole winning celebration, Guy Cosmo
peddled the No. 02 Ultimat Vodka Extreme Speed Motorsport Ferrari
across the line with a 1:18.677 second lap to take the top spot in GT
qualifying. Vilander will start second, just 0.05 seconds behind.
This is Cosmo's first GT pole in ALMS and a first 1-2 qualifying for Extreme Speed Motorsports.
The
recently married Cosmo credited his speed to his wife Louisa and his
new life-status noting, "I always said I'd be faster once I was
married."
After nearly a five week break, Guy Cosmo and the Extreme Speed Motorsports Tequila Patrón Ferraris return to action at historic Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia for the season finale, the American Le Mans Series presented by Patrón 15th Annual Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda.
While things may have been quiet on track, Cosmo has been keeping himself busy off-track. Since VIR, Guy has been coaching for Extreme Speed Motorsports' Ferrari Challenge drivers and changing his bachelor status to married.
"It's been busy," laughed Guy. "In the past month, we completed our wedding plans, had the wedding and enjoyed a honeymoon. It's been great. I couldn't be happier."
"That said," added Guy, "it's great to be back at the track and driving the No. 02 ESM Patrón Ferrari 452 Italia. I love driving these cars and I'm excited to finish out the year with a great result."
