Autosportfoto

Porsche works driver Marco Holzer second in qualifying

The best qualifying result for Porsche works driver Marco Holzer (Germany) in the American Le Mans Series: With the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Flying Lizard Motorsports, which he shares with team owner Seth Neiman (USA), Holzer turned the second fastest time in the GT class qualifying on Saturday for race four in Lime Rock.

"Everything ran perfectly today. I managed to get in a really good lap and I'm absolutely thrilled about this great starting position. It doesn't get much better than this," said Marco Holzer. "On this narrow circuit with so many cars it's really important to start as far up the grid as possible. I think we've found a good set-up for the race. This qualifying result is a boost for the entire team."

With the second Flying Lizard 911, Porsche factory pilot Patrick Long secured the fifth grid spot on the short 2.478 kilometre track in the US state of Connecticut. He shares driving duties with his works driver colleague Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), who contests his 100th American Le Mans Series race tomorrow in Lime Rock and with five victories here is the most successful driver. In this series which features the world's fastest sports cars he has so far clinched 34 class wins and five GT championship titles.

At the wheel of Falken Tire's Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Bryan Sellers (USA), the teammate of Porsche works pilot Wolf Henzler (Germany), set the eighth quickest time. Taking up the race from directly behind in ninth is Bryce Miller in the 911 fielded by Paul Miller Racing, which he shares with Sascha Maassen (Germany).

The race in Lime Rock starts on Saturday, 7 July, at 15.05 hours local time (21.05 hours CEST) and is broadcast live on www.americanlemans.com.

Result Qualifying

GT class
1. Bill Auberlen (USA), BMW E92 M3, 50.920 seconds
2. Marco Holzer (D), Porsche 911 GT34 RSR, + 0.379 seconds
3. Oliver Gavin (GB), Chevrolet Corvette, + 0.379
4. Joey Hand (USA), BMW E92 M3, + 0.414
5. Patrick Long (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 0.563
6. Jan Magnussen (DK), Chevrolet Corvette, + 0.585
8. Bryan Sellers (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 1.037
9. Bryce Miller (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, + 1.339

GTC class
1. Leh Keen (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 55.195 seconds

This is the American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The field is divided into five classes that start together but are classified separately:
GT class: This most popular class amongst car manufacturers traditionally receives the most support: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series like the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and a 900 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.