Sears Point: Helmet Cam makes ALMS debut

Drivers to narrate while racing; helmet camera to make debut in American Le Mans Sears Point telecast.

SONOMA, Calif. (May 17, 2002) -- The telecast of Sunday's American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters from Sears Point Raceway will have two new and innovative elements for SPEED Channel viewers.

For the first time in the four-year history of the series, a driver will carry a microphone and will talk to the audience under green-flag racing conditions. In addition, the exciting driver helmet camera will make its debut in the series.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS of Alex Job Racing will be equipped to allow drivers Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr to talk to the audience and the event announcers as they race. While talking to drivers under caution conditions is common in televised auto racing, narration by drivers during actual racing has rarely been done on American television.

The driver helmet camera, which has been used in SPEED Channel telecasts of two CART events this year, will be carried by drivers Jon Field and Rick Sutherland in the Intersport Racing MG Lola. The lightweight camera is installed in the driver's helmet and provides almost a mirror image of what the driver sees during the race.

"We are working to provide the most entertaining and informative coverage possible for viewers of our events," said John Evenson, Vice-President of Broadcast Administration for the American Le Mans Series. "The cooperation of SPEED Channel, Alex Job Racing and Intersport Racing is greatly appreciated."

The telecast of Sunday's race starts at 4 p.m. (U.S. Eastern time). Rick Benjamin will anchor the telecast, with Bill Adam providing analysis in the booth. Jon Beekhuis and Amanda Stretton will report from the pits during the event.

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