Qualifying report
ALMS
Smith hands Dyson Racing the Pole at VIR
Experience pays off for the Dyson Lola Mazda as Guy Smith grabs the pole for the Oak Tree Grand Prix.
Edited: Oct 5, 2013, 9:24 AM
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ALTON, VA October 4, 2013 - Rob Dyson once said of Guy Smith, "he is like the postman, he always delivers." Guy took the pole today at Virginia International Raceway for tomorrow's Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR in the #16 Thetford/Racer Lola Mazda he is sharing with Johnny Mowlem this weekend. The team led all of the first practice session this morning and was on top of the time charts for all of the afternoon qualifying.
#16 Dyson Racing Team Inc. Lola B12/60 Mazda: Guy Smith, Johnny Mowlem
Photo by: Richard Sloop
Guy is an American Le Mans Series veteran having driven in every year of the series since 2000 and for Dyson Racing since 2005.
"No matter how long you have been doing this, winning a pole is a great feeling," stated Smith. "We came close a couple times this year and were just a tenth or two away. I knew this was going to be one of the better chances to get pole position, but I also knew that the Muscle Milk guys are a very strong team and are quick here. We made some changes last night to the car and from the get-go this morning the car has been brilliant. On my best lap, I actually ran a little bit wide onto the back straight. I could have gone a tenth or two quicker but it was enough - and that is the main thing. A lot of hard work this year and this weekend went into this.
"This is very good for the guys and for Johnny. He has been doing a real good job in the car this weekend and here's to a good race tomorrow and a win."
Johnny Mowlem comes to VIR this weekend a recently crowned champion having won the European Le Mans Series GTE drivers' championship along with Matt Griffin at Paul Ricard on September 28th, driving the #52 Ferrari 458 Italia of Ram Racing.
"The last time I raced with Dyson was at VIR exactly a year ago, and since then, I have been racing for Ram Racing in the European Le Mans Series and we have done very well," said Mowlem. "I am very pleased; it is not often that you win a European championship. But I am absolutely delighted to be back with Dyson Racing. Chris Dyson asked me to stand in for him for this race and I am delighted to do that and only hope that I can step into his shoes and do them justice and support Guy as best I can. This is the last opportunity for myself and Guy to win an LMP1 race in the American Le Mans Series, so we are really fired up to try and make that happen."
The penultimate round of the American Le Mans Series will be televised on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 6. ESPN3 will offer live streaming of the race on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. ET. ALMS.com will also carry the live in-car race cameras.
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