QUIFEL-ASM Team notes on new car

Team buys new car for Le Mans Serie 2009 Championship

The QUIFEL-ASM Team has bought a Ginetta-Zytek Z09S to take part in next season's Le Mans Series and improve its competitiveness in the LMP2 class.

The new car is the most recent model of car manufactured by Zytek Engineering. This car, which is equipped with a 3.4-litre engine, is lighter compared to the previous model and has a redesigned back end.

"Our previous car gave us a lot of joyful moments, but this championship has evolved a lot over the last few years," said Antonio Simoes, director of the Quifel-ASM Team. And he added: "We carefully considered our new choice of car, and the fact that Zytek Engineering completely designs and produces the car, including the chassis, engine, gear box, components and all of the electrics, contributed to our choosing the 09S. We are confident that we will develop a good relationship with Zytek."

Olivier Pla, a driver for the Quifel-ASM Team who tested the Zytek 07S model, showed the same amount of confidence, "this car has the potential to be the best in the P2 class."

"I hope this car will allow us to return to the podiums. The competitiveness of this championship requires that our presence be relevant," said Miguel Pais do Amaral, driver for and driving force behind the only Portuguese team taking part in the Le Mans Series Championship.

Antonio Simoes' team will keep its core members such as drivers Miguel Pais do Amaral and Olivier Pla, as well as renowned engineer Alan Mugglestone.

The Le Mans Series will see some rule changes in 2009, the main ones being: banning of tyre warmers, reduction of the number of people involved in pit stops for tyre changes, reduction of restrictors in all classes and reduced size of back end of the vehicles. Engines will be sealed and will have to outlast two consecutive races. Thus the strength of the engines will be put to the test throughout the championship.

-credit: asm.co.pt