MBD SPORTSCARS’ BACK TO TWO CAR ACTION AT MID-OHIO
June 28, 2002 – Ontario, Canada - The MBD Sportscars Team is back to two car action at this weekend’s American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The Sunday, June 30 race can be seen live on the Speed Channel beginning at 2:00pm EST.
MBD will once again field two of the Panoz/Mugen 07’s, as they had done at the season opener at Sebring and for the second round of the series championship at Sears Point. For the team’s last challenge just two weekends ago – the 24 Hours of Le Mans – only one of the MBD LMP 900’s was entered. The re-appearance of the second car also marks the return of the much-missed Scott Maxwell.
Piloting the team’s #17 entry will be the driving duo of Milka Duno and Scott Maxwell. In the #18 red, white and gold prototype you’ll find Didier de Radigues and John Graham behind the wheel.
After completing a full twenty-two hours of the man vs. machine battle that is Le Mans, the MBD crew is battle-honed and steadfast in their resolve to achieve a good result at the Ohio circuit – a circuit that has become a “favorite” of many ALMS drivers.
“I’m very happy to be here, and because I had a win here just last year – it’s become one of my favorite tracks,” said Didier de Radigues. “Last year was my first time here and I think that it’s a very nice track. The guys have worked very hard on the car, but like all the other teams that raced at Le Mans, we didn’t have much time. We had to transport the car from Le Mans to Toronto then to here – so I think the crew has done the best they can in a short time. I know we have improved a lot from competing at Le Mans. We have learned a lot more about the car and that’s a really good thing. We are a step forward since the Sears Point race.”
“I like this track very much, it’s very technical and very challenging,” says
Milka Duno. “I’m looking forward to driving with Scott again. I feel that I have a similar style with Scott and we both like the car set-up the same way. When he feels something in the car, normally I feel it too. Scott’s very good at setting up our car and we both like it the same. Also, I’m back in my original car since the car we used at Le Mans is Didier’s and John’s – so I’m very comfortable for this race.”
“Now that Le Mans is behind us we can concentrate once again on the IMSA cup, and I believe that we are building a team and car that has an opportunity for a very good result in this championship,” says #18 pilot John Graham. “Mid-Ohio is one of the toughest circuits from a physical point of view and I look forward to the challenge.”
The team will hit the track for the first time on Friday, June 28 for the Promoter Test Session, Saturday marks the Practice and Qualifying Sessions and Sunday will feature a morning Warm-Up – with the race starting at 2:00pm EST.
Joining the ALMS with race activities this week will be the Trans-Am Series for the BF Goodrich Tires Cup, the Star Mazda Series, the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship and the Speed Channel World Challenge Series