One-Two Finish for Dyson Racing
2011 American Le Mans Series Round 7 Baltimore Grand Prix, MD, September 3, 2011
Humaid Al Masaood and Steven Kane won their first American Le Mans Series race at the Baltimore Grand Prix in their #20 Oryx Dyson Racing entry. Chris Dyson and Guy Smith finished second in the #16 G-OIL ModSpace/Construct Corps Lola Mazda, giving Dyson Racing their first one-two finish since the 2005 Mid-Ohio race, and providing an appropriate bookend to their one-two qualifying effort.
Dyson started the #16 Lola Mazda. "Our goal at the start was to get out in front and push as hard as we could to stretch out a gap we could comfortably maintain." Both Dyson cars came into the pits for fuel, tires and driver changes during the first full course yellow forty-five minutes into the race. A delay in starting the #16 car saw the 20 car leave the pits in front and they maintained that order to the end, with the 16 car seven seconds back at the end.
Kane remarked that, "Everyone has done such a fantastic job. You know, as soon as I first drove with Humaid, I knew he had something special. I told him from the very beginning that he could take it to the top and race at the highest levels." "This is our fifth race in the ALMS with Dyson Racing and it has been an unbelievable experience," commented Al Masaood. "To have two cars running this well is not an easy task. The victory podium photos always show the drivers, but in truth, it is Mazda, G-OIL, ModSpace, Dunlop and AER who should be spraying and enjoying the champagne," said Dyson. Smith noted that, "Today's accomplishment ads momentum going into the last two races of the season. Both are among the toughest of the year - six hours at Mazda Raceway, and the season-ending ten hours at Petit."
Rob Dyson summed up the weekend's experience. "I have to say that the fan support here in Baltimore was an A plus. Even the tops of the skyscrapers were filled with people watching the race. The amount of enthusiastic fans that showed up today, to feel that kind of energy - really honors us."
9.9.2011
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