REBELLION Racing will compete in Petit Le Mans for the second time with the chance of securing a first overall win. REBELLION Racing will make its second appearance at the 1000 mile race of Petit Le Mans, after last year’s debut where the Swiss team secured fifth place overall and best Rookie team. The Lola-Toyota LMP1 will have three drivers due to the length of the race. Neel Jani (CH) and Nicolas Prost (FRA), who are a regular driver pairing in the FIA WEC, will be supported by Andrea Belicchi (ITA) who usually races in the Team’s sister Lola-Toyota LMP1.
These three drivers are the same trio that drove together in the Lola-Toyota entered by REBELLION Racing at Petit Le Mans last year.
Last weekend in Japan, the team won the FIA World Endurance Championship Trophy for LMP1 Privateer Teams. In doing so, the team has achieved two of its 2012 targets: be the best privateer at Le Mans 24 Hours (Fourth in the race in between the four factory Audis) and win the FIA WEC LMP1 Trophy.
Petit Le Mans became a target for the team during the Summer. The attraction of a potential outright win in such a prestigious event as Petit Le Mans has motivated the team and their main partners to make their participation possible.
Bart Hayden REBELLION Racing Team Manager :
“We are having a great season. We just won the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP1 Teams last weekend in Japan after winning in five major events of the year at Spa, Le Mans, Silverstone, Sao Paulo and Fuji.
But we always want more. Petit Le Mans is an unusual, complex, spectacular event; one of the most eagerly sought after endurance trophies, and we want to win it. Our target is clear, it is to race for the win.
Racing here at Petit Le Mans between two Asian rounds of the FIA WEC is a massive challenge for the team. Part of the team and two of our Lola-Toyota LMP1 cars and equipment are on their way to Shanghai, China, and we are a limited crew here at Road Atlanta with our third Lola-Toyota LMP1.
It is always a real pleasure to be racing in the USA, the competition is strong, but the ambience in the paddock is very friendly. We are confident with our ability to be competitive at Petit Le Mans and we have experience from last year’s race.”
Andrea Belicchi — Lola-Toyota 12 :
“ For Petit Le Mans race, I will share the driving with my teammates Neel and Nico who are used to racing in another car than mine in the WEC. We know each other well because we raced together in the past and last year here at Petit Le Mans. I am happy too to race against Guy Smith who has been my teammate twice at REBELLION Racing at Le Mans in 2010 and 2011. The Petit Le Mans track is fast, hard and dangerous and I love that. I am really determined to win.”
Neel Jani — Lola-Toyota 12 :
“We had a good time at Petit last year but we had some misfortune and missed a podium finish. It is good to be here again. We have a good chance to win this year. I like racing in the USA, the American audience is always large and passionate. The atmosphere is always special, especially at Petit Le Mans.”
Nicolas Prost — Lola-Toyota 12 :
“ We have to quickly reacquaint ourselves with the ALMS rules, especially with the safety car process. At Road Atlanta, traffic is always an important element that could change the race. We have to make a strong race and see how we will be against the regular ALMS competitors. The Muscle Milk HPD will be difficult to beat, but we will do our best to succeed.”
The Petit Le Mans race will start Saturday, October 20 at 11:30, local time, (17:30 GMT).