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| May 13, 2012 News |
| LMP Challenge: CORE autosport Extends Win Streak to Three |
 | Jon Bennett and Colin Braun continued the CORE autosport win streak to start the 2012 season
(Photo: American Le Mans Series) |
CORE autosport won for the third straight victory in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón on Saturday (May 12) at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, securing the LMP Challenge via a last lap pass.
While it was a repeat visit for CORE autosport to victory lane in Round Three, this time it was Colin Braun and Jon Bennett who were class victors in the No. 05 ORECA FLM09. Braun passed RSR Racing’s Bruno Junqueira on the next-to-last lap as the two cars split a GT Challenge car on the last part of the lap.
“The last few laps were exciting. I was racing Bruno, and I had to push really hard,” Braun said. “I knew I had to set him up in traffic – that was going to be the only way I could get by. He went one way, and I went the other and it turned out right for me. We were two laps down at one point, but with race strategy and a great stint by Jon we were right there in position.”
The victory was the first in the ALMS for both Braun and team owner Bennett. The CORE squad has finished on the LMPC podium in each of the season’s three events.
“I’m fairly speechless to be honest. It’s been a long time getting here,” Bennett said. “I'm honored and proud to be part of CORE autosport. It's been spectacular in the short time we've been together. I was impressed with Colin. We did some karting together early in the year, and I knew it would be a great season. He put on the move of the race in the last few laps for the win. It was awesome.”
Junqueira, Tomy Drissi and Roberto Gonzalez ended second. The other CORE entry of Alex Popow and Tom Kimber-Smith placed third. The top three cars were within 1.725 seconds.
The focus of sports car racing now turns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans where select ALMS teams compete on June 16-17 at the famed 8.3-mile French circuit in the world’s greatest auto race.
The American Le Mans presented by Tequila Patrón returns to action at Lime Rock Park for the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix on July 7.
The top-three will be posted following every session on the ESR Facebook page and ESR Twitter page.
American Le Mans Series LMP Challenge
Round 3 - Race Results
May 12, 2012
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Monterey, California
| Pos. | Drivers | Team | Diff. | Fast Time| 1. | Jon Bennett/Colin Braun | CORE autosport | - | 1:19.611 | | 2. | Bruno Junqueira/Tomy Drissi/Roberto Gonzalez | RSR Racing | 1.356 | 1:19.298 | | 3. | Alex Popow/Tom Kimber-Smith | CORE autosport | 1.725 | 1:19.619 | | 4. | Michael Guasch/Memo Gidley/Archie Hamilton | Muscle Milk Pickett Racing | 33.171 | 1:20.048 | | 5. | Kyle Marcelli/Lucas Downs/Dean Stirling | Merchant Services Racing | 2 Laps | 1:20.301 | | 6. | Butch Leitzinger/Ken Dobson | PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports | 4 Laps | 1:20.627 | | 7. | Henri Richard/Duncan Ende/Ryan Lewis | Dempsey Racing | 5 Laps | 1:20.662 | | 8. | Anthony Nicolosi/Ricardo Vera | Performance Tech Motorsports | 11 Laps | 1:20.545 | | 9. | Tony Burgess/Champman Ducote/Antonio Downs | Merchant Services Racing | 94 Laps | 1:22.861 | |
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