Dyson teams talks about Lime Rock

Dyson Racing Mazda

Every trip to Lime Rock Park is a special one for Dyson Racing. America’s premier sports car team debuted at the Lakeville, Conn., circuit in 1983 as team owner Rob Dyson competed in a three-hour IMSA race. The squad – based in Poughkeepsie, NY – is hoping this year’s American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix will mark another breakthrough at Lime Rock, where the team will race its two new Mazda-powered Lola B09/86 LMP2 coupes before the home crowd.

Chris Dyson
“Well, (last year) was a really emotional weekend for my Dad. The commitment level that is needed to stay in this sport for one year, let alone 25 years, is just incredible. I think looking back on it from a year on, what impressed me the most about it is that my dad still 25 years into the effort gets just as much buzz about it as he did when I was a kid growing up. It’s fantastic to be carrying on the family tradition and to be racing (in 2008) the car in the same colors as when we made our IMSA debut was just fantastic."

Butch Leitzinger
“My childhood memories at Lime Rock, first and foremost, are probably just rolling in the mud as a 3-year-old around the track. One of the great things about racing at Lime Rock in particular is they’re so family friendly. When you look around the paddock, you see multiple generations of people that have been going there their whole lives, and it’s great to see that. It’s kind of a continuing tradition. You see people that I remember as a kid coming with their kids. It’s just great to see the parents handing down their love of racing to their children as well."

Marino Franchitti
“I think I enjoy every type of course we go to – the big open road courses like Road America, Mosport – to the really small tracks and street circuits. Somewhere in between that is Lime Rock. I enjoy the challenges they all bring. You have to have a slightly different mindset everywhere, and that’s quite a good education for me as a driver. I’ve definitely learned a lot and developed a lot from driving on these different types of tracks."

The American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. EDT on Saturday, July 18. The race will air live on SPEED. American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche and Live Timing & Scoring will be available at Racehub on americanlemans.com. You also can follow the Series on Twitter (almsnotes). An RSS feed of Series news also is available.

The race also will mark the fifth round of the MICHELINÂ® Green XÂ® Challenge. Tickets are available at americanlemans.com and limerock.com.