Intersport Racing Returns to LMP1
The team will run a Judd powered Creation CA06/H. The car is a mid-engine, rear wheel drive utilizing a carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb monocoque chassis. The Judd GV5 is a 5 liter normally aspirated V10 and generates approximately 600+bhp at 9000 RPM.
"We've thought long and hard about the team direction and have said for the past few years that we'd like to be in LMP1," noted Clint. "Granted, the numbers in LMP1 are down right now, but long term we felt the class will see renewed growth. This is as good a time as any for us to develop our program. We know we can make the car fast… that's never been a problem for us. The focus is going to be on making sure were durable and reliable. I think our guys are very much up to the challenge."
"We chose the Creation after a lot of soul searching and study of last year's performance and lap times," Fields added. "All-in-all, the car was very fast under most conditions. I think what really tipped the scales in favor of the Creation was the car has excellent mechanical grip. Looking at the schedule and the types of tracks we encounter in the American Le Mans series, we feel that will be an advantage for us."
The team will take delivery of the car in next few days and begin their preparation for the season kickoff at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Clint will be joined in the car for the 2007 Twelve Hours of Sebring by Jon Field and Richard Berry.
At Sebring in 2006, Clint drove to his 13th victory in 36 career starts as the No.37 machine rallied from a back-of-pack start to take P2 lead just two hours into the race. Field took second place in the fourth hour when one of the Audis retired. The team relinquished second place to the Penske-powered Porsche in Hour 10, but reclaimed the second position when the Porsche stopped on the track and was retired. In round 2 at Houston, Field and his teammate practiced patience to the nth degree and the reward was their second podium in as many starts.
Clint had the best year of his youthful and productive career in 2005, with five victories en route to his first class drivers championship making him the youngest prototype champion in American Le Mans Series and IMSA history. A class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the age of 20 (in 2004) Field is one of the brightest young stars in all of motorsports. Kumho tire will continue as the tire provider for Intersport Racing.
"Kumho's development has come a long way in the past couple of years," said Clint. "The performance of the van der Steur Radical got our attention at [Mazda Raceway] Laguna Seca, and it's obvious the tires were very competitive. We tested the Kumhos after the season and they stacked up very well against the other tires we tested. They are already competitive, but we're looking forward to helping Kumho further develop the tire and making it even more competitive."