Andersen Racing and RLR Expand Their Relationship
Last February Andersen Racing was named as the official Indy Pro Series development team of RLR, which fields entries in both IndyCar and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). Now components of that relationship will expand to include not only Andersen Racing's Indy Pro Series team but also its multi-car entries in the IMSA Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and the SCCA F2000 Championship Series presented by Hoosier Racing Tire.
Andersen Racing recently moved from New Jersey to the 18-acre Andersen RacePark in Palmetto, Fla., which includes a 1-mile test track. RLR is headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio.
As part of the new, multi-year agreement, the RLR/Andersen Racing Indy Pro Series cars will summer at RLR's nearly 60,000-square-foot shop in Ohio. This will cut down on travel expenses for the Indy Pro Series effort and also give Andersen Racing's Indy Pro Series engineers and mechanics better access to RLR's IndyCar personnel and equipment.
Andersen Racing's Indy Pro Series engineers and mechanics will have more access to similar personnel at RLR at the track too. They'll be available for consultations about gearing, suspension and aero concerns, etc.
In addition, RLR will conduct twice-yearly driver symposiums for all of Andersen Racing's drivers and their parents. The symposiums will be hosted by driving legend and RLR co-owner Bobby Rahal. They will include presentations by additional key RLR personnel.
RLR will also provide guidance and/or support for Andersen Racing's marketing, hospitality, public relations and administrative work in all three series.
"Our relationship with Rahal Letterman Racing and with Bobby Rahal in particular has proven to be very important to our vision for Andersen Racing," said Andersen Racing co-owner Dan Andersen. "RLR represents the top of the ladder system we have created, taking young drivers from karts to the IndyCar Series. The assistance, expertise and guidance offered by the fine staff at RLR are very important to our program."
"We are not only looking forward to another year of competition in the IndyCar and American Le Mans Series, but another year of working with the next generation of drivers through our partnership with Andersen Racing," said Bobby Rahal. "Rahal Letterman Racing is well known in motorsports for its ability to develop young driving talent, and we expect to continue that legacy in the years to come through our relationship with Andersen Racing."
Andersen Racing strives to provide the best possible training for future open-wheel stars and give them one central home during the time they are honing their skills in support series. Each of its full-season F2000 and Star Mazda drivers earn a test at the next-highest level at year's end. RLR also provided an IndyCar test for RLR/Andersen Racing's lead Indy Pro Series driver, Andrew Prendeville, last year. Andersen Racing is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp.