Perennial American Le Mans Series competitors Alex Job Racing will be back for the 2012 season, but not in their GTC Porsche; AJR has teamed up with Lotus and will campaign a GTE Evora starting with the season’s second race, the Long Beach Grand Prix.
The No. 22 WeatherTech Porsche will be piloted by Leh Keen, Cooper MacNeil, and LP Dumoulin, while the No. 23 Battery Tender/William Rast car will have AJR regulars Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell behind the wheel, joined for Sebring by Dion Von Moltke, who won the GTC class at Lime Rock in 2011 driving for TRG.
“We are looking forward to Sebring with two really strong GTC Class cars,” team owner Alex Job told alms.com. “We wanted to get Townsend and Bill those valuable Sebring miles as we prepare for the Lotus Evora’s debut at Long Beach. The communication with the team, how AJR works as well as just get comfortable with each other is the goal.
“Dion is someone whom we have wanted to get in our car for a long time. He is a fast driver and really helps to round-out the entry as one that can win the race.”
“I am looking forward to being a part of the 60th running of the Twelve Hours of Sebring,” Townsend Bell told alms.com. “It is a historic race and running the Porsche in GTC will assure us a lot of track time during the week and in the race. This is really a trial run for us looking ahead to our debut in the GT Series at Long Beach.”
“Alex Job is a legend in this sport, and it is for a reason,” said von Moltke. “He has earned the reputation of always running a first class operation, and for consistently winning races and championships. We have been trying to find a way to work together for years, so when this opportunity came up we did not hesitate.”
AJR has a history of winning at Sebring, with seven victories at the historic 12-hour race. The team has also won three GT championships and has two class wins at Le Mans.
“Our Lotus GT program came together very late in the season and as a driver I did not want to miss being part of the 60th anniversary of the 12 hours at Sebring,” said Bill Sweedler. “I’m excited that I will be able to drive with my GT co-driver, Townsend Bell, in our AJR GTC Porsche. We are also getting the season started with our sponsors, Battery Tender, William Rast, and Yokohama. Our goal is nothing short of helping Alex Job Racing obtain their eighth Sebring win!”
The 60th Anniversary Twelve Hours of Sebring starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, with support races, practice, and qualifying for several days in advance. Tickets are available through the Sebring Raceway website.
