The Tequila Patrón-sponsored Extreme Speed Motorsports team returns to GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series competition this weekend with ESM newcomer Mike Hedlund making his debut with the team at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen on Sunday.

Mike Hedlund will debut alongside ESM regulars Johannes van Overbeek and Guy Cosmo aboard the No. 03 Tequlia Patrón Ferrari Italia 458 for his second professional start and second GRAND-AM race.

Both van Overbeek and Cosmo have experienced success at the 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course. In 2003, van Overbeek won the six-hour event and Cosmo hails from Long Island, NY, and grew-up racing on the historical track.

Hedlund owns an internet company based in Redwood City, CA, and has been working with driving coach van Overbeek for the last year. As a developing driver, Hedlund competed in the IMSA Porsche GT3 Challenge in 2011. During two IMSA GT3 races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Hedlund scored his first victory during the first race. In the second race, Hedlund qualified on pole and finished third. Hedlund made his GRAND-AM debut at the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

In addition to a partial GRAND-AM schedule, van Overbeek and Cosmo compete in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. van Overbeek co-drives with Scott Sharp in the No. 01 Tequila Patrón Ferrari and Cosmo co-drives the No. 02 Tequila Patrón Ferrari with Ed Brown.

In their last GRAND-AM event, Sharp and Cosmo captured ESM’s first GRAND-AM pole and finished seventh. During ESM’s other two GRAND-AM races this season, they finished 13th in both the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where all four drivers competed, and the rain-shortened event at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Brown and Cosmo.

Source : ESM