Announced today, Primetime Race Group has signed 19 year old Canadian driver Kyle Marcelli to co-drive alongside team owner Joel Feinberg in the 2010 American LeMans Series in the LeMans Prototype Challenge class (LMPC).
After clinching the 2009 IMSA Prototype Lites Championship, the Florida based team has decided to build on that success and take their team to the next level of motorsports. Throughout 2009, Feinberg and Marcelli competed head to head in the ALMS feeder series each with a goal of making a future move into Le Mans Prototypes. Recognizing each other’s abilities behind the wheel as well as sharing the same aspirations as drivers, the two are excited to team up for a run at the LMPC season championship in 2010.
Throughout the off season and recent months the hard work and determination of both Joel and Kyle to make this move have finally come to fruition. Together they will co-drive the Primetime Race Group entry through the pre-season testing and in each of the nine events on the ALMS race schedule, all with one goal of following up Primetime’s 2009 championships. By winning a season championship in the LMPC class, Kyle Marcelli will make history as the youngest American Le Mans Series champion.
“This is a dream come true for me” Said Marcelli, “when I was 13, my dad and I used to go to Mosport International Raceway each year when the American LeMans Series arrived in late August. We would sit on top of turn two with thousands of others and watch the prototypes and GT cars race by, 6 years later I have found myself behind the wheel. I’m excited to team up with Joel and Primetime, he is a quick driver with a good amount of experience in the American Le Mans series and the team has shown a great track record over the years. I know we will both be pushing each other all season long”.
Primetime is no stranger to the big show, the team has campaigned their Dodge Viper GT2 program in the American Le Mans full time for the past two years as a privateer team and was recently awarded the 2009 Founders Cup Championship as the #1 non-factory supported team in the series. This recognition coupled with their championship in IMSA Lites shows an obvious progression in the team as well as defining them as true winners in their sport. A move to the LMPC class has been expected and looks to be as successful as their past endeavours.
“This move is a true testament to all of our hard work over the past few years” said Feinberg. “Our goal as a team since day one was to start at the bottom and work our way to the top. We’ve proven ourselves thus far and have established a team that can compete anywhere, against anyone. Racing at this level is a serious commitment and it takes the effort of the entire team to win races, after racing against Kyle last year and getting to know him I feel that he will be a great addition to our team and I look forward to winning lots of races with him this year”
The team is currently underway with preparations before pre-season testing begins February 22-23 at Sebring International Raceway. Drivers Joel Feinberg and Kyle Marcelli will be looking to make good use of the testing time to develop the car and be race ready for the start of the 2010 American LeMans Series season which kicks off on March 20th with the 58th annual Mobile 1 “12 Hours of Sebring”.
Source : Primetime