Fans of the American Le Man Series have waited with great anticipation for this comeback: Timo Bernhard (Germany) returns to the USA with the Porsche RS Spyder. On the legendary Road America in Elkhart Lake, the Porsche works driver contests round seven of the race series featuring the world’s fastest sports cars on 22 August with Klaus Graf (Germany) for the Muscle Milk Team Cytosport squad.

“I’m very much looking forward to driving the RS Spyder again in the USA, and of all places at Road Atlanta, one of the most beautiful race tracks in America,” says Timo Bernhard. He has great memories of the classic circuit in the state of Wisconsin. In 2007 he celebrated a commanding overall victory at the wheel of the RS Spyder. With the winning racer from Weissach, he scored a total of 16 wins and two championship titles in the American Le Mans Series from 2006 to 2008. This year, we won the Le Mans 24 Hours with Audi.

For factory drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA), the race at Road America is another highlight in the gripping fight for the title. As front-runners in the fiercely-contested GT class, the pair wants to earn crucial points in their Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on the way to defending their title. With three races left on the calendar, the points’ leaders are facing immense pressure – but Joerg Bergmeister is staying cool and calm. “When you have such strong opposition at every race from the likes of Ferrari, BMW and Chevrolet, you get used to the stress,” says the four-time Road America winner. Understandably, Bergmeister has a soft spot for the 6.514 kilometre race track nestled in the Wisconsin countryside. “It’s my favourite circuit. Very fast, very hilly, very challenging. That’s just what race drivers love.”

So far this season, the title defenders have won their races in Long Beach, Laguna Seca and Lime Rock, planting them eight points in front of the fastest Ferrari in the championship stakes. With BMW also as a contender for the title, the situation promises to be exciting and dramatic at Road Atlanta, where the smallest mistake costs a lot of time. “Everything must run really smoothly, strategy included,” says Patrick Long. “We have to totally concentrate and we can’t afford to make one mistake – not in the pits nor on the track. If we can manage this, then we’ll still be on course for the title after this race.”

The points’ leaders expect support in Elkhart Lake from two other Porsche 911 GT3 RSR racers. Darren Law (USA) and Seth Neiman (USA) pilot a Flying Lizard Motorsports entry, with works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Bryan Sellers (USA) manning the Falken Tire Porsche. In the GTC class, reigning Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) joins forces with Timothy Pappas (USA) at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, with which they have already scored three victories in 2010. Fielding the Porsche RS Spyder in the LMP class, Muscle Milk Team Cytosport has already won the prestigious Sebring 12 hour race and celebrated an overall victory in Lime Rock.

Source : Porsche