2012 News
Ryan Dalziel's Looking For Silver Service
- 22 August 2012
Ryan – who moved from Lanarkshire in Scotland to forge a hugely successful career in the US – is back in Britain for the latest round of the FIA World Endurance Championship with Fort Lauderdale-based Starworks Motorsport. He will be joined by Venezuelan Enzo Potolicchio and French star Stephane Sarrazin in the HPD LMP2 car for the six-hour race on Sunday (August 26).
Ryan hopes to build on stunning wins in the opening round at Sebring in Florida and at the Le Mans 24 Hours, where he brought the team home. He also hopes to put on a masterclass in front of family and friends at the Northamptonshire circuit.
But he believes another sensational result for the American team can give them a vital boost as the championship reaches the halfway mark.
RYAN SAYS: “I have not raced at Silverstone since 2001, but I loved growing up and racing there. No matter where I was coming back to race at in the UK, I would be excited because it is my first home race in a long time.
“But Silverstone is the heart of UK motorsport. I am looking forward to racing in front of my friends and family. That gives you a real lift and puts a spring in your step. A lot of my family haven’t been able to see me in the States. One of my sisters last saw me in Champ Cars in 2007, the other one probably last saw me in 2004. It will be very cool to put that right.
“Daytona is closest to my home in Orlando, but Silverstone is as close as I am going to get in the UK so I am hoping to put on a good show for everybody.
“We will definitely have one eye on the championship position, but it is still important to push for wins. We had a good start to the season at Sebring. We had a tough time at Spa and dropped a lot of points, but the double points at Le Mans put us right back in it and gave us a healthy lead.
“That said, we are not halfway through the championship and it only takes one bad race for everything to change. But we are pretty confident in the package. We are happy to have Stephane back in the car.
“The car is based fairly close so, although we are a US team, this is definitely a home race and we aim to make the most of it.
“At this stage we still have to be smart. We have to maximise the points so we will keep one eye on the prize but we also know that the best way to stay in front is to take points out of your rivals. We are definitely looking for a victory. We think the car will be good enough at Silverstone. We believe it has the reliability for a six-hour race and we know the driver line-up is strong so we are expecting good things.
“That means a podium has to be our minimum target this weekend. We would be concerned if we weren’t in the top three based on how the past three races have gone, but we still have to go out and do it. This is the first time since we got the car that we have been able to work on the finer details. The crew has done a great job and we believe the car is the best it has been all season.
“I am excited to get to Silverstone and see the changes they have done to the car because I know a lot of work has been done.
“We have had a lot of positive feedback already and we know a lot of people will be rooting for us. I think everybody has enjoyed seeing this unknown team on the European scene come in and get results. It has definitely helped having a British driver in the car.
“I know there are a lot of people making the trip down to Silverstone. I know of a couple of bus-loads coming down so that will be pretty cool. I am looking forward to that.”
THE FACTS: Ryan was second in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and third in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, then had his first Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series win of the season at Watkins Glen.
Ryan is also leading Starworks Motorsport’s FIA World Endurance Championship.
They started with an LMP2 class win and third place overall at Sebring in Florida before winning their class at the Le Mans 24 Hours, where Tom Kimber-Smith was in the car with Ryan and Enzo.
Ryan also grabbed an LMPC class win and third place overall in the CORE autosport car at Long Beach in California as well as a third place in class at Mosport in Canada.
He had four Rolex Grand-Am podiums in 2011 – a win at Mid-Ohio and third at Barber, Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. He also had three fourth-place finishes. Ryan also gave Starworks Motorsport its first DP victory, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, in 2008.
Find out more at www.ryandalziel.com.