Long-time partner increasing marketing efforts through
the Global Leader of Green Racing

Braselton, Ga. (April 18, 2012) – With a new 3-year agreement beginning in 2012, VP Racing Fuels has increased its level of partnership with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and the International Motor Sports Association. The agreement calls for VP – provider of racing fuel to the Series and its sanctioning body for the last four years – to continue as the Official Racing Gasoline Supplier to ALMS and IMSA through 2014, the organizations announced today.

As such, VP will continue supplying VP100, its ethanol-enriched E10 unleaded fuel, and cellulosic E85 fuels for the ALMS. VP also provides VP100 to the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama and Cooper Tire Prototype Lites powered by Mazda. The two are the top-level development championships in the IMSA family, and prepare drivers and teams for competition in the American Le Mans Series.

“With VP on the leading edge of race fuel technology, ALMS has long served as the perfect platform to showcase the use of our fuels in some of the most technologically advanced vehicles on the planet,” said Alan Cerwick, President of VP Racing Fuels. “As our retail branding program unfolds, it made sense to ramp up and leverage our relationship to introduce to ALMS’ tech-savvy fans and performance enthusiasts our VP-branded retail gas stations and the performance products to be found there. In turn, we anticipate using the stores to help increase attendance and audience for ALMS racing, so it’s a true win-win.”

VP’s consumer marketing push is a major component to its activation program. In addition to its own efforts, the ALMS will offer VP representatives and their guests premium event and hospitality experiences that showcase the link between VP’s products for the race track and its consumer offerings. Additionally, VP will have a significant presence in the Series’ race coverage on ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN3.

The position of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón as the Global Leader of Green Racing bodes well for VP’s participation as a supplier and partner. The ALMS rulebook allows for multiple energy options as competitors and partners alike push energy-efficient automotive technology in the most extreme setting possible – world-class endurance road racing.

"Competitors in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and IMSA development championships are part of the most rigorous and demanding forms of racing in the world," said Scot Elkins, IMSA COO. "Having technical partners like VP Racing Fuels in our paddocks is key to continually delivering exciting products for our fans. VP's commitment to ALMS and IMSA, along with its plans for activation around our events, is exemplary and one for which we are thankful."

The American Le Mans Series next travels to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the third round of the 10-race championship. The six-hour American Le Mans Monterey presented by Patrón is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 12 from the 2.238-mile circuit in Monterey, Calif. ESPN2 will air the race at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 13. Live coverage is available starting at 4:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3.

Viewers outside the U.S. can watch the Monterey round and all ALMS races live on ALMS.com. The Series’ website offers additional content such as live in-car cameras, and timing and scoring for all users around the world.

Visit ALMS.com for current and future event information including tickets and area accommodations. Follow the Series on Twitter (@almsnotes), Facebook and our official YouTube channel.

Since 1975 VP has fueled champions in virtually every racing category and class with fuels offering superior power and consistency. In addition to race fuels, VP’s product line includes SEF Small Engine Fuels for portable 2- and 4-cycle gas-powered tools and VP PowerMaster Hobby Fuels for R/C racing. More information is available online at VPRacingFuels.com, SEFfuels.com and PowerMasterFuels.com.

Heinemeier Hansson Set for Le Mans Debut with Oak Racing

Coming off Long Beach P2 podium in Conquest’s Morgan-Nissan

Conquest Endurance’s David Heinemeier Hansson will race at the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time this year. Following on a class runner-up finish at the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, the Danish-born driver will race a Morgan prototype for Oak Racing in the great race’s LMP2 class.

Heinemeier Hansson is in his first full season of ALMS competition. He and Martin Plowman are Conquest’s full-time drivers in their Morgan-Nissan prototype. The Dane was highly impressive in his opening stint at Long Beach with lap times that were comparable to Plowman’s time that best in class.

As part of his Oak Racing Le Mans program, Heinemeier Hansson will race with Bas Leinders in the FIA World Endurance Championship six-hour round at Spa on May 5.

“I'm thrilled to be joining OAK Racing for the 6 Hours of Spa and Le Mans 24 Hours,” Heinemeier Hansson said. “It has been my dream to race at Le Mans for many years and I could not have wished for a better team and car to do it in. The Morgan 2012 LMP2 has already shown incredible pace at the 12 Hours of Sebring and most recently at the Long Beach race. It's also fantastic that I can continue driving the same car that I'm already very familiar with from the Conquest Endurance program in the ALMS. So with a great driver lineup, great car and a great team, I think we have everything in place to be a serious contender for the podium in both races. It's certainly not going to be easy with so many good teams in LMP2 this year, but I couldn't ask for a better shot at it.”

The American Le Mans Series next travels to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the third round of the 10-race championship. The six-hour American Le Mans Monterey presented by Patrón is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 12 from the 2.238-mile circuit in Monterey, Calif. ESPN2 will air the race at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 13. Live coverage is available starting at 4:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3.

The Series’ website offers additional content such as live in-car cameras and timing and scoring for all users around the world. Viewers outside the U.S. can watch the Monterey round and all ALMS races live on ALMS.com.

Visit ALMS.com for current and future event information including tickets and area accommodations. Follow the Series on Twitter (@almsnotes), Facebook and our official YouTube channel.

ALMS Milestones for Gavin, Luhr at Long Beach

Adding to already impressive resumes

Two of the most successful drivers in the history of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón expanded their legacy with victories Saturday in the second round of the 2012 championship.

A P1 victory for Luhr and a GT win for Gavin at Saturday’s Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach advanced the two drivers to third and fourth, respectively, on the ALMS career-win list. Combined, the two drivers have amassed 71 class victories in their illustrious careers.

Luhr’s 36 victories rank him third in the ALMS record books. A four-time ALMS champion, the German driver has won races in three classes and became the first competitor to take three overall ALMS triumphs at Long Beach – 2008 for Audi and the last two years with Klaus Graf for Greg Pickett’s Muscle Milk squad. This season they won in a Honda Performance Development ARX-03a prototype and gave the new car its first worldwide triumph.

Gavin’s career achievements so far with Corvette Racing are equally impressive. The Briton is tied with Audi standout Dindo Capello for fourth in career wins with 35. Driving with Tommy Milner, Gavin won at Long Beach for the third time and posted the fastest GT race lap in his Corvette C6.R. That made 26 all-time and broke a tie with ex-Corvette teammate Olivier Beretta.

Gavin and Luhr – along with the rest of the ALMS field – will be back in action for the six-hour American Le Mans Monterey presented by Patrón at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The third round of the ALMS championship is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 12 from the 2.238-mile circuit in Monterey, Calif. ESPN2 will air the race at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 13. Live coverage is available starting at 4:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3.

The Series’ website offers additional content such as live in-car cameras and timing and scoring for all users around the world. Viewers outside the U.S. can watch the Monterey round and all ALMS races live on ALMS.com.

Visit ALMS.com for current and future event information including tickets and area accommodations. Follow the Series on Twitter (@almsnotes), Facebook and our official YouTube channel.