Theys / Lienhard Lola B05/40 Confirmed
Sometimes we do need to wait until a team is ready to announce its
plans – but now it’s publicly acknowledged that Didier
Theys and Fredy Lienhard Sr. will begin a new era for the pair by
debuting a Lista-backed Lola B05/40 LMP2 car at the Monza LMES event
in July.
Power comes from the 3.4 Judd XV V8.
The car will be entered by Markus Hotz's Horag Racing, based in
Sulgen, Switzerland, just a few kilometers away from Lista's corporate
headquarters in Erlen.
The team expects to race at Monza, Silverstone and
the Nurburgring – then decamp to North America for Petit Le
Mans – and return to Europe for the fifth LMES race at Istanbul.
The Horag-Lista
team plans to entire entire the LMES schedule in 2006 and 2007,
with the target of securing entries at Le Mans. Sebring and PLM
will feature on the schedule in 2006 and 2007.
"Racing
again with Markus and Fredy in Europe will be just like the old
days," said Didier Theys said. "I think we'll have a very
competitive package with the Lola Judd. I know we're starting in
the middle of the season this year, but we're looking at it as great
preparation for a full assault on the championship in 2006."
"After
retiring from Grand American racing in 2004, I thought my racing
career was over," commented Lienhard Snr., "but I very
quickly found out that my life would not be as enjoyable without
racing. I look forward to the friendship in our Swiss-international
team and the many experiences and challenges ahead of us. I am also
extremely happy to be racing in the United States again, first in
Atlanta, followed by Sebring in early 2006."
So no more Lista-backed Grand Am racing it seems.
We thought Fredy Lienhard had retired – welcome back sir.
"When I
look to the experienced people we have assembled and the motivation
of our team, I think we're ready to take on the challenge,”
summed up Markus Hotz. “We have the full support of the factory,
which makes us sure that we have chosen the right car and the right
engine."
The car is expected
to look something like this.

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