JANUARY 1, 2002 — James Weaver`s dominant form in North American sports car racing over the past several years has earned him a spot on the prestigious America Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team.
The Englishman, who repeated as Rolex Grand-Am Series` Champion in 2001, had earned four honorable mentions in past AARWBA votes. The award is voted on by members of the national motorsport press. Thetford / Norcold Dyson Racing now holds a brace of four AARWBA members: in being selected, Weaver joins teammates Butch Leitzinger (1997, 1998), Elliott Forbes-Robinson (1999), and Dorsey Schroeder (1989)– all first team honorees.
“I am honored to have won this award. It is a privilege to drive for Rob and I am delighted for the team,” Weaver said upon learning of his selection. Weaver will be honored along with the other drivers at the AARWBA banquet in Pomona, CA on January 12.
With superb capacity for absorbing and conveying data, uncanny car control, and an almost familial relationship with Dyson Racing, James has been essential to the team`s development and success in top-line sportscar racing for 15 seasons. Beginning his racing career in 1975, James ascended with astounding results through the British Formula Ford and F3 championships. He continued his winning ways in International F3000 but passed up on an open wheel career for sportscars.
In the mid-eighties he drove a variety of machines in Group C and claimed second overall at the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 956. During his five years driving for Dyson Racing in IMSA GTP competition (1987-1991), James helped to win the 1988 North American Porsche Cup and scored four overall victories. Weaver also did four races with Dyson when the team made a brief CART foray in 1989, enjoying a best finish of tenth at Long Beach. After a brief, but dominant stay in the British Touring Car Championship–where he won the 1989 title after 11 victories from 10 pole positions–James returned to American sportscars with Dyson.
Weaver has emerged as one of the world`s foremost sportscar pilots in recent years. In addition to his category-leading 29 victories in open-top prototype competition in North America, James has won the 1996 BPR Global Endurance GT Championship, the 1998 Can-Am Championship, and has won the Grand American Road Racing Association title in 2000 and 2001. He has competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans several times, most recently with Audi Sport U.K. and Porsche. The Englishman`s never-say-die attitude, spectacular driving style and witty sense of humor make him a cagey veteran on the track and a paddock favorite.
Weaver will co-drive with Butch Leitzinger and Oliver Gavin at this year`s Rolex 24 Hours. The trio commences their 2002 assault on the endurance classic at the Daytona Test Days on January 3-5.
