BALTIMORE, MD September 3, 2011 – Humaid Al Masaood and Steven Kane won their first American Le Mans Series race today at the Baltimore Grand Prix in their #20 Oryx Dyson Racing entry. Chris Dyson and Guy Smith finished second in the #16 G-OIL ModSpace/Construct Corps Lola Mazda, giving Dyson Racing their first one-two finish since the 2005 Mid-Ohio race, and providing an appropriate bookend to their one-two qualifying effort.
Dyson started the #16 Lola Mazda. “Our goal at the start was to get out in front and push as hard as we could to stretch out a gap we could comfortably maintain.” Both Dyson cars came into the pits for fuel, tires and driver changes during the first full course yellow forty-five minutes into the race. A delay in starting the #16 car saw the 20 car leave the pits in front and they maintaind that order to the end, with the 16 car seven seconds back at the end. Dyson Racing led sixty-seven of seventy-one laps.
“This feels unreal to get this win in such a short period of time,” remarked Kane. “Everyone has done such a fantastic job. You know, as soon as I first drove with Humaid, I knew he had something special. I told him from the very beginning that he could take it to the top and race at the highest levels.”
“I know it is a cliché, but this is still sinking in,” commented Al Masaood. “This is our fifth race in the ALMS with Dyson Racing and it has been an unbelievable experience. The win today shows our shared values and commitment and solidifies our good future.”
“You look at the way Humaid and Steven have been driving, and it has enhanced our overall effort,” said Dyson. “To have two cars running this well is not an easy task. The victory podium photos always show the drivers, but in truth, it is Mazda, G-OIL, ModSpace, Dunlop and AER who should be spraying and enjoying the champagne.”
Smith noted that “Chris and I picked up valuable points today for our lead and Mazda’s lead in the championships. Today’s accomplishment ads momentum going into the last two races of the season. Both are among the toughest of the year – six hours at Mazda Raceway, and the season-ending ten hours at Petit. And to have both cars running strongly is great for all the team guys who put in such long hours week in and week out. Those hours are what make it happen.”
Rob Dyson summed up the weekend’s experience. “We are fortunate to race in a number of great markets through out the year and I have to say that the fan support here in Baltimore was an A plus. This surpasses any first year event I have ever been to. Even the tops of the skyscrapers were filled with people watching the race. The amount of enthusiastic fans that showed up today, to feel that kind of energy – really honors us. The Charm City has lived up to its reputation.”