POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, FEB. 4 — Thetford / Norcold Dyson Racing is happy to announce that James Weaver will be spearheading its efforts in the 2004 American Le Mans Series.
The 48 year-old English star has been a mainstay of Dyson Racing`s sportscar success. His relationship with the team dates back to 1987. In this time Weaver has won more sportscar races than anyone else.
His dynamic flair in the cockpit and his sense of humor outside of the car makes Weaver among the most popular drivers in the paddock. Weaver is also highly regarded as one of sportscar racing`s finest testing and development drivers.
Weaver will be co-driving with Butch Leitzinger, with whom he captured the Grand Prix of Sonoma in 2003. As a pairing, Weaver and Leitzinger have won more North American sportscar races than anyone else. Understandably, the Englishman is high on the Dyson team`s chances for the upcoming season. Weaver truly loves his motor racing and with Dyson he has found a family atmosphere in which he has thrived.
“I think Rob (Dyson) must have the patience of Job,” Weaver joked. “We have had a tremendous amount of fun with our racing. We are given all the tools to get the job done and the team responds. Rob is just a wonderful enthusiast who loves this sport. I looked around the other day at the Sebring test and saw how much fun everyone was having, and it is very special. I am really excited for this season ahead.”
When asked about Weaver`s return to the team that he has called home for 17 seasons, Rob Dyson looked puzzled, and quipped “Who is James Weaver?” On a more serious level, the team principal is well aware that in Weaver he has one of the supreme talents in the sport. “James is phenomenal,” Dyson said. “He has been one of the primary factors in our success, and he shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. When he steps into the car, everyone else out there knows they are going to have a fight on their hands.”
Rob Dyson was also complimentary of Weaver`s legendary work ethic: “James is willing to put in more hours than most drivers getting the car right, and that is what separates him from most everyone else. Between him and Butch (Leitzinger) and Andy (Wallace) and Chris (Dyson), we have an incredibly strong lineup going into 2004.”
Since entering the sportscar racing world in 1985, Dyson Racing has been North America`s most successful sportscar team. For 2004 the team will campaign two of its MG-Lola EX257 prototypes in the nine-race American Le Mans Series. The series first event is the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 20.
