POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, FEB. 13 — Thetford / Norcold Dyson Racing is pleased to announce that Belgian Didier de Radigues will be rejoining Chris Dyson for the 2004 12 Hours of Sebring.
De Radigues, who co-drove with Dyson in the two American Le Mans Series endurance events in 2003, will be piloting the same #20 Lola-MG that the pairing drove to a class victory at last year`s 12 Hours of Sebring. De Radigues also helped the Dyson squad clinch the ALMS Team Championship at the 2003 Petit Le Mans.
De Radigues is no stranger to success in the American Le Mans Series, having won the LMP675 championship in 2001. Prior to his career in auto racing, de Radigues was a star in World Championship motorcycling events.
The Belgian is thrilled to be rejoining the team for the Sebring event. “I am so excited about coming back to the Dyson team,” he said. “Last year we started a great relationship. It is a great family atmosphere. I am really happy to drive with Chris again.”
Chris Dyson is equally upbeat about the re-signing of de Radigues. “Didier`s efforts last year at the long races helped us clinch the team championship,” he said. “We work really well together and he fits into our team amazingly. He is fast, reliable, and relaxed, which is exactly what you need in endurance racing.”
Team principal Rob Dyson was so impressed with de Radigues last year that when it came time to decide on drivers for the Sebring event, the Belgian was an easy choice. “Didier is one of the most unflappable individuals I have ever met,” Dyson said. “It is probably from all the years he spent on motorcycles, but his attitude is a perfect fit for car racing. We are really pleased to have him rejoin us for Sebring.”
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.