ESM Confirms Lazzaro for Remainder of Season

Photo: John Thawley/ESM

Anthony Lazzaro will complete the American Le Mans Series season with Extreme Speed Motorsports, it was announced Monday.

The 50-year-old sports car racing veteran, who received a late call-up to replace Guy Cosmo at the wheel of the No. 01 HPD ARX-03b for Baltimore, will partner team owner Scott Sharp for the final three races of the year, beginning this weekend at Circuit of The Americas.

Lazzaro, who was part of the ESM’s lineup for the Tequila Patron-sponsored No. 02 car at Sebring, was recently downgraded from Gold to Silver driver status by IMSA. Current P2 class rules mandate at least one Bronze or Silver-rated driver per car.

“Anthony did a fantastic job in Baltimore plus he has experience the next circuit (COTA), knows the ins-and-outs of Virginia, and Road Atlanta is his home track,” Sharp said. “I couldn’t ask for a better co-driver to finish out this season. We’re glad to have him at ESM, representing Patrón and behind the wheel of the No. 01.”

ESM is currently in a tight title race with Level 5 Motorsports, with Sharp trailing championship leader Marino Franchitti by 8 points and only 4 points behind former co-driver Cosmo, who won in his Level 5 debut at Baltimore.

Level 5 holds a 15-point advantage in the teams’ championship heading into the eighth round of the season on Saturday at COTA.

“I’ve known Scott and the team for a while, so this really does feel like home to me,” Lazzaro said. “We have our work cut out for us the rest of the season. My goal is to help the No. 01 team win races, get Scott that drivers’ championship and ESM the team championship.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John