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Cosmo Continues Search for Full-Season Drive

Guy Cosmo among the recently re-classified drivers without a TUDOR Championship ride…

Photo: John Dagys

Photo: John Dagys

After a successful drive with Level 5 Motorsports at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Guy Cosmo is among many drivers still on the lookout for a full-season seat in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The 36-year-old Long Island native, now residing in West Palm Beach, finished a solid 6th in GTD at Daytona last month, co-driving a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 with Scott Tucker, Terry Borcheller, Mike LaMarra, and Milo Valverde.

Cosmo’s relationship with the team is a carryover from the American Le Mans Series, which saw him switch from Extreme Speed Motorsports to Level 5 late last year.

However, nothing other than a last-minute opportunity to compete at the Rolex 24 has presented itself to Cosmo, leaving him without a ride going into the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring this March.

“It’s a transitional time for sports car racing in general,” Cosmo told Sportscar365. “But ultimately, making the decisions I’ve made, I’m trying to put myself in a position where I can accomplish some big things in my career.

“It’s a fine balance from just trying to exist and survive on a daily basis vs. finding that ideal scenario where you’re with a team that can put you in the position to win.”

Cosmo confirmed that he had not only spoken with TUDOR Championship squads, but also with teams competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Alluding to his recent promotion from Silver to Gold rank by IMSA, and subsequently the ACO, he said, “I would have had multiple drives lined up, but I’m not a Silver anymore. I applied with the FIA [ACO] separately, and they ranked me Gold on their own.”

Recent changes in ACO sporting regulations have resulted in an increased demand for amateur drivers; Cosmo’s promotion has turned out to be both a blessing and a curse.

Competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of his top priorities, a race which he was slated to participate in last year, prior to ESM withdrawing its GTE-Am Ferrari entry.

“I’m trying to put myself in a position where I could win overall,” he said. “But unless you’re an ex-Formula 1 driver or a factory driver, you aren’t going to get the spot [at Le Mans].”

Cosmo, however, is also upbeat about the long-term future of the TUDOR Championship.

“Obviously it’s a work in progress, but I think it’s going well so far,” he said. “The series now exists to satisfy the issues both series [ALMS and Grand-Am] were facing.”

Cosmo said he will be attending the Sebring Winter Test later this month, where a number of TUDOR Championship teams are expected to participate.

Beck Duggleby (@BDuggleby) is a contributor to Sportscar365, focusing on coverage of the European Le Mans Series for 2015.

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