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Flying Lizard Finalizing GTD Program

2014 plans being finalized, according to team manager Eric Ingraham…

Photo: John Dagys

Photo: John Dagys

After not being selected to run Porsche’s factory GT Le Mans program, Flying Lizard Motorsports is mapping out plans for a concentrated effort in the GT Daytona category next year, Sportscar365.com has learned.

The two-time American Le Mans Series championship-winning squad moved to the GTC ranks this year with a two-car customer Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car effort. With three class wins in the last five races, the California-based squad currently leads the title race heading into the penultimate ALMS round at VIR.

According to team manager Eric Ingraham, a two to three-car attack is planned for next year, depending on the level of customer interest. He said a decision on what cars to race will likely be made by early next week.

“We’re getting very close to a decision,” Ingraham told Sportscar365. “We’ve got it narrowed down quite a bit. That said, we’re finalizing now, trying to get the final numbers out there, understand what’s out there and understand how competitive it can be. Then we’ll make the decision from there.”

Ingraham admitted one of the options is Porsche’s new 911 GT America, which is expected to make up the majority of the GTD field next year. While the team has enjoyed a 10-year relationship with the German manufacturer, Ingraham said they are seriously evaluating other options as well.

“We’ve had a pretty singular objective the entire time we’ve had the team, which is to win championships. We want to be in a position to do that in the first year of the new series,” Ingraham said.

“The question for us is the best value and the most competitive option. Whatever’s out there is what we want to be doing. We’ve had a long relationship with Porsche and we’d love to continue that if that puts us in the best position.”

While an announcement about Flying Lizard’s 2014 program is expected to come during or shortly after the Petit Le Mans weekend, the team expects to have at least one car at the official USCC pre-season tests at Sebring and Daytona next month.

Ingraham confirmed Flying Lizard was one of at least three teams that submitted bids for Porsche’s works GT LM program, which went to CORE autosport. The team still has aspirations of returning to the category in the future, ideally in a factory capacity.

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

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