Melo ready to face Corvette challenge.

Jaime Melo says he is looking forward to the challenge of taking the fight to the factory Corvette team as the American Le Mans Series heads to Mid-Ohio this weekend for the sixth round of the season.

Melo returns to ALMS campaign on the back of victory in the GT2 class at the recent Spa 24 Hours, while team-mate Pierre Kaffer also ran strongly in his outing at the famed Belgian circuit.

The addition of the Corvettes to the GT2 line-up means cars representing no fewer than seven different manufacturers will seen on the grid this season, but Melo said he was ready for the challenge that will be faced as Corvette join at a circuit where overtaking will be far from easy.

“It's very hard to pass other like-speed cars here,” he said. “Getting through, and off, the low speed corners in a good way is where the lap time comes from and the only real areas for passing are under braking into the Keyhole and into the right hander at the end of the strait. Qualifying will as always be really important, and I hope we'll be able to give Pierre all the time he needs to learn the track before the race.

“The race itself won't be easy as I'm sure the Corvettes will be a big challenge in the class – they are very professional and we know they will be doing everything possible to win – just like us, the Porsches and the BMWs. It will be closer than ever!”

http://www.crash.net/alms/news/150795/1/melo_ready_to_face_corvette_challenge.html

Also we have Martin Ragginger added to the mix.

FIA GT Championship racer Martin Ragginger will make his debut in the American Le Mans Series at Mid-Ohio after being called into the Farnbacher Loles line-up for this weekend's event.

The Austrian youngster will join up with Wolf Henzler at the wheel of the #87 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, with Henzler's regular partner Dirk Werner busy competing in the Grand-Am Rolex Series event at Watkins Glen.

Ragginger will be look to help the team to its first win of the season, with two poles so far this season but a best finish of second – with victory so far proving to be elusive.

“Wolf is always quick, but he is especially good at Mid-Ohio,” team boss Gregory Loles said of his hopes for the weekend, “and we know Martin will be on pace based on what he has done in an RSR in Europe.

“There is increased competition now with the debut of the new Corvette in GT2, but we feel confident in the ability of both the drivers and the crew. It should be an exciting race.”

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