Yokohama Tire Corporation-Sponsored West Racing Team Names Drivers for 2011 ALMS GT Class

FULLERTON, Jan. 18, 2011: The Yokohama Tire Corporation-sponsored West Racing Team announced Nicky Pastorelli and Dominik Schwager will be its drivers for the 2011 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season. The two veteran racers, who last year were teammates in the FIA GT1 championship, will campaign West Racing’s first ADVANŽ A005 tire-shod Lamborghini in the ALMS GT Class.

“West Racing owner Eduardo Espindola has hired two, top-notch seasoned pros,” said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama senior manager of motorsports. “The competition will be tough, but Nicky and Dominik have experience racing Lamborghinis, so we’re anticipating an exciting, successful season.”

“I’m proud to be part of the West-Yokohama racing team,” said the Dutch-born/Italian-bred Pastorelli, who won the European F3000 championship in 2004. “It’s a great challenge to be part of a new project and help make it successful.”

The ALMS campaign will reunite the German-born Schwager with Yokohama. In 2004, he was a driver of the ADVAN-shod Toyota Supra in the Japanese Super GT series. “I’ve always been interested in ALMS racing, so this is a tremendous opportunity. Because we’re a new team, I know the task ahead is going to be demanding, but thanks to technology partners like Yokohama, I know we’ll be competitive.”

“I’m confident Yokohama’s motorsports heritage will be very well represented by Nicky and Dominik and the entire West Racing Team,” said Briggs.