CORSA MOTORSPORTS READT TO DEBUT ZYTEK 07S AT ROAD ATLANTA FROM SEVENTH ON LMP1 GRID
Braselton, Ga. (October 3, 2008) – Corsa Motorsports debuts its Zytek 07S Prototype this weekend at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Corsa will make its first start in the Le Mans Prototype 1 Class from the 7th position. Just a month after announcing its departure from GT class racing to the LMP class, Corsa intends to garner championship points in GT as well as LMP classes in the same season. Drivers Gunnar Jeannette, Johnny Mowlem and Stephen Johansson will share the cockpit for the LMP1 Petit Le Mans entry.
Stefan Johansson turned in a qualifying time of 1:09.504, safely placing the car in the field for the 11th Annual Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and the 10th Round of the American Le Mans Series. Gunnar Jeannette and Johnny Mowlem will co-pilot during the 10 hour, 1,000 mile endurance event.
“Stefan has a wealth of knowledge in sports car racing, including the Zytek,” said Steve Pruitt, team owner and principal. “His experience with the car is critical here this weekend and we are thankful he was available to drive with us.”
The reveal of the much-anticipated Corsa Zytek Hybrid has been delayed due to systems development and integration which the Corsa/Zytek works venture has placed into a hold because of the complexity of bringing forth the first ultra-hybrid powered car that will actually compete in a sanctioned event.
In an effort to become more familiar with the LMP car, Corsa will field its LMP1 entry with a traditional ethanol-fueled power plant in the form of a Zytek 4.0-liter engine.
“We’re disappointed that we’re not here competing with the hybrid system,” explains Steve Pruitt, team owner and principal. “We’ve worked closely with Zytek to prepare the equipment for the Petit event but unfortunately the hybrid portion of the package demands that the entirety of the hybrid components (the electric motor, inverter, battery, kinetic energy recovery system and attendant wiring, cooling and management systems) to be thoroughly tested. Although we are anticipating delivery and in-car testing, we believe Zytek has passed the first of our three-step requirements – safety. Reliability and competitiveness yet remain and the reliability component is being rigored on the Zytek dyno. From there, it will be our obligation to make the system competitive.”
Albeit a more ordinary form of propulsion versus the long term goals of the team and its “Eco Energy” approach, Pruitt is at least encouraged by the results he has seen in testing and practice of the Zytek in its more ordinary form. He anticipates the hybrid system will transcend the car, as well as the entire body of motorsport, with the ultra hybrid technology down-streaming its way into other applications in North American markets – which is both Pruitt’s and Zytek Group’s ultimate goal.
