23 January 2013

Rebellion Racing announces 2013 racing plans

The Swiss team Rebellion Racing exceeded all expectations in 2012; they won the inaugural FIA LMP1 Endurance Trophy for best privateer in the FIA World Endurance Championship, they finished fourth overall at Le Mans 24 Hours, having been quickest of the privateer prototypes from start to finish and they won outright Petit Le Mans, the finale of the 2012 American Le Mans Series.

In 2013, Rebellion Racing will be submitting entries for the American Le Mans Series, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

As confirmed last December, Rebellion Racing will enter a single Toyota powered Lola B12/60 coupe in the 2013 American Le Mans Series and a second entry will be added at the opening round for the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Rebellion Racing have submitted a full season entry application for one Toyota powered Lola B12/60 coupe in the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship. The Swiss team will be looking to re-confirm its status as the best privateer sportscar team at the highest level of endurance racing. In addition, Rebellion Racing will be seeking to enter a second Lola B12/60 coupe Toyota in the first two rounds of the FIA WEC (at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps) as a preparation for Le Mans 24 Hours.
Rebellion Racing have submitted applications for two cars to the Automobile Club de l'Ouest for the 90th edition of the La Sarthe classic.

Rebellion Racing have selected six drivers that will share driving duties in this year’s racing programme. The team have already confirmed the renewal of Andrea Belicchi, Neel Jani and Nicolas Prost and have hired young Swiss driver Mathias Beche.
Rebellion Racing is pleased to announce that former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld of Germany and Chinese driver Cong Fu Cheng will be back with the team.
They both had successful debuts with the team as Nick won twice at Spa and Le Mans and “Frankie” won at his home race in Shanghai in 2012.

Rebellion Racing will remain the exclusive partner of Toyota Motorsport GmbH for the petrol V8 3.4 litre RV8KLM engine programme. In 2013, TMG will supply Rebellion Racing with upgraded versions of the RV8KLM engines as the successful association between the Rebellion Racing team and TMG enters into its third year.

Bart Hayden, Rebellion Racing Team Manager:
“We are looking forward to a great season of racing in 2013. In the ALMS, we definitely want to add some more overall victories to our resume. In the FIA World Endurance Championship, having won the FIA LMP1 Endurance Trophy for best privateer in 2012, it would be nice to win it twice in a row, and in June we hope to have another strong showing at Le Mans.
We are fortunate to benefit from a talented and experienced pool of drivers again this year, I’m convinced that they will all do a great job and work well together.
Our first race this year will be one of the toughest races that we will face all year, but after a long and busy winter, all of us can't wait to be in Sebring racing again, particularly as we will be up against some extremely strong rivals.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our departing drivers Harold Primat and Jeroen Bleekemolen for their good work over the past year and wish them the best of luck going forward.”