Flying Lizard Motorsports
Encyclopedia
The Flying Lizard Motorsports team is a motorsport
team from Sonoma, California
which was formed by Seth Neiman
in early 2003 to compete in the American Le Mans Series
. The Flying Lizard squad finished second in GT2 in the 2004 ALMS Drivers’ and team championships and third in 2005.
In 2006, the team ran two 996-generation Porsche 911 GT3
RSRs (No. 44 and No. 45) in the complete 10-race ALMS season in North America. The team then fielded its No. 80 Porsche in the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
in France, taking a 4th in class finish in the GT2 series.
For the 2007 season, the team took delivery of two brand new 997 Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs in December 2006, which sport multiple new improvements over the 996 GT3 RSR model. Due to body work optimizations, the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (type 997) has improved aerodynamics and a 10 percent increased stiffness in the chassis. At the same time, the center of gravity has been lowered. Wider rear fenders and a wider rear track for the rear wheels of up to 14 inches (355.6 mm) enhance the performance capabilities of this new racing car. The 3.8 litre engine produces 485 hp.
On March 5, 2007, the team announced its driver line-up for the 2007 season opener, the Mobil 1
12 Hours of Sebring
. Drivers Johannes van Overbeek and Jörg Bergmeister and the new addition of Marc Lieb shared duties of driving the No. 45 car, while Darren Law
, Seth Neiman, and Lonnie Pechnik shared the No. 44 car.
After the #45 car won three times in 2007, including the prestigious Petit Le Mans
, the team would finish second in the team standings to the Risi Competizione
team. Drivers Jörg Bermeister and Johannes van Overbeek would finish second in the series driver standings.
and Seth Neiman with guest driver Alex Davison piloted the car.
The #45 car of Bergmeister and Henzler was in tight contention with the Tafel Racing squad of Dominik Farnbacher and Dirk Müller, and at the end of the season emerged the overall points winners, giving Flying Lizard Motorsports their first ever GT2 class championship.
and Patrick Long
for the majority of the races with Marc Lieb as the reserve third driver for longer races. The #44 car will be piloted by Seth Neiman
and Darren Law
for the majority of the races with Johannes van Overbeek
as the reserve driver.
After coming in 3rd at the season opener at Sebring with a heavily damaged car, the #45 team took the class win in the following 5 races. The following two races at Road America and Mosport they faced much tougher competition with a greatly improved Rahal Letterman Racing
BMW team and a new Corvette Racing team. The #45 managed 3rd at Mosport and 4th at Road America.
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
team from Sonoma, California
Sonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
which was formed by Seth Neiman
Seth Neiman
Seth Neiman is a businessman and professional racing driver. He races for and is the team principal of Flying Lizard Motorsports in the American Le Mans Series.-Racing Career:...
in early 2003 to compete in the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
. The Flying Lizard squad finished second in GT2 in the 2004 ALMS Drivers’ and team championships and third in 2005.
In 2006, the team ran two 996-generation Porsche 911 GT3
Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a higher performance version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is the latest in a line of high performance models, beginning with the 1973 911 RS...
RSRs (No. 44 and No. 45) in the complete 10-race ALMS season in North America. The team then fielded its No. 80 Porsche in the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
2006 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 74th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place over June 17–18, 2006.-Pre-race:Prior to this race the ACO redeveloped the area around the Dunlop Curve and Dunlop Chicane, moving the Dunlop Curve in tighter to create more run-off area, while also turning the Dunlop...
in France, taking a 4th in class finish in the GT2 series.
2007 season
On March 5, 2007, the team announced its driver line-up for the 2007 season opener, the Mobil 1
Mobil 1
Mobil 1 is a brand name developed by the Mobil oil company and now marketed by ExxonMobil.It was introduced in 1974 as a 5w single viscosity fully synthetic motor oil advertised for use up to 25,000 miles. Later, the miles-specific recommendation was dropped and the product reformulated in other...
12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
. Drivers Johannes van Overbeek and Jörg Bergmeister and the new addition of Marc Lieb shared duties of driving the No. 45 car, while Darren Law
Darren Law
Darren Law is a Canadian-born American racing driver.At age 14 Law was the International Kart Federation national champion, and shortly thereafter began racing cars in various amateur classes on the west coast of the United States. In 1991 he was a factory driver for Elden Racing Cars' factory...
, Seth Neiman, and Lonnie Pechnik shared the No. 44 car.
After the #45 car won three times in 2007, including the prestigious Petit Le Mans
Petit Le Mans
The Petit Le Mans is a sports car endurance race held annually at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA. It uses the rules established for the 24 hours of Le Mans by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest , which are slightly modified if necessary, mainly to allow additional cars to compete.The race was...
, the team would finish second in the team standings to the Risi Competizione
Risi Competizione
Risi Competizione is an American auto racing team formed by Giuseppe Risi in 1997. Initially a partnership with Doyle Racing using the name Doyle-Risi Racing, Giuseppe Risi took full control of the project and it was rebranded with its current name in 2000...
team. Drivers Jörg Bermeister and Johannes van Overbeek would finish second in the series driver standings.
2008 season
For the 2008 season, the Flying Lizard team continued on in its fifth consecutive season in the GT2 class of the American Le Mans series. For this season, the team expanded into a three car operation with three Porsche 2008 911 GT3 RSRs. In the #45 car, previous season driver Jorg Bergmeister was joined by Wolf Henzler for the full season of competition with third driver Marc Lieb. Johannes van Overbeek and the new addition of Patrick Pilet piloted the team's #46 entry fulltime with guest driver Richard Lietz. In the #44 entry, Darren LawDarren Law
Darren Law is a Canadian-born American racing driver.At age 14 Law was the International Kart Federation national champion, and shortly thereafter began racing cars in various amateur classes on the west coast of the United States. In 1991 he was a factory driver for Elden Racing Cars' factory...
and Seth Neiman with guest driver Alex Davison piloted the car.
The #45 car of Bergmeister and Henzler was in tight contention with the Tafel Racing squad of Dominik Farnbacher and Dirk Müller, and at the end of the season emerged the overall points winners, giving Flying Lizard Motorsports their first ever GT2 class championship.
2009 season
For 2009 Flying Lizard Motorsports moved to a two car squad with the returning GT2 class champion #45 car being piloted by Jörg BergmeisterJörg Bergmeister
Jörg Bergmeister is a race car driver from Germany.His father, Willi Bergmeister, owns a workshop and dealership where Michael Schumacher learned his trade as a car mechanic in the 1980s....
and Patrick Long
Patrick Long
Patrick Long is a professional race car driver. He is a Porsche works driver since 2003, with whom he has earned grand touring class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans endurance races, plus three American Le Mans Series GT2 drivers...
for the majority of the races with Marc Lieb as the reserve third driver for longer races. The #44 car will be piloted by Seth Neiman
Seth Neiman
Seth Neiman is a businessman and professional racing driver. He races for and is the team principal of Flying Lizard Motorsports in the American Le Mans Series.-Racing Career:...
and Darren Law
Darren Law
Darren Law is a Canadian-born American racing driver.At age 14 Law was the International Kart Federation national champion, and shortly thereafter began racing cars in various amateur classes on the west coast of the United States. In 1991 he was a factory driver for Elden Racing Cars' factory...
for the majority of the races with Johannes van Overbeek
Johannes van Overbeek
Johannes van Overbeek is an American race car driver in the American Le Mans Series. He currently drives a Ferrari F430 for Extreme Speed Motorsports.-Career:Johannes raced go-karts as a child, and began racing sedans at eighteen...
as the reserve driver.
After coming in 3rd at the season opener at Sebring with a heavily damaged car, the #45 team took the class win in the following 5 races. The following two races at Road America and Mosport they faced much tougher competition with a greatly improved Rahal Letterman Racing
Rahal Letterman Racing
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is an auto racing team that currently races in the American Le Mans Series and part–time in the IndyCar Series. Based in Hilliard, Ohio, it is co–owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, television talk show host David Letterman, and businessman Mike...
BMW team and a new Corvette Racing team. The #45 managed 3rd at Mosport and 4th at Road America.
External links
- Flying Lizard Motorsports - Official Team Website