Highcroft Racing
Encyclopedia
Highcroft Racing is an American
auto racing
team based out of Danbury, Connecticut
and founded by driver Duncan Dayton in 1989. Initially founded for Dayton's involvement in historic motorsport
, specifically the restoration and preparation of classic automobiles, the team was expanded for Dayton's entry into the USAC Formula Ford
2000 series in 1994. The team entered a partnership with Intersport Racing in 2003 and entered the American Le Mans Series
(ALMS).
In 2006 Highcroft purchased an MG-Lola EX257
from Dyson Racing
and started their own ALMS team. After a limited campaign, including a third place finish at the Petit Le Mans
, the team was chosen by Honda
Performance Development (HPD) to run one of three Acura ARX-01
s for Acura
's debut in the ALMS in 2007. In 2008, Highcroft earned title sponsorship from Patrón Tequila
, and earned Acura's first overall race victory in the ALMS. Highcroft was one of two teams, the other being de Ferran Motorsports
, chosen to campaign Acura's new LMP1
car, the Acura ARX-02a
during the 2009 American Le Mans Series season
. Australian David Brabham
and American Scott Sharp
won the 2009 American Le Mans Series championship - winning the title by 17 points.
The team took an early lead in the series after winning the second round at St Petersburg and remained at the top of the points table for the remainder of the 2009 season. Brabham and Sharp took additional victories at Road America and Mosport.
Sharp left the team at the conclusion of the season, and de Ferran Motorsport's Simon Pagenaud
was signed up to be his replacement.
In 2010
, Highcroft switched back to the LMP2-spec Acura, now rebadged HPD
, and the team's pairing of Brabham and Pagenaud won three races and duly took the 2010 championship by 20 points over Porsche RS Spyder
driver Klaus Graf
.
in the LMP2 category with drivers David Brabham
, Marino Franchitti
, and Marco Werner
. Due to French Liquor Laws, the team were unable to display their primary sponsor, Patrón Tequila
, on the car. They instead chose to represent their charitable partner, Malaria No More
.
In 2012, the team will field a DeltaWing
experimental car designed by Ben Bowlby and built by All American Racers.
David Brabham
(2007-)
Duncan Dayton (2006-07)
Dario Franchitti
(2008)
Marino Franchitti
(2010-)
Memo Gidley
(2006)
Stefan Johansson
(2007-08)
Robbie Kerr
(2007)
Vitor Meira
(2006)
Simon Pagenaud
(2010-)
Scott Sharp
(2008-09)
Andy Wallace
(2006)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
team based out of Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
and founded by driver Duncan Dayton in 1989. Initially founded for Dayton's involvement in historic motorsport
Historic motorsport
Historic motorsport relies on cars of a particular era. Events are purely regulated to only allow cars of a certain era to participate. Only safety precautions are modernized in these hobbyist races. A historical event can be of various types of motorsport disciplines...
, specifically the restoration and preparation of classic automobiles, the team was expanded for Dayton's entry into the USAC Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
2000 series in 1994. The team entered a partnership with Intersport Racing in 2003 and entered 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...
(ALMS).
In 2006 Highcroft purchased an MG-Lola EX257
MG-Lola EX257
The MG-Lola EX257 was a Le Mans Prototype built by Lola Cars International for the MG car company for their attempt to compete again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in...
from Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team is one of the longest-running and most successful privateer racing organizations. Over the years, it has competed in IMSA GTO and GTP, SCCA Trans-Am,...
and started their own ALMS team. After a limited campaign, including a third place finish at the 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 was chosen by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
Performance Development (HPD) to run one of three Acura ARX-01
Acura ARX-01
The Acura ARX-01 is a Le Mans Prototype built for sports car racing, specifically in the American Le Mans Series. It is the first purpose-built race car by the Acura division of Honda Motor Company, part of their multi-year program to eventually compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race...
s for Acura
Acura
Acura is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Honda Motor Company. The brand has been available in the United States and Canada since March 1986, marketing luxury, performance, and near-performance vehicles. It was introduced to Hong Kong in 1991, Mexico in 2004, and China in 2006...
's debut in the ALMS in 2007. In 2008, Highcroft earned title sponsorship from Patrón Tequila
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
, and earned Acura's first overall race victory in the ALMS. Highcroft was one of two teams, the other being de Ferran Motorsports
De Ferran Motorsports
De Ferran Motorsports was a motor racing team that competed in the American Le Mans Series. The team was owned by the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran....
, chosen to campaign Acura's new LMP1
Le Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
car, the Acura ARX-02a
Acura ARX-02a
The Acura ARX-02a is a Le Mans Prototype constructed by Acura for competition in the LMP1 category of the American Le Mans Series. It is Acura's second Le Mans Prototype, following their ARX-01 which competed in the LMP2 category.-Development:...
during the 2009 American Le Mans Series season
2009 American Le Mans Series season
The 2009 American Le Mans Series season was the eleventh season for the International Motor Sports Association's American Le Mans Series. It began on March 21, 2009, and ended on October 10, 2009 after ten events. The series was composed of Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Tourer race cars divided...
. Australian David Brabham
David Brabham
David Brabham is an Australian racing driver and one of the most successful and experienced specialists in sports car racing. He has won three international Sports Car series and is one of four Australians to have won the Le Mans 24 Hour sports car race, winning the event in...
and American Scott Sharp
Scott Sharp
Scott Sharp is an American race car driver in the American Le Mans Series. He is the son of six-time SCCA champion Bob Sharp. Scott Sharp is best known for his years as a competitor in the Indy Racing League....
won the 2009 American Le Mans Series championship - winning the title by 17 points.
The team took an early lead in the series after winning the second round at St Petersburg and remained at the top of the points table for the remainder of the 2009 season. Brabham and Sharp took additional victories at Road America and Mosport.
Sharp left the team at the conclusion of the season, and de Ferran Motorsport's Simon Pagenaud
Simon Pagenaud
Simon Pagenaud is a French race car driver born in Poitiers. He currently races in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.-Career:...
was signed up to be his replacement.
In 2010
2010 American Le Mans Series season
The 2010 American Le Mans Series season was the twelfth season for the International Motor Sports Association's American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. It was also the first season in which the ALMS used a revised structure for its four classes, as well as the first year in a three...
, Highcroft switched back to the LMP2-spec Acura, now rebadged HPD
Honda Performance Development
Honda Performance Development, Inc. is a subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co. which was establish in 1993 and is based in Santa Clarita, California...
, and the team's pairing of Brabham and Pagenaud won three races and duly took the 2010 championship by 20 points over Porsche RS Spyder
Porsche RS Spyder
The RS Spyder is a racing car designed by Porsche to compete in Le Mans Prototype Class 2 racing. The car takes its name from the legendary 550 Spyder of the 1950s...
driver Klaus Graf
Klaus Graf
Klaus Graf is a German race car driver. He is the son of rally driver Peter Graf. He lived in the United States while competing in the American Le Mans Series, Trans-Am, and in certain NASCAR and ARCA races. He is considered a Road Course Ringer in the world of NASCAR.Graf has won championships...
.
24 Hours of Le Mans
In 2010, Highcroft Racing made their debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
in the LMP2 category with drivers David Brabham
David Brabham
David Brabham is an Australian racing driver and one of the most successful and experienced specialists in sports car racing. He has won three international Sports Car series and is one of four Australians to have won the Le Mans 24 Hour sports car race, winning the event in...
, Marino Franchitti
Marino Franchitti
Marino Alessandro Cesare Franchitti is a Scottish race car driver, and the younger brother of Dario Franchitti...
, and Marco Werner
Marco Werner
Marco Werner is a professional racer from Germany.In his early career, Werner was Formula Opel vice-champion in 1990 and German F3 vice-champion in 1991 ....
. Due to French Liquor Laws, the team were unable to display their primary sponsor, Patrón Tequila
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
, on the car. They instead chose to represent their charitable partner, Malaria No More
Malaria No More
Malaria No More is a nonprofit organization that aims to end death caused by malaria in Africa by 2015. Malaria No More is known for its participation in the Idol Gives Back charity specials.- History :...
.
In 2012, the team will field a DeltaWing
DeltaWing
The DeltaWing is a racing car designed by Ben Bowlby scheduled to debut at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans. The entry will run under the Project 56 name, composed of Ben Bowlby's DeltaWing Racing Cars , Dan Gurney's All American Racers , Duncan Dayton's Highcroft Racing and International Motor Sports...
experimental car designed by Ben Bowlby and built by All American Racers.
American Le Mans Series (2006-)
David BrabhamDavid Brabham
David Brabham is an Australian racing driver and one of the most successful and experienced specialists in sports car racing. He has won three international Sports Car series and is one of four Australians to have won the Le Mans 24 Hour sports car race, winning the event in...
(2007-)
Duncan Dayton (2006-07)Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti
George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
(2008)
Marino Franchitti
Marino Franchitti
Marino Alessandro Cesare Franchitti is a Scottish race car driver, and the younger brother of Dario Franchitti...
(2010-)
Memo GidleyMemo Gidley
José Guillermo "Memo" Gidley is a Mexican-American racing driver, of German and Canadian ancestry, born in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico in 1973. He holds dual citizenship - American and Mexican....
(2006)
Stefan JohanssonStefan Johansson
Stefan Nils Edwin Johansson is a former Formula One driver from who drove for among others both Ferrari and McLaren during his Grand Prix career. Since leaving Formula One he has raced in a number of categories, including CART, various kinds of Sports car racing, and Grand Prix Masters...
(2007-08)
Robbie Kerr
Robbie Kerr
Robert "Robbie" Kerr is a British race car driver from England.-Early career:In 2002 he became the British Formula Three Champion for Alan Docking Racing with 306 points ahead of Australian racing driver James Courtney.Following an abortive attempt at International Formula 3000 in 2003, Kerr did...
(2007)
Vitor MeiraVitor Meira
Vitor Meira is an auto racing driver currently competing in the IndyCar Series. He has twice finished second in the Indianapolis 500....
(2006)
Simon PagenaudSimon Pagenaud
Simon Pagenaud is a French race car driver born in Poitiers. He currently races in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.-Career:...
(2010-)
Scott SharpScott Sharp
Scott Sharp is an American race car driver in the American Le Mans Series. He is the son of six-time SCCA champion Bob Sharp. Scott Sharp is best known for his years as a competitor in the Indy Racing League....
(2008-09)
Andy Wallace
Andy Wallace
Andrew or Andy Wallace may refer to:*Andy Wallace , music producer*Andy Wallace , race car driver*Andy Wallace , keyboard player...
(2006)