24h Le Mans
Riley Motorsports - TI Auro had a blast at Le Mans 24 Hours this year, despite not finishing. So much so that they will be requesting an invitation for next year
The team were on the reserve list last year and their slot was only confirmed in mid April so it was somewhat of a last-minute rush to get everyone ready. Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen, LM P2 class winner at the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours, headed the crew. They were doing fine until their hopes of a flamboyant finish were dashed by a gearbox issue.
Bleekemolen has raced two full United SportsCar Championship seasons with Ben Keating, number one Viper dealer in the US. The pair got off to a flying start in the 2015 season by winning the GTD class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the Dodge Viper SRT. Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge driver Marc Miller joined them for Le Mans.
If the invitation for the LM GTE Am class is granted, team owner Bill Riley will not be changing last year’s line-up. For Daytona though, Dominik Farnbacher, who was an official Viper driver at Le Mans in 2013, will be joining the ranks. Bleekemolen and Keating are set to race the full WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Marc Miller will join them for the long races, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO — Translated from French by Emma Paulay
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS CIRCUIT, LE MANS 24 HOURS, WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE 2015, PRACTICE SESSIONS. The Viper is ready for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2016.
