Team Falken Tire announced it will take delivery of a 2012-spec Porsche 911 GT3 RSR as the squad sets its eyes on a championship in the American Le Mans Series GT class.
The team, which will continue to be run by Derrick Walker and his old IndyCar squad, Walker Racing, won twice during the 2011 season in GT – the deepest and most competitive class in the ALMS. Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler won in the rain at Mid-Ohio and also at the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix.
“The new chassis makes us one of the first teams in the world to have one of these incredibly sophisticated racecars,” said Andrew Hoit, Falken's vice president of marketing. “Derrick Walker will return to manage our ALMS team, and we expect the same from our drivers, each of whom has developed quite a following on our various fan sites. We have shown the competition and our customers the versatility of our products by winning on both wet and dry track surfaces, and demonstrated that Falken means business when it comes to sports car racing.”
The tire company uses its motorsports to boost recognition, customer engagement and dealer/retailer involvement through at-track hospitality, Falken product giveaways and special promotions.
“Motorsports takes on multiple meanings for Falken,” said Nick Fousekis, Falken director of motorsports and consumer events. “We use all forms of racing to help test, develop and market our products. Obviously, winning is the ultimate goal, but it isn't the only one. What we learn at the track helps make Falken products that much better at the consumer level. For this reason alone, Falken will remain deeply involved in motorsports and performance.”