West Racing and Alex Job Racing are joining forces to compete for the American Le Mans Series GT championship in 2013. The team will be known as Team West/AJR/Boardwalk Ferrari starting at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 16.
The AJR/West deal, which replaces Job's Lotus Evora program of last season, adds further strength to Ferrari's ALMS effort, following the announcement that Risi was also returning to join last year's top Ferrari squad Extreme Speed.
Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell will drive the Yokohama-backed No. 23 Team West/AJR/Boardwalk Ferrari 458 GT. The duo will debut the 458 GT at Sebring, where they won the GTC class in 2012.
"I'm happy that we will continue in the GT class of the ALMS through a racing partnership with Eduardo Espindola of West Racing Team," Alex Job said. "Eduardo has quietly assembled all of the assets required to become a championship contending race team and I'm excited that we are combining efforts to help get the team to the front. I am also excited that Yokohama will be with us again this year as well."
"Our efforts to acquire the most competitive car to race for the championship resulted in the acquisition of the Ferrari 458 GT," said Espindola, team principal of Team West AJR/Boardwalk Ferrari. "Bill and Townsend played the key role in forging this potentially long-term relationship with West Racing. We collectively look forward to racing the Ferrari in the ALMS GT class."
"Our Team West/AJR/Boardwalk Ferrari is comprised of a group of consummate racing professionals," Bell added. "Special thanks goes to our great partners at Motegi Racing who made the introductions that made all of this possible. This team is focused on getting to the top of the podium. The combined team has one of the best records in sports car racing around the world. I am thrilled that I could help put these principals together to create the newly formed team. In addition, having the chance to represent such a great brand like Ferrari is simply awesome. Every driver dreams of driving a car with the prancing horse on the hood. I can't wait for Turn 1 at Sebring in the new ride. Time to buckle up!"
"Alex Job Racing has proven throughout its history an ability to raise the level of competition and run at the front in any American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón class it races," Scott Atherton, ALMS president and CEO, said. "It's well documented there is no shortage of high profile, fully professional programs in the ALMS GT class for 2013. Given Alex's championship pedigree and the enthusiasm of Eduardo Espindola's West Racing Team, I would expect the Alex Job-led Team West/AJR/Boardwalk Ferrari team to be in the mix for podium finishes and race wins in one of the most competitive GT championships in the world."