AS INTERSPORT CLAIMS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY
Liz Halliday and Intersport Racing continued their impressive performance in the 2005 American Le Mans Series (ALMS), overcoming hurdles on a challenging final race of the season at Laguna Seca, California, with Intersport clinching the Team Championship and team-mate Clint Field wrapping up the LMP2 class Drivers\ Championship.
Liz and regular team-mate Clint Field were once again joined by Clint’s father and team owner Jon Field and the Halliday/Flint partnership continued its successful journey. Engine troubles during qualifying meant the Intersport Racing Lola-AER started the race from the back of the grid, leaving the trio an even bigger challenge ahead. But Jon took control of the wheel initially and powered through the field to reach seventh by lap six and second in class. Liz took over to continue the hot pace and by the end of the second hour of the four-hour race, Clint had brought the Lola-AER LMP2 even further up the order.
But the Intersport machine suddenly hit trouble as there were problems with a battery cable, forcing it into the pits where it remained for the best part of half an hour while the team anxiously worked to rectify the problem. Liz Halliday explained: ‘The team worked so hard to find the problem and we were in the pits for ages. What was difficult was knowing that we had to complete 70% of the race in order for Clint to be able to win the Drivers’ championship and everyone was very conscious of that for every minute we were in the pits. But the team did a stirling job and got us back out there so we could finish the job we set out to do: to help Clint take the LMP2 Drivers’ title.’
Thinking about the race, Liz said: ‘As Laguna Seca is so close to home it was great to have my family here and one of my friends who I haven’t seen in two years drove down to support me as well, which makes the race even more special. Compared to the last race at Petit Le Mans where we won, this race was more of a challenge but I guess that makes our overall success taste even more sweet. It’s an awesome track and even though we only finished fifth in class I was happy that we completed the race as I didn’t manage that last year.’
Despite having only contested five races of the 10-race series, Liz Halliday’s three ALMS victories with Clint counted heavily towards her own drivers’ points tally which put her in a well deserved sixth overall in the Drivers’ standings. ‘I’m surprised that I’ve finished so high up the standings but I’m really happy I have! At the beginning of 2005 I truly didn’t expect to get the opportunity to drive an LMP2 prototype, let alone compete in Le Mans but I’ve been very lucky this year.’
Clint Field took the Drivers’ title 22 points clear of nearest rivals, team-mates Jamie Bach and Guy Cosmo of B-K Motorsports. The young American finished the season with five victories in the Intersport Racing Lola-AER, the most of any driver in the class. Halliday’s delighted team-mate Clint Field said: ‘This is a good year to say the least. I came close to the championship on the other ones but it was a tough year for us with problems ranging from gearbox issues to a fire in Road America, and they are difficult issues to overcome for a small team like ours. We only have two full-time employees and seven or eight team members in total. For this race we really just did what we planned, which was just to run enough laps. We wanted to compete with Penske [Porsche] but after the first stint we knew we really couldn’t match their pace. I think this is the best fifth place finish we’ve ever had!’
Echoeing her team-mate’s thoughts, Liz added: ‘Intersport are an awesome team to work with and the crew dealt with issues better than anyone in that pit lane would have done. I know it’s always the drivers who are seen to be winning races but the team has certainly helped us take a lot of our good results this season and I raise my hat to them.’
I have learned a huge amount this year,’ said the 26-year-old Californian, reflecting on the season. ‘I was given a great opportunity and we’ve had some great results but it’s actually quite depressing reaching the end of a season you have really enjoyed. Now we’re in discussions for plans for 2006. Personally I would love the opportunity to drive an LMP2 car in ALMS again as I’ve learnt so much and it’s been very enjoyable, it’s an excellent championship and it would be great for my parents to be able to see me race more. I’m hoping for the opportunity to drive at Le Mans again next year and I’m also planning a competitive year in equestrian eventing, my other passion, and strange though it may sound, the two sports complement each other perfectly.’
With no time to spare in her busy schedule, Liz now jumps on a plane to China for the first of the last three rounds of the 2005 FIA GT Championship in Zhuhai with the Lister Storm team (23rd October 2005).
