Patrón Highcroft Racing has its sights set on a third consecutive victory in Eklhart Lake as the American Le Mans Series kicks off a key back-to-back two week period at Road America this week.
Duncan Dayton's Highcroft squad won the LMP2 class on the longest circuit on the ALMS calendar in 2008 and backed that up last season with an overall victory for David Brabham and Scott Sharp.
Highcroft's back-to-back victories at Road America and Mosport firmly cemented the team's 2009 championship win and Brabham and 2010 teammate Simon Pagenaud are keen to repeat that performance this season.
Like 2009, the ALMS will head north of the border to Canada the following weekend with the annual visit to Mosport International Raceway near Toronto.
With three races remaining in the 2010 championship, Brabham and Pagenaud enjoy a 23-point advantage in the LMP championship - their second place at Mid-Ohio opening up a handy advantage in the absence of the CytoSport Porsche squad.
The Honda Performance Development factory-backed ARX-01c team has scored three victories and three second place finishes in the six ALMS races staged so far this year.
With the expected return of Porsche Spyder rival Klaus Graf at Road America, plus the straight line speed performance of the likes of Mid-Ohio winners Dyson Racing and the turbocharged power of Intersport Racing, Highcroft know the task at hand in Elkhart Lake will not be an easy one.
Brabham and Pagenaud are expected to spend 75 per cent of the lap at Road America on full throttle. The circuit also provides the highest amount of braking G forces for any track on the schedule - more than 3.3 Gs in Canada Corner.
The Road America circuit provides both Brabham and Pagenaud with many happy memories from years past. Brabham has the past two Highcroft wins to his credit along with a GT1 win aboard a Ferrari with Jan Magnussen on his resume.
Pagenaud's professional career as a race driver was cemented at Road America in 2006 when the Frenchman clinched his Formula Atlantic championship at this circuit - beating the likes of IndyCar racers Graham Rahal and Raphael Matos to take the crown.
On-track action for the Patrón Highcroft squad at round six of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón kicks off on Friday, August 20 at 2:30pm (CST) with a 90-minute test session.
In addition to their four-wheel exploits, Brabham, Pagenaud, third driver Marino Franchitti and members of the Patrón Highcroft team will also take part in the annual Tour de Road America on Friday night in support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the millions of people whose lives are affected by cancer.Two American Le Mans Series one-hour practice sessions are scheduled for Saturday with qualifying taking place at 3:40pm (CST).The two hour, 45 minute ALMS - powered by eStar event goes green at 2:05pm (CST) on Sunday (August 22) and will be broadcast live on SPEED.
