REBELLION RACING READY TO TACKLE WITH LONG BEACH CHALLENGE

REBELLION Racing will make their street circuit debut during round two of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in California on saturday 20th of April. Despite this weekend being the Swiss team’s first time on a street circuit, REBELLION Racing has their sights set on a reliable and competitive performance .

REBELLION Racing is now well acquainted with the ALMS having competed in five events with the series with the Toyota powered Lola LMP1 car most recently winning Petit Le Mans outright in 2012 and finishing third in the 2013 Twelve Hours of Sebring, first of the full season ALMS entrants.

Regular team drivers Neel Jani (Switzerland) and Nick Heidfeld (Germany) will share the Lola-Toyota #12 at Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Former Formula One driver Nick Heidfeld is an unexperienced racer at Long Beach but knows street racing well as he started the F1 Monaco GP eleven times.
Neel Jani raced in Long Beach in 2007 in Champ Car for PKV Racing, finishing seventh (he achieved 3 podium finishes in his 2007 rookie season).

REBELLION Racing arrives at Long Beach as the leader of the ALMS LMP1 championship, while Nick Heidfeld and Neel Jani lead the ALMS LMP1 drivers classification and Toyota the ALMS LMP1 engine classification.

Nick Heidfeld :
“It’s a weekend of firsts for me.  I’ve never raced on such a tight circuit before.   It won’t be easy with the poor visibility of our car and only two hours of practice before qualifying.  But it’s always fun to learn a new circuit. It’s also my first time on the west coast. The atmosphere is great out here. I really love how laid back and friendly all of the people are. “

Neel Jani :
“It’s good to be back in Long Beach. This weekend’s going to be an interesting challenge for us.  The track is very different from what we’re used to in the FIA World Endurance Championship, but that’s why we’re here. Long Beach is a proper American street circuit with tight corners and no runoff. Considering that combined with the low visibility of our car, Saturday’s race should be a real street fight.”

Bart Hayden :
“The Long Beach street circuit is particularly challenging for its bumpy surface and unforgiving walls, which leave no margin for error. Racing here can readily become a bit of a lottery.
We are confident in our chances for a good result as we arrive on the back of two strong performances at Sebring and Silverstone.
Our main competitors have a deeper experience of this street circuit but we are quick learners ! Our main target is keep our lead in the ALMS Championship going into the next round in Monterey.”