Marino gears up for Le Mans series events

BATHGATE race ace Marino Franchitti has signed up for Highcroft Racing's assault on the Sebring 12 Hours, Petit Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series round at Laguna Seca in California.

Franchitti, who drove for Dyson Racing in an LMP2 class Lola Mazda last season and took two LMP2 class victories, will share the factory-backed Acura ARX-01c with Aussie David Brabham and Frenchman Simon Pagenaud in the same races as his brother, IndyCar champion Dario, contested with the team last year.

"It's great to be joining the championship-winning team and linking up not only with last year's two fastest drivers in LMP1 in the ALMS, but also two good friends," said Franchitti.

Franchitti, 31, took three pole positions, three fastest race laps and ten podiums from ten races last season, two of which were ALMS LMP2 class victories at Lime Rock Park and Petit Le Mans.

And Duncan Dayton, boss of the Connecticut-based team, emphasised it was Franchitti's pace on the track which sealed his new position, not his name.

Dayton said: "Marino's surname had nothing to do with the decision. He has been extremely impressive over the past couple of seasons and we jumped at the opportunity to grab him when he became available.

Franchitti, Brabham and Pagenaud, will have their seat fittings next week and test the 2010 car for the first time the following week, ahead of the season-opening Sebring event on March 20.