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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">14/11/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">GNM off to Daytona</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">British Saleens go on tour</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/Saleen01.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">Following recent confirmation that Graham Nash Motorsport has settled a deal to take delivery of the first of what proposes to be a two-car squad of Saleen S7s, the team has progressed a stage further by announcing an outline strategy for the 2002 season.<BR> <BR> Graham Nash, head of the Mallory Park-based outfit, is one of a growing number of GT team managers on this side of the Atlantic awaiting clarification of what 2002 holds for the European Le Mans Series. In the meantime he has declared the team’s intention of contesting the Daytona 24 Hours, where the GNM Saleen will make its race debut. The full driver line-up is yet to be confirmed, but talks have been progressing well with a number of experienced endurance racers. <BR> <BR> Geoff Lister, who has been a regular in the British GT, FIA and ELMS championships in recent years, currently tops the list. “I really want to drive Graham’s car,” admitted Lister. “I’ve no doubt we could be in with a good chance, especially if we can link up with three other sensible drivers. It’s like any twenty-four hour race; you’ve got to cross the line at the end. That race is long and hard, but the Saleen has a well-proven Ford engine and, in theory, it has to be a contender – maybe not for outright victory unless the weather is bad – but certainly for the class. It’s not rocket science to work it out, but with as many as four other Saleens in the race the odds of winning start at 20%.”<BR> <BR> Lister is also in the frame for a full season with GNM. “As far as the rest of the year is concerned,” added Lister, “it’s all dependant upon whether the racing actually happens.” This is a clear reference to the ELMS, which remains the championship of choice for a number of UK teams.<BR> <BR> Despite uncertainty over the ELMS, Graham Nash has prepared a contingency. “After Daytona, our primary objective is to earn a place at Le Mans in June. We’re proposing to run at Sebring in March, and that allows us to look seriously at the Miami ALMS round in early April. The two would run together very well and provide the kind of track experience we would need in order to offer a realistic challenge at Le Mans. At the end of the day, that’s the way we want to go forward. Later in the year Petit Le Mans becomes a high priority for us as well.” Nash has not ruled out a number of other endurance opportunities. “Suzuka is a good option for us,” he conceded, “as is the Spa 24 Hours, where we would be up against the mainstream FIA cars, but we’re not committed to either. Our emphasis must centre on Le Mans and the ACO.” <BR> <BR> In addition to his international aspirations Graham Nash is also “90% certain” that the team will be back to tackle the British GT Championship in 2002. “We’re well down the road towards finalising drivers for the British,” he admits. “Hopefully, within the next two weeks, we will be in a position to make an announcement.” <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>