Alex Papow to headline #06 CORE autosport machine for 2012 ALMS season

 Accomplished racer Alex Popow will be taking on a new challenge for 2012 – defending the Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) championship as primary driver of the #06 Soloson Import CORE autosport entry in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

Popow, 36, of Lecheria, Venezuela, will debut in the ALMS LMPC class with co-drivers E.J. Viso and Burt Friselle for the season kickoff, the 60th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring powered by Fresh from Florida on March 17.

Popow started his racing career in 1996 in his father’s old rally car in a 2000cc Venezuelan road racing class, winning the championship as a very green rookie in an expert category, which he did again in 1997.  Further Venezuelan championships include the Palio Cup (1998, 1999), Mustang Cup (2000, 2002) and the 2000 Venezuela Championship (2005).

His career progressed beyond Venezuela to Columbia in a renowned six-hour event (second 2002, 2005; third 2004).  2006 saw Popow competing in the Panam-GP Series, which travelled six countries, with good result. Off-road called Popow in 2007 and through 2009 he drove in the AWA 4×4 Rally Championship, reaching a high of third spot in the LUV D-MAX Trophy.

Popow returned to on-road competition in 2010 the Latino American Challenge Formula 2000 Series in Mexico and the U.S., achieving third place in the standings that year and in 2011.  Also in 2011, Popow began GRAND-AM competition in the Daytona Prototype class with the then-new Starworks team, as well as placing well in the 2011 Mexican Super Copa Seat Leon championship.

After running events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in January 2012, Popow was able to score a second-place finish at the rigorous 24 Hours of Daytona, partnered with, among other drivers, CORE autosport alumnus Ryan Dalziel.  In addition to running the full ALMS series in 2012, Popow is running GRAND-AM in the DP and Continental Tire classes as well as selected Ferrari Challenge events.

Two well-known racers, IZOD IndyCar Series star E.J. Viso and sports-car regular Burt Frisselle will be joining Papow in the #06 machine.

Viso, 26, is also a Venezuela native and has been racing since the age of 5.  Starting out in karts, in both his native country and in Europe, Viso captured multiple titles.  He transitioned to cars in 2001 and has competed in the Skip Barber Dodge Championship (U.S.), Formula Renault 2000 (Italy, Britain), Formula 3 (Britain), European GT, Formula 3000, GP2 and, in 2006 as a test driver for the Spyker F1 team.  He transitioned to the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2008 and has driven for HVM Racing and KV Racing Technology, the team he will remain with for the 2012 season.

Viso may be joining Popow in additional races in the #06 machine, depending on conflicts between the ALMS and IZOD IndyCar Series schedules.

Friselle, 30, of Aspen, Colorado, is a strong second-generation racer. After growing up with a father, Brad, who is a legend in the sports car world and has two 12 Hours of Sebring victories to his name, young Burt started his career as many drivers do, with a trip to Skip Barber racing school, then through the Barber open-wheel ranks.  He graduated to sports cars in 2004, in the Daytona Prototype class of the GRAND-AM Rolex series, and through this year has driven in 96 events.  In 2010, Friselle co-drove in the ALMS LMPC class, winning the season-ending 2010 Petit Le Mans race.

ALMS testing will take place at the 17-turn 3.74-mile Sebring International Raceway on Monday, March 12 and Tuesday, March 13. On-track activity for the 60th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring powered by Fresh from Florida, begins with practice on Thursday, March 15.  Qualifying will be held on Friday the 16th and the race will start at 10:30 a.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 17.

Alex Popow :  “I originally was planning to do the WEC season, but plans changed and I wanted to run in ALMS instead.  I was looking for the best team, so I contacted some of the people I know best to ask their opinion – Peter Baron, Starworks team owner and Ryan Dalziel, who is a good friend of mine.  Peter is good friends with Jon Bennett (CORE autosport team owner) and Morgan Brady (CORE autosport team manager) and of course Ryan drove for the team in 2011.  They told me that CORE had a car available, a winning car that could fight for the championship with the right co-driver.
 “So here I am now with CORE autosport this year, which I think is one of the best teams in ALMS.  I’m going to try to do a good job, earn the respect of the team and other competitors, win races and go for the championship.
 “I’ve never driven an LMPC car and I’ve never driven at Sebring.  It’s going to be a challenge, but I have driven all types of cars all over the world – in 2012 I have already done two 24 hour events and one 12 hour – so I think it shouldn’t be a problem.
 “My co-drivers are going to be great.  EJ Viso is a very good friend of mine and I drove with him at the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona.  I know he can run up front with the right car.  And Burt Frisselle is a great driver.  We are just going to have to see how this race goes to figure out who will be my co-driver for the rest of the year.
 “I’m looking forward to Sebring and for each race in the 2012 ALMS schedule.  I’m excited about driving this car and going for it.  In the past I’ve been with very small teams in their field, but this time I’m starting out with a team that’s the best in the class that just won two championships.  I want to make sure to keep the team running up front!”

E.J. Viso :  “I’ve always been a fan of prototype cars and this is another dream come true, to be present in most of the races this year.
 “I’m happy to be sharing the car with my longtime friend and colleague, Alex Popow.  I believe it’s going to be a great combination involving my IZOD IndyCar Series program.  
 “This deal happened very fast, as is the nature of our sport.  In a matter of days everything has come together but I believe it happened for a reason.  We will be practicing Monday and it will be nice to drive a prototype after two days testing my Indycar.”

Jon Bennett : “The lineup of the #06 car led by Alex Popow is going to be nothing short of impressive for Sebring and the entire 2012 season.  Alex is a smart businessman and has been successful in every form of racing he’s ever tried, and it’s an honor to have him and his co-drivers join our team.
 “When Morgan and I brought CORE autosport into LMPC competition in 2011, we knew we had a big hill to climb, but the combination of the best people and great equipment resulted in two championships, for drivers and team.  It was quite a thrill and an accomplishment, but now, it’s a new season and it’s time to repeat and enhance upon our success.
 “With Alex and his co-drivers such as IndyCar Series star E.J. Viso, I think their chances are very good and can only help CORE autosport as an organization.”

Burt Frisselle : “This will be my first 12 hour and I’m super-excited because my dad (Brad) was a former overall winner and will be there for the 60th anniversary celebration.  To have an opportunity for him to be down there, celebrating his past win and for me to be there doing my first one is really unique, especially with an organization like CORE autosport because I’ll have the opportunity to be standing in victory lane at the end of the race.
 “Alex and I have a history in the GRAND-AM series and I’ve seen that team really grow on that side, and I’m excited to have E.J. Viso on board – he’s a proven IndyCar driver.  With these teammates I think we can win this one.”

CORE autosport