Photo : DAN-R-BOYD - ALMS

One of the highlights of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010 was undoubtedly the presence of the Ford GT of Matech Competition and Marc VDS Racing , whose legendary silhouette revived memories of the GT 40 victories in 1968 and 1969. A Ford GT has again been selected by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest for the 24 Hours 2011: that of Robertson Racing, who compete regularly in the American Le Mans Series.

It is a great reward for the U.S. team, who will come in Sarthe in LM GTE Am class, with a different car from those built by Matech. “Obviously I’m absolutely delighted to be contesting Le Mans for the first time.", said David Robertson. "I remember wondering when racing as an amateur what a reasonable goal might be. Le Mans is certainly way beyond it! I’ll never forget as a 12-year-old boy watching Wide World of Sports’ coverage of Fords winning there, so to be taking our own GT is just a dream come true."

For this great adventure in La Sarthe, David Robertson can count on the invaluable assistance of his chief engineer Lee Penn, who contributed to the Le Mans victory for the Panoz Elan of team LNT in LM GT2 in 2006, and Dick Barbour's second place at the 24 Hours in 1979 with Rolf Stommelen and Paul Newman. Penn also works in the ALMS programme of Robertson Racing. The American team has the additional benefit of the selection of a second car as first reserve in LM GTE Am, in the case of withdrawal of a competitor in this category.

Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo: Sebring (Florida, USA), 9th February, 2011. Selected by the ACO for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ford GT of Robertson Racing participated in the winter test sessions of ALMS.