EAST Yorkshire driver Guy Smith starts the defence of his American Le Mans Series tomorrow when the contests the Sebring 12-Hours race in Florida.

Smith scored seven top-two placings from nine races last season and believes the ingredients are in place for a successful title defence in this year’s ten-round endurance sportscar championship.

Said the Welton-based ace: “I plan on winning the ALMS title again. I want more race wins this year but believe the key to our championship aspirations comes down to reliability.”

Smith drives a new Lola B12/60 Mazda Coupé at Sebring – so new that Smith plus co-drivers Chris Dyson (US) and Steven Kane (N Ireland) got to drive the British-built machine for the first time just this past week.

Added Smith: “Scoring points must begin at Sebring. We cannot get carried away with the excitement of the event in terms of the European teams that are not part of the regular ALMS contenders.

“Although we only finished sixth in last year’s Sebring race, we were importantly the top-placed ALMS ‘regulars’ which was key to us ultimately winning the 2011 title.”