Guy Smith to take second place clout to Monterey (From York Press)

Guy Smith to take second place clout to Monterey

11:11am Thursday 19th April 2012 in Motorsport

GUY SMITH heads for the third round of the American Le Mans Series next month having claimed second place in the latest race, writes Jack Bradshaw.

The former Le Mans 24 Hour race winner and co-driver Chris Dyson brought their new Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 Mazda Coupé home 43.66 seconds behind title rivals Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf in a two-hour race at Long Beach.

The result repeated last year’s race and ties the quartet for the lead with the third round at Mazda Raceway, near Monterey, in California next.

Beverley-born Smith claimed pole position and led for the opening 25 minutes, but then a backmarker clipped the front of his Lola damaging aerodynamic aids, allowing Luhr and Graf to snatch the lead.

Following a pit stop, the East Yorkshireman handed over the G-OIL/ModSpace Lola to co-driver Dyson who, having had new tyres fitted and fuel replenished, exited the pits ahead of Graf.

Despite leading briefly when Luhr and Graf pitted, Dyson was demoted to second place 36 minutes from the end when the American began to conserve fuel instead of making a second pit-stop.

Smith, who began the Long Beach race with a four-point series lead along with Dyson, is now tied on 40 points with Luhr and Graf after two races.

Smith said: “The car was pretty good in the race and was certainly a step forward from Sebring. We’re just scratching the surface of the car’s real potential. It’s early days.”