Oryx Racing led for the first hour and a half of the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) this weekend before retirement ended the team’s hopes of glory in their Mazda Lola Coupé. Emirati driver Humaid Al Masaood, who was fastest in practice, continued to impress in Wisconsin and was unfortunate not to card another podium finish at the Elkhart Lake track.

In a thrilling race at one of America’s most famous circuits, Oryx Racing got off to a dream start by passing the Aston Martin team to take the lead by the end of the opening lap. They remained at the head of the pack for another 18 laps when a water leak resulted in the car being forced to pit and undergo a radiator change. Now out of the leading pack, they continued to work their way through the field until, three hours into what drivers described as one of the series’ most grueling races, the car ran wide and slid off the track, ultimately ending any hopes of glory.

Al Masaood was still in bullish mood despite the setback.

“Today you saw the pace of the car and what we can achieve. Unfortunately having the radiator fail is out of anyone’s’ hands, but performance-wise it is hard to fault this weekend.”

Race partner Steven Kane was equally upbeat

“The stint went very well. We were able to fight back every time the Aston Martin got close and when he passed, I fought back right away and kept him at bay. It is great to be competitive and we are doing better than we had originally expected.”

The drivers’ attention now focuses on Round Eight of the ALMS and the Baltimore Grand Prix, which begins on September 2. The Oryx Racing team will be looking to capitalise on the pace of their car and are confident of being in the leading pack once again. As the ALMS progresses, Oryx Racing continue to impress around the globe and are winning new fans in the US with their positive and combative race style.

Al Masaood and Kane are contesting seven rounds of this year’s ALMS in their Mazda Lola Coupé. This LMP1 category car is fitted with a turbocharged Mazda MZR-R engine, which delivers over 500 bhp and over 400 lb-ft of torque, powering it from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, and on to a top speed of 320 km/h.

Motorsport fans can find all the latest news on the Oryx Racing team’s participation in the 2011 ALMS by visiting www.oryxracing.com or www.americanlemans.com