Patrón Highcroft LMP1 returns to ALMS for 2010

After becoming the top point-scoring Acura team for each of the past three seasons and earning the brand’s first LMP1 championship in 2009, Patrón Highcroft Racing will continue its relationship with Honda Performance Development (HPD) – the racing arm of American Honda Motor Company, in the 2010 American Le Mans Series.

The Patrón Highcroft squad will contest next year’s combined ALMS prototype class armed with an HPD-backed ARX-01c.

Patrón Highcroft Racing will be the exclusively designated test team for HPD. The 2009 ALMS LMP1 championship winning squad will be charged with evaluation of the new ARX-01c platform and the testing of a new HPD engine under consideration for the 2011 season.

“We are delighted to continue our relationship with Honda Performance Development,” team owner Duncan Dayton said.

“We will have the #1 on our car for 2010 and firmly believe the ARX-01c will give us the best opportunity to defend that championship. We are very much looking forward to continuing our working relationship with the team at HPD – they have played an integral role in our championship success.

“We are extremely keen to investigate expanding our operation to put the budget in place to run a second car.  We’re talking to a number of potential new marketing partners to add to our sponsorship portfolio – partners the team has been negotiating with and others who might be supporting a specific driver.”

Patrón Highcroft Racing veteran David Brabham will return for his fourth consecutive season with the team. Brabham’s teammates are expected to be announced in the near future.