A familiar face returns to Starworks

LMP2 Championship points leader, Starworks Motorsport, has won three times so far in the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship, with the biggest win of all being the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.  At that time the American team called upon the talents and services of former Le Mans LMP2 winner Tom Kimber-Smith to support season regulars Ryan Dalziel and Enzo Potolicchio in the No.44 HPD ARX03b.

The British driver, 28, has been signed up with Greaves Motorsport for the 2012 European Le Mans Series, so didn’t think he would be in a position to help the team with any calendar clashes such as the one which faces Ryan Dalziel for the weekend of the 6 Hours of Bahrain.  Florida-based Scotsman Dalziel will be racing for Starworks in a round of the Grand Am series in the USA so can’t be in Bahrain.

Kimber-Smith was, however, delighted to be able to get in touch with team owner Peter Barron about the 6-hour race.

Tom Kimber-Smith, No.44 Starworks HPD ARX 03b: “When I knew that Ryan couldn’t do the Bahrain round, and my weekend had been freed up, I was straight on the phone to Peter.  He hadn’t contacted me as he didn’t think I was available but the deal was done in minutes.

“I’m really looking forward to being back with Starworks; it’s the team to be with at the moment, isn’t it?  The FIA WEC had been my main goal at the start of the year but it didn’t come together, so when the opportunity came up to do the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peter, Ryan and Enzo I jumped at it. 

“What’s really weird though is that my father has been living in Bahrain for the last three years and I’ve never had the chance to go and see him there, so that made me look forward to the trip even more.  Now though, for my first ever visit to Bahrain, I find out that he’ll be in England the week I’m there so I won’t see him!”  

Fiona Miller

Photo:  CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY 17TH JUNE 2012, RACE. LMP2 class winner with Starworks Motorsport,Tom Kimber-Smith.