Following their first American Le Mans Series (ALMS) victory of 2006 at Lime Rock on 1st July, the Aston Martin Racing team are returning to the US to compete in the fifth round of the ALMS series to be held at Salt Lake City, Utah on 15th July.

The race will form part of the inaugural Grand Prix of Utah to be held at the new purpose built 24-turn, 4.5-mile track at Miller Motorsports Park, minutes from downtown Salt Lake City.

Italian driver, Andrea Piccini will replace Pedro Lamy in the driver line-up at Salt Lake City, as Lamy will drive a DBR9 for Larbre Competition in the Le Mans Series at the Nürburgring during the same weekend.

Piccini is no stranger to the DBR9 having competed for the Aston Martin Racing team at Le Mans in June – forming one third of the #7 car squad, which came second in class.

Piccini is a regular for the European based Phoenix Racing team and is currently standing third in the FIA GT Drivers’ Championship after recording two podium finishes in the first three rounds of the 2006 season.

Piccini said: “It is great to be driving for Aston Martin Racing again. The team were happy with the job I did at Le Mans and I am pleased to drive for them again. For me it is good to get the chance to drive in the US in a different championship at a brand new circuit.

“I will need to learn the rules carefully as they are different to the series I currently race in – especially the safety car procedures. But I am looking forward to getting out on the track - as none of the drivers has driven at the new track it will be an even playing field.

“I am looking forward to driving with Stephane (Sarrazin) and hope that he doesn’t mind too much that we (Italy) won the World Cup!”

George Howard-Chappell, Team Principal, Aston Martin Racing:
“We are very pleased to renew our relationship with Andrea, he did an excellent job at Le Mans and I’m sure he will do well at Salt Lake."

“We are looking forward to another close race at this exciting new venue and would like to thank our fans for their ongoing support and encouragement and our tyre partner Pirelli for their commitment to our programme.”

Salt Lake City Driver Line-Up
Aston Martin DBR9 #7 - Tomas Enge (Czech Republic), Darren Turner (UK)
Aston Martin DBR9 #9 - Andrea Piccini (Italy), Stephane Sarrazin (France)

The Grand Prix of Utah starts at 6pm MDT on 15th July.

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