2012 will see Swiss racing driver Harold Primat enter his seventh year of LMP1 racing and contest the FIA World Endurance Championship with Rebellion Racing.
Rebellion Racing were one of the most successful LMP1 teams of 2011. The Swiss team won the 2011 Le Mans Series LMP1 Team Championship and the 2011 Le Mans Series Manufacturers Championship for Lola and Toyota. In the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, Rebellion Racing ended the season in third place in the teams classification and as the best privateer team behind the Peugeot and Audi factory teams.
Rebellion Racing will continue as the exclusive partner of Toyota Motorsport GmbH for the petrol V8 3.4 litre RV8KLM engine programme. In 2012, TMG will supply Rebellion Racing an upgraded version of the RV8KLM engine on an exclusive basis for the second year in a row.
The FIA World Endurance Championship is a new series for 2012 whose calendar mirrors the 2011 Intercontinental Cup, of which the Le Mans 24 Hours will be the highlight. The provisional calendar is as follows;
March 17th: 12 Hours of Sebring
May 5th: 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
June 16 & 17th: Le Mans 24 Hours
August 25th: 6 Hours of Silverstone
September 16th: 6 Hours Sao Paulo
September 30th: 6 Hours Mount-Fuji
October 20th: 6 Hours of Bahrain
November 11 or 18th: 6 Hours of China
Bart Hayden, Rebellion Racing Team manager commented; "We are very pleased to welcome Harold on-board, he will bring a great deal of experience to the team and will help complete a strong driver line-up for 2012.”
Harold Primat commented; “I am very happy to be joining Rebellion Racing for 2012. They are a privateer team with an extremely impressive racing record and I am excited to be competing in the new FIA World Endurance Championship with them this year. 2012 will be my seventh year in LMP1 racing. I would like to thank Aston Martin Racing for a fantastic three years and now I am looking forward to this next chapter in my racing career.”
“Last but not least, I would like to express my full appreciation to my partners for their continuing support this year; Harwood International, Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza, Crans Montana and Primland;” continued Harold Primat.
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Notes to editors:
About Harold Primat:
Harold Primat is a Swiss racing driver with over 15 years racing experience including British F3, World Series Lights, Le Mans Series and American Le Mans Series
Follow Harold on Twitter @Harold_Primat and on Facebook
About Rebellion Racing:
REBELLION Racing is a successful privateer team from Switzerland and one of the most respected teams in the premier class of endurance racing with a great record of achievements.
2011 CHAMPION Le Mans Series LMP1 Team
2011 CHAMPION Le Mans Series LMP1 Manufacturer
2011 2nd and 3rd Le Mans Series LMP1 Drivers championship
2011 3rd Intercontinental Le Mans Cup LMP1 Team championship
2011 1st Privateer LMP1 Team in Intercontinental Le Mans Cup
2011 6th Le Mans 24 Hours
2010 3rd Le Mans Series LMP1 Team championship
2009 WINNER Michelin Green X Challenge
2009 2nd Le Mans Series LMP2 Team championship
2009 2nd Le Mans Series LMP2 Drivers championship
2009 2nd Le Mans 24 Hours - LMP2