Le Mans Series visits LVMS this weekend

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999 | 10:43 a.m.

A busy week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway culminates with the American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Las Vegas beginning Friday on the 2.25-mile road course located within the 1.5-mile superspeedway.

Legendary sports car ace Elliott Forbes-Robinson will be looking to secure the first American Le Mans Series title in the Prototype Division. Forbes-Robinson has a narrow three-point lead over David Brabham and Eric Bernard.

Olivier Beretta will be looking to clinch the GTS title, while Cort Wagner in a Porsche leads the GT battle. In all, nine American Le Mans Series titles will be decided this weekend, including the Women's Global GT Series.

Forbes-Robinson retired as a driver eight years ago. Prior to that, the Sherrills Ford, N.C., resident had driven almost everything in the road-racing ranks and even had taken a stab at NASCAR Winston Cup cars during a storied career.

Three years ago, he came back to, as he put it, "drive with some friends."

"EFR", as he is popularly known, has 127 points going into Sunday's 2-hour, 45-minute season finale -- three more than Panoz team drivers Brabham and Bernard.

Forbes-Robinson has managed to assume the points lead without winning a race in the ALMS.

"We came close at Sebring," Forbes-Robinson said. "With BMW and Panoz's new car, we're a little behind. It's been a great year for us. The fact we haven't won is not something we're used to."

EFR has been paired with Butch Leitzinger for most of the season, with occasional co-drives with James Weaver. But he has been steadily in the seat of Dyson Racing's five-year-old Riley & Scott Mk III/Ford, a car that should wind up being legendary.

Practice and qualifying for all divisions in the American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Las Vegas begins Friday. The Star Mazda Series main event will be held Saturday at 12:30 p.m., and will be followed by the Sports Toyota Championship.

The Women's Global GT will get the green flag Sunday at 9 a.m. and the Grand Prix of Las Vegas begins at noon and will be televised live by CNBC starting at 1 p.m.

Tickets are available by calling the LVMS ticket office at 644-4443 or on the speedway's website at www.lvms.com.