Shane Lewis Captures Victory in 2013 Endurance Season-Opener at 24H DUBAI

American Enjoys Race Victory in 34th-Career 24-Hour Start

DUBAI – January 13, 2013 – The best place to start any season is from the top step of the podium! That is just what Shane Lewis did on January 11-12 by winning the SP3-GT4 class of the first endurance race of the 2013 season, the Dunlop 24H DUBAI. It was Lewis’ 34th career 24-hour race start, his second in the Middle East’s premier endurance race and opened back-to-back 24-hour race starts for the Jupiter, Fla.-resident. The title adds to a collection of 24-hour race class wins Lewis has assembled since making, and winning, his first 24-hour race at Nelson Ledges in 1990. Lewis joined longtime co-driver Vic Rice (San Rafael, Calif., USA), Henk Thijssen (Netherlands) and Trevor Knight (Great Britain) driving the No. 148 Lotus Evora GT4 to victory lane for Cor Euser Racing 1. It was the first-time the American had driven for the team owned by Cor Euser and his first-time in competition with the Lotus Evora.

Despite racing a Lotus Evora GT4, underpowered in comparison to the SP3-classes heavy-hitting and V8-powered factory efforts, the multi-time American Le Mans Series and GRAND-AM race-winner showed trademark consistency and speed throughout the weekend. Qualifying set the stage for what would prove to be a battle between the No. 148 Lotus and the two-car Nissan 370S factory effort.

Lewis was given the honor of qualifying at the 3.35-mile/4.39km Dubai Autodrome F1-circuit for the Dutch team and held the top-spot for much of the session. However, a late charge by the Nissan team nipped the No. 148 of the pole position. Lewis put on new tires and returned to the track but, despite bettering his time again on the sand-strewn course, he was not able to better the lap of the Nissans leaving the Lotus third on the grid for the start.

The No. 148 operation wasted little time moving to the front of the 8th annual 24H DUBAI when the green flag fell. The V6-powered, British-built racer moved to the point shortly after the 2 p.m. (local) start. By the race’s midpoint, the team held a solid but not insurmountable lead. As the hours ticked-away, challengers threatened but never toppled the Lotus from its pinnacle and the car, or team never faltered. With a the steady lead and time waning, Lewis and the Cor Euser Racing team began to throttle back in attempt to minimize any potential issue that would snatch victory from them. This led to some moments of concern as the Nissans 370S closed the gap in the final hour. However, playing its strategy to the letter, Cor Euser went on to complete 547 laps and finish with a 10.6-second class victory – 17th overall in the 80-car field.

Lewis now returns home to Florida where the celebration will be short-lived. The former Daytona Endurance Championship titlist will begin immediately to prepare for his 35th career 24-hour race, the 51st Running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 26-27. Lewis will drive the No. 16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series’ season-opener. In pre-season testing on January 4-6 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), Lewis set the quickest time of the weekend in the newly created GX class setting the stage for continued good opportunity for Lewis. While having made 15 previous starts in the Rolex 24, Lewis will be pursuing his first-ever class victory at North America’s premier 24-hour race.

In his career, Lewis has piloted every major class of sports car from prototype to touring car in 24-hour races. He has made three starts at the “grandfather” of all endurance races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1999, 2000, 2003) leading his class in 2003 and he has 15 starts at North America’s only professional 24-hour race, the Rolex 24 At Daytona (1997-‘02, ‘04-‘12). Lewis has five starts at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (‘04, ‘05, ‘10-‘12) winning his class in ‘10 and taking podium finishes in ‘04 and ‘11. Other endurance race starts include six Petit Le Mans (‘98-‘01, ’03, ‘10) and seven 12 Hours of Sebring (1997-‘98, 2000-‘03, ‘10).