Ryan Dalziel joins Extreme Speed for United SportsCar Championship
Expatriate Briton Ryan Dalziel is leaving Starworks team owner Peter Baron's employ after six seasons to join the Extreme Speed Motorsports squad for next year's United SportsCar Championship
The 31-year-old, who raced for Baron's SAMAX Grand-Am team in 2007-08 before rejoining him at the new Starworks squad in 2010, has signed to drive ESM's lead HPD ARX-03b LMP2 in the Prototype class of the new USC alongside team co-owner Scott Sharp.
"It feels a little bit weird, but it was time for a change," Dalziel told AUTOSPORT.
"I wouldn't say it is a wrench, because this was the best opportunity presented to me for next season, when chances are almost going to be halved [because of the US sportscar merger between Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series].
"This is the best chance for me to win the title in the first year of the new championship and to get back to the Le Mans 24 Hours."
Dalziel paid tribute to Baron, who first employed him back in 2005 for a handful of Grand-Am drives in at GT class Porsche.
"Peter gave me my first pay cheque in racing, so I have to be grateful to him for what he has done for my career," he explained.
Sharp, who set up ESM together with drinks tycoon and ALMS title sponsor Ed Brown for the 2010 season, said he was "extremely excited to welcome Ryan to the team".
"I truly feel he is the perfect fit — super-fast in everything he drives, technically committed, a team player and a really great guy," he added.
Dalziel is moving into the seat occupied by Guy Cosmo at the start of 2013 and subsequently taken over by Anthony Lazzaro.
The second ESM HPD will be shared by Brown and Johannes van Overbeek as in 2013.
RYAN DALZIEL'S SPORTSCAR HIGHS
2008 Takes maiden Grand-Am win with SAMAX Riley-BMW at Laguna
2010 Wins Daytona 24 Hours on one-off with Action Express
2012 Anchors Starworks' winning WEC P2 campaign and takes class victory at Le Mans
Wins at Watkins Glen (pictured) on way to runner-up spot in Grand-Am
Scores three victories in ALMS LMPC class with CORE
2013 Takes fifth career Grand-Am win at Indianapolis
Lands factory deal with SRT Viper for Le Mans and ALMS enduros
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