Dallara
   
   

 

Dr. Jim Lowe Joins Doran Racing for Rolex 24

Dr. Jim Lowe will co-drive with Brian and Burt Frisselle in Kevin Doran's No. 77 Ford/Dallara.

(Provided by Grand-Am.com) - The World's Fastest Neurosurgeon, Dr. Jim Lowe of Villanova, Pa., flew out to Ohio two days before Christmas to finalize his plans to join Kevin Doran's highly successful motorsports team for the North American Endurance Championship.

Lowe will co-drive the No. 77 Doran Racing Ford Dallara alongside brothers Burt and Brian Frisselle in the new three-race North American Endurance Championship, which includes the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona (January 28-29), Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen (June 29-July 1) and the Super Weekend at the Brickyard (July 27), at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Doran Racing will begin the 2012 race season at the official three-day test weekend, the Roar before the 24, scheduled for Jan. 6-8, on the 3.56 mile road course at Daytona International Speedway. A fourth driver is yet to be announced.

Lowe will be making his seventh appearance in the most hotly contested race in North America. He first came to Daytona in 2006 running with TRG in a Porsche GT3 and immediately made plans to continue the season running the No. 64 JLowe Racing Porsche and achieved three Top-10 finishes in their debut season. In 2007 Lowe stood on the podium at Daytona with a third-place finish in GT Class and has successfully competed in the GT class until realizing his goal in 2011 when he secured a seat in a Daytona Prototype. He joined Ryan Dalziel, Mike Forest, Colin Braun and Tomas Enge in the No. 8 StarWorks Motorsports Ford/Riley for the 49th Rolex 24 At Daytona.

"It is a real honor to be part of an organization like Doran Racing which has such an incredibly long and successful history in sports car racing," Lowe said. "I am beyond excited to run the three-race North American Endurance Championship as part of Grand-Am this season which gives me the opportunity to run in one of my favorite races, the Rolex 24 at Daytona; at one of my favorite tracks, Watkins Glen, and to run at one of the most famous race tracks in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This new relationship with Kevin and Doran Racing will afford me the opportunity to become better established in the series, and as a driver in the Prototype class. I am also excited to work along with the Frisselle brothers, the Doran team and their sponsors with the goal of bringing more value to their sponsorship dollars."

Team owner Kevin Doran has been the driving force behind the multi-faceted motorsports company, Doran Enterprises, based in Lebanon Ohio, which has competed in IndyCar, NASCAR Camping World Truck series and GRAND-AM. As early as 1998, Doran Racing had already established itself as a highly successful organization, becoming the first team in U.S. history to win all three sports car endurance races in the United States in one season; the Rolex 24, Sebring 12 Hour and Watkins Glen Six Hour. Doran Racing secured its second victory at Daytona in 2002 and a third in 2004.

At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Doran Racing with drivers Brian Frisselle and rookie Henri Richard, secured nine Top-10 finishes, including four top-five, and placed ninth in the Rolex Series Team Points Standings. For the 2012 season, the Frisselle brothers, who placed eighth and ninth in the standings for 2011, will continue the successful relationship with Kevin Doran that began back in 2005, when Brian and Burt, the youngest full-time driver pairing in the top DP class, piloted the No. 8 BMW powered Doran Daytona Prototype for Synergy Racing.

Doran expressed his optimism for the 2012 season.

"I pleased to have Jim Lowe join our team," Doran said. "Spending time today at the shop with Jim and the Frisselle brothers, I am confident this team is going to perform to their fullest abilities at Daytona. Everyone involved with Doran Racing is looking forward to much success with our 2012 driver lineup."

 
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