Winter Test, Sebring, Mazda Raceway, Petit Le Mans in the cards for Maassen

Sascha Maassen (left) will drive the Team Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder at Sebring, Mazda Raceway and Petit Le Mans with Klaus Graf (right) and Greg Pickett.

Muscle Milk Team CytoSport will again add German ace and Porsche expert Sascha Maassen to its American Le Mans Series driving squad for the major endurance races in 2010.

Maassen, who finished on the podium with Greg Pickett and Klaus Graf last season at Petit Le Mans, will once again be partnered with the duo, this time for three races, starting with the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida in March.

After taking part in the team’s first running of the 12-hour race, Maassen will return behind the wheel of the Michelin-shod No. 6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder for the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Petit Le Mans rounds of the 2010 season.

“I’m very excited to be returning to Team CytoSport and to once again be able to drive the Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder,” said Maassen. “I enjoyed partnering with Greg (Pickett) and Klaus (Graf) and working with the entire team at Petit Le Mans last year and I am thrilled that they have asked me to join them again for even more races. The Muscle Milk team showed its potential last season and I am anxious to help them continue that success this year. I can’t wait to get back in the car.”

Additionally, Maassen will be taking part in the American Le Mans Series Winter Test with Team CytoSport at Sebring next week, in preparation for the first race of the season.

Maassen’s accomplishments with Porsche in the American Le Mans Series are legendary.

“It’s a great pleasure for us to welcome Sascha back to the team,” expressed team owner and co-driver Greg Pickett. “He’s a great teammate, and a fantastic driver who has driven many, many miles aboard a Porsche RS Spyder. He knows this car inside and out, and his knowledge of it is always an asset to our team. We look forward to having him behind the wheel of our Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder next week at the test as well as at the three longest races of the season.”

Prior to joining Muscle Milk Team CytoSport for the penultimate race last season, Maassen piloted the Porsche RS Spyder for Penske Racing from 2006 to 2008 and claimed an LMP2 championship in 2006. He was also aboard the Porsche RS Spyder for its maiden win in 2005 at Mazda Raceway. Maassen has a total of 82 starts in the American Le Mans Series with 29 wins and 59 top-three finishes.

The American Le Mans Series will open its 12th season with America’s greatest sports car race, the 58th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida from March 17-20. The green flag will fall at 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 with live coverage on SPEED. Visit the American Le Mans Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information.

The annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test is scheduled for February 22-23, also at Sebring International Raceway. American Le Mans Series cars will be on track from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are $10 per day with no public paddock access or overnight camping. Live Timing & Scoring will be available on americanlemans.com.

source http://www.americanlemans.com