Muscle Milk Motorsports
Encyclopedia
Muscle Milk Motorsports ( known as Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing in ALMS and Muscle Milk Team CytoSport in IMSA GT3) is a American
auto racing
team founded by Greg Pickett. The team is based in Benicia
, California
. They currently operate a Lola-Aston Martin B08/62
sports car in the American Le Mans Series
and a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge.
The team was founded in 2007 by CytoSport
co-founder and former IMSA GT Championship
driver Greg Pickett. Pickett bought a Lola B06/10
and raced it in the American Le Mans Series
. The cars was entered in the top LMP1 class powered by a four litre twin-turbo V8 supplied by AER
. Pickett was accompanied by Klaus Graf
, a former NASCAR
and Trans-Am driver. Car number 06 was scheduled to make its début in the third round of the ALMS season, the Grand Prix of Long Beach
but did not start. The first actual race they competed in was the Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio
where Pickett and Graf finished ninth overall and third in the LMP1 class. This was followed by another third place class finish in following round which was Generac 500
. The Petit Le Mans
saw Memo Gidley
join Pickett and Graf for the ten hour race which saw another third place finish for the team, the fourth time in total. Team Cytosport finished fourth in the LMP1 teams championship.
. The team competed at Le Mans alongside Czech team Charouz Racing System
who owned the Lola B07/17
that Pickett and Graf competed in. The duo were joined by sportscar racing veteran and 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans
winner Jan Lammers
. Car number twelve was entered in the LMP1 class and appropriately qualified twelfth place. Unfortunately the car retired after the 5.5 litre Judd
V10 failed after 146 laps.
. They bought a Porsche RS Spyder
formerly used by Dyson Racing Team to compete in the LMP2 class. The first round they competed in was the Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio
, the sixth round of the season. The regular drivers of Pickett and Graf were successful on their début finishing fourth overall and second in the LMP2 class. The 2009 Petit Le Mans
saw Porsche factory driver Sascha Maassen
get behind the wheel of the Cytosport RS Spyder. The race was red flagged after 184 laps due to heavy rain which led to the Cytosport car spin out due to the heavy rain. They did finish though, in 22nd overall and third in class. They also earned a podium at Laguna Seca
making it four podiums in four races in 2009. Graf finished fifth in the drivers championship with Pickett in eighth as Pickett did not get points for the Petit Le Mans race as he never drove.
running the Porsche RS Sypder they raced last year. Both LMP1 and LMP2 were one class for all ALMS races apart from the 12 Hours of Sebring
and Petit Le Mans
when the two classes would separate. Pickett and Graf raced once again for the whole season and were joined by Sascha Maassen for the long races. The team took LMP2 victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring
finishing fourth overall.
The success at Sebring was followed by two overall victories at Lime Rock
and Mosport
.
Muscle Milk Team Cytosport finished second in the LMP class just 20 points behind Patrón
Highcroft Racing
and Graf finishing second in the drivers championship.
saw the two LMP classes split again to LMP1 and LMP2. The team bought a Lola-Aston Martin B08/62
in the LMP1 class. Lucas Luhr
joined the team for the full season with Pickett only entering in the longer races such as Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Due to the drastic new regulations, the six litre V12 engine has had to be restricted to around 500 bhp from the former 600+ bhp of before to comply with the new 2011 LMP1 regulations. Unfortunately, there was not much competition during the start of the season with Dyson Racing Team being the only other full time LMP1 entry, who later entered a second car. This was followed by Autocon Motorsports who returned with their updated Lola B06/10
. So far, as of round four, Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing
won two events but are second in the teams championship with Dyson leading due to their points finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring
in which the Muscle Milk car retired.
2011 also saw the team enter in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge. They entered a 2011 spec Porsche 997 GT3 Cup which is raced by German driver Mark Bullitt. Bullitt competes in the Platinum class and is eighth in the drivers championship as of round seven with CytoSport also placed in eighth place.
Greg Pickett (2007–) ALMS
Klaus Graf
(2007–) ALMS
Memo Gidley
(2007, 2010) ALMS
Jan Lammers
(2008) Le Mans
Sascha Maassen
(2009-10) ALMS
Lucas Luhr
(2011-) ALMS
Mark Bullitt (2011-) IMSA GT3
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
team founded by Greg Pickett. The team is based in Benicia
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They currently operate a Lola-Aston Martin B08/62
Lola-Aston Martin B09/60
The Lola-Aston Martin B09/60, also known as the Aston Martin DBR1-2, is a Le Mans Prototype sports car built by Lola Cars International and co-developed with Prodrive for use by Aston Martin Racing. It is the first prototype to bear the Aston Martin name since the AMR1 in 1989...
sports car in the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
and a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge.
2007 – Beginnings
CytoSport
CytoSport is a Benicia, California, manufacturer of sports-oriented nutritional products, or "supplements". It offers a line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes, and bars has broken into the mainstream market with a ready-to-drink form of protein supplement "Muscle Milk", a non-dairy beverage...
co-founder and former IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
driver Greg Pickett. Pickett bought a Lola B06/10
Lola B06/10
The Lola B06/10 is a Le Mans Prototype developed by Lola Cars International for use in the LMP1 class of the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was developed in 2006 as a replacement for the Lola B2K/10 as well as the MG-Lola EX257...
and raced it in the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
. The cars was entered in the top LMP1 class powered by a four litre twin-turbo V8 supplied by AER
Advanced Engine Research
Advanced Engine Research, Ltd. is an auto racing engine manufacturer based in Basildon, Essex, England...
. Pickett was accompanied by Klaus Graf
Klaus Graf
Klaus Graf is a German race car driver. He is the son of rally driver Peter Graf. He lived in the United States while competing in the American Le Mans Series, Trans-Am, and in certain NASCAR and ARCA races. He is considered a Road Course Ringer in the world of NASCAR.Graf has won championships...
, a former NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
and Trans-Am driver. Car number 06 was scheduled to make its début in the third round of the ALMS season, the Grand Prix of Long Beach
2007 ALMS Grand Prix of Long Beach
The 2007 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was the third round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series season. It took place on April 14, 2007.-Official results:Class winners in bold...
but did not start. The first actual race they competed in was the Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio
2007 Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio
The 2007 Acura Sports Car Challenge of Mid Ohio was the seventh round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 21, 2007.-Official results:Class winners in bold...
where Pickett and Graf finished ninth overall and third in the LMP1 class. This was followed by another third place class finish in following round which was Generac 500
2007 Road America 500
The 2007 Generac 500 at Road America was the eighth round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at Road America on August 11, 2007....
. The Petit Le Mans
2007 Petit Le Mans
The 2007 Petit Le Mans was the eleventh round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series season and tenth running of the Petit Le Mans. It took place at Road Atlanta, Georgia on October 6, 2007...
saw Memo Gidley
Memo Gidley
José Guillermo "Memo" Gidley is a Mexican-American racing driver, of German and Canadian ancestry, born in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico in 1973. He holds dual citizenship - American and Mexican....
join Pickett and Graf for the ten hour race which saw another third place finish for the team, the fourth time in total. Team Cytosport finished fourth in the LMP1 teams championship.
2008
2008 was a quiet year for the Cytosport team. The team did not enter into the ALMS because team boss Pickett wanted to focus on competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans2008 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 76th Grand Prix of Endurance, taking place on 14–15 June 2008 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France, organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The test day was on June 1. The race was attended by 258,000 spectators...
. The team competed at Le Mans alongside Czech team Charouz Racing System
Charouz Racing System
Charouz Racing System is a racing team from Czech Republic, created in 1985 by Antonín Charouz. Currently the team is competing in Auto GP and the Le Mans Series.- History :...
who owned the Lola B07/17
Lola B06/10
The Lola B06/10 is a Le Mans Prototype developed by Lola Cars International for use in the LMP1 class of the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was developed in 2006 as a replacement for the Lola B2K/10 as well as the MG-Lola EX257...
that Pickett and Graf competed in. The duo were joined by sportscar racing veteran and 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans
1988 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 56th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 11 and 12 1988. It was also the fifth round of the World Sports-Prototype Championship season.-Race:...
winner Jan Lammers
Jan Lammers
Johannes "Jan" Lammers, , is a racing driver and team principal from the Netherlands. He participated in 41 Formula One Grand Prix races, debuting on January 21, 1979. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988 and later participated in the race with his own team Racing for Holland...
. Car number twelve was entered in the LMP1 class and appropriately qualified twelfth place. Unfortunately the car retired after the 5.5 litre Judd
Judd (engine)
Judd is a name brand of engines produced by Engine Developments Ltd., a company founded in 1971 by John Judd and Jack Brabham in Rugby, Warwickshire, England...
V10 failed after 146 laps.
2009
The 2009 season saw Cytosport return to the American Le Mans Series2009 American Le Mans Series season
The 2009 American Le Mans Series season was the eleventh season for the International Motor Sports Association's American Le Mans Series. It began on March 21, 2009, and ended on October 10, 2009 after ten events. The series was composed of Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Tourer race cars divided...
. They bought a Porsche RS Spyder
Porsche RS Spyder
The RS Spyder is a racing car designed by Porsche to compete in Le Mans Prototype Class 2 racing. The car takes its name from the legendary 550 Spyder of the 1950s...
formerly used by Dyson Racing Team to compete in the LMP2 class. The first round they competed in was the Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio
2009 Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio
The 2009 Acura Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio was the sixth round of the 2009 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio on August 8, 2009. Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud won their fourth consecutive race, beating the Highcroft Racing...
, the sixth round of the season. The regular drivers of Pickett and Graf were successful on their début finishing fourth overall and second in the LMP2 class. The 2009 Petit Le Mans
2009 Petit Le Mans
The 2009 Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda6 was the twelfth running of the Petit Le Mans and the ninth round of the 2009 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Road Atlanta circuit in Braselton, Georgia on September 26, 2009. Originally schedule to run for a distance or a time of ten...
saw Porsche factory driver Sascha Maassen
Sascha Maassen
Sascha Maassen, born September 28, 1969, in Aachen, Germany) is a veteran sports car driver. He is currently a Porsche factory driver, and drives the #6 Porsche RS Spyder for Penske Racing in the American Le Mans Series.-Early career:...
get behind the wheel of the Cytosport RS Spyder. The race was red flagged after 184 laps due to heavy rain which led to the Cytosport car spin out due to the heavy rain. They did finish though, in 22nd overall and third in class. They also earned a podium at Laguna Seca
2009 Monterey Sports Car Championships
The 2009 Monterey Sports Car Championships presented by Patrón was the tenth and final round of the 2009 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California on October 11, 2009...
making it four podiums in four races in 2009. Graf finished fifth in the drivers championship with Pickett in eighth as Pickett did not get points for the Petit Le Mans race as he never drove.
2010
For 2010, the team raced under the new Muscle Milk Team Cytosport banner and raced a full season in the ALMS2010 American Le Mans Series season
The 2010 American Le Mans Series season was the twelfth season for the International Motor Sports Association's American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. It was also the first season in which the ALMS used a revised structure for its four classes, as well as the first year in a three...
running the Porsche RS Sypder they raced last year. Both LMP1 and LMP2 were one class for all ALMS races apart from the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
and Petit Le Mans
Petit Le Mans
The Petit Le Mans is a sports car endurance race held annually at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA. It uses the rules established for the 24 hours of Le Mans by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest , which are slightly modified if necessary, mainly to allow additional cars to compete.The race was...
when the two classes would separate. Pickett and Graf raced once again for the whole season and were joined by Sascha Maassen for the long races. The team took LMP2 victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring
2010 12 Hours of Sebring
The 58th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida was the 2010 running of the 12 Hours of Sebring and the opening round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida on March 20, 2010...
finishing fourth overall.
The success at Sebring was followed by two overall victories at Lime Rock
2010 Northeast Grand Prix
The 2010 American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix was held at Lime Rock Park on July 24, 2010. It was the fifth round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series season.-Qualifying:The qualifying session saw David Brabham give Highcroft Racing another overall pole...
and Mosport
2010 Grand Prix of Mosport
The 2010 Grand Prix of Mosport presented by Mobil 1 is the penultimate round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series season. It will take place at Mosport International Raceway on August 29, 2010. The race marks the 100th ALMS race that David Brabham has competed in. As a result, the Patrón Highcroft...
.
Muscle Milk Team Cytosport finished second in the LMP class just 20 points behind Patrón
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
Highcroft Racing
Highcroft Racing
Highcroft Racing is an American auto racing team based out of Danbury, Connecticut and founded by driver Duncan Dayton in 1989. Initially founded for Dayton's involvement in historic motorsport, specifically the restoration and preparation of classic automobiles, the team was expanded for Dayton's...
and Graf finishing second in the drivers championship.
2011
The 2011 American Le Mans Series season2011 American Le Mans Series season
The 2011 American Le Mans Series season is a multi-event motor racing series for sports racing cars which conform to the technical regulations laid out by the International Motor Sports Association for the American Le Mans Series...
saw the two LMP classes split again to LMP1 and LMP2. The team bought a Lola-Aston Martin B08/62
Lola-Aston Martin B09/60
The Lola-Aston Martin B09/60, also known as the Aston Martin DBR1-2, is a Le Mans Prototype sports car built by Lola Cars International and co-developed with Prodrive for use by Aston Martin Racing. It is the first prototype to bear the Aston Martin name since the AMR1 in 1989...
in the LMP1 class. Lucas Luhr
Lucas Luhr
Lucas Luhr is a German race car driver, currently contracted by Audi.-Early career:Luhr began his career in karts in 1989. Throughout the early 1990s, he won several local and national karting trophies...
joined the team for the full season with Pickett only entering in the longer races such as Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Due to the drastic new regulations, the six litre V12 engine has had to be restricted to around 500 bhp from the former 600+ bhp of before to comply with the new 2011 LMP1 regulations. Unfortunately, there was not much competition during the start of the season with Dyson Racing Team being the only other full time LMP1 entry, who later entered a second car. This was followed by Autocon Motorsports who returned with their updated Lola B06/10
Lola B06/10
The Lola B06/10 is a Le Mans Prototype developed by Lola Cars International for use in the LMP1 class of the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was developed in 2006 as a replacement for the Lola B2K/10 as well as the MG-Lola EX257...
. So far, as of round four, Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing is an auto racing team established in 2004 as a partnership between automobile manufacturer Aston Martin and engineering group Prodrive. The partnership was initially created for the purpose of returning Aston Martin to sports car racing with the DBR9, a heavily modified...
won two events but are second in the teams championship with Dyson leading due to their points finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring
2011 12 Hours of Sebring
The 59th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida was held at Sebring International Raceway on March 19, 2011. It was the opening round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series season and the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.-Qualifying Result:...
in which the Muscle Milk car retired.
2011 also saw the team enter in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge. They entered a 2011 spec Porsche 997 GT3 Cup which is raced by German driver Mark Bullitt. Bullitt competes in the Platinum class and is eighth in the drivers championship as of round seven with CytoSport also placed in eighth place.
Drivers
Greg Pickett (2007–) ALMS Klaus GrafKlaus Graf
Klaus Graf is a German race car driver. He is the son of rally driver Peter Graf. He lived in the United States while competing in the American Le Mans Series, Trans-Am, and in certain NASCAR and ARCA races. He is considered a Road Course Ringer in the world of NASCAR.Graf has won championships...
(2007–) ALMS
Memo GidleyMemo Gidley
José Guillermo "Memo" Gidley is a Mexican-American racing driver, of German and Canadian ancestry, born in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico in 1973. He holds dual citizenship - American and Mexican....
(2007, 2010) ALMS
Jan LammersJan Lammers
Johannes "Jan" Lammers, , is a racing driver and team principal from the Netherlands. He participated in 41 Formula One Grand Prix races, debuting on January 21, 1979. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988 and later participated in the race with his own team Racing for Holland...
(2008) Le Mans
Sascha MaassenSascha Maassen
Sascha Maassen, born September 28, 1969, in Aachen, Germany) is a veteran sports car driver. He is currently a Porsche factory driver, and drives the #6 Porsche RS Spyder for Penske Racing in the American Le Mans Series.-Early career:...
(2009-10) ALMS
Lucas LuhrLucas Luhr
Lucas Luhr is a German race car driver, currently contracted by Audi.-Early career:Luhr began his career in karts in 1989. Throughout the early 1990s, he won several local and national karting trophies...
(2011-) ALMS
Mark Bullitt (2011-) IMSA GT3