Factory efforts from Corvette and Audi are home teams this weekend at the Detroit Sports Car Challenge presented by Bosch. Michigan-based Robertson Racing is returning to the American Le Mans Series this weekend, 40 miles from Dave and Andrea Robertson’s home in Ray.
The Robertsons will drive their No. 53 Panoz Esperante GTLM in Series competition for the first time since the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. But the husband-and-wife team plan to enter the final three events of the season: this weekend’s race on Belle Isle, Petit Le Mans and the Monterey Sports Car Championships.
“We’re back. That’s the big thing, ” said Dave Robertson. “I lost about three months to prostate cancer and recovery. The biggest lesson there is to get your blood test done! I was cleared to get back in the car a few weeks ago. We’ve tested at Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio and Carolina Motorsports Park. And we’ll test at Lime Rock and Laguna Seca in the next three weeks. “
Those sessions are designed to gear up for a full-season run in the 2008 championship, Robertson said. The last three races of this year will lay that groundwork.
“We need to get in, push and finish. That’s the most important thing, ” Robertson said. “You can’t make a mistake here. But I think the playing field is level. No one else has run around here in GT2 cars. “
Robertson also is a huge proponent of bringing auto racing back to the Detroit area. Roger Penske, owner of the Penske Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 effort, has led the way by organizing the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix weekend and is largely responsible for the renovation of Belle Isle.
“I really hope this helps the city and the area, ” Robertson said. “It really has decayed since the 1960s. We want to get involved and help Mr. Penske. It does provide jobs and gets things cleaned up. There are a lot of things here, and kids can see a little bit of nature and see what it takes to do some of these things. ”
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