With a mountain of hurdles ahead of them and all of their available funds invested in the car, LG Motorsports quickly worked through the C6's deficiencies, improving the car round by round. (Photo: John Thawley/Creative Communications Group) » More Photos

The second option isn’t one Gigliotti wants to see happen, but without a new sponsor or funded driver secured in the next few weeks, returning the car and shutting down the team will become an unpopular but necessary decision to make.

“The bad part about not finding funding to compete is that we will not be racing the Corvette in GT2. That would not be a good thing. And if we turn the Corvette GT2 project back over to Riley, it will then be out of our hands and it will no longer be our race car. Riley wants their C6 to race, so if we agree on terms for us to return it, I’m sure they’ll get it sorted out and ready to return later in the year, but that would be their deal to look after, not mine.”

Continuing in the American Le Mans Series is Gigliotti’s priority for his team. “The ALMS is a great series for the Corvette GT2. I think the fans want to see the car, and all of the Series officials have been amazing. Make no mistake: we want to carry on with the car in the ALMS, but if we can’t have the car updated and completed as it was supposed to be delivered when we bought it, it’ll go back to them and we’ll have to find the funds to acquire a 911 or F430.”

[Shortly after this interview, Gigliotti was 99% positive the car would be returned to Riley.]

As strong as their Utah showing was, Gigliotti recognized that for the car and team to challenge for wins, the C6 would need to be returned to its constructor. LG could return with a Ferrari or Porsche if funding can be secured. (Photo: Marshall Pruett) » More Photos

Gigliotti’s financial needs to continue to the program aren’t massive, and signing a primary sponsor is his first goal. “Our team and car are ready for a new corporate partner. That’d allow me to keep Eric Curran in the car as my teammate. If we can’t make that happen, a skilled and funded driver to fill Eric’s role is also a direction we’re happy with. But if we don’t make something happen soon, we’ll have to continue crossing ALMS races off the calendar in 2008. I’ve been working flat out for a month trying to fix this, but the clock is ticking...”

Just as he’s added character and excitement to World Challenge and TransAm, Gigliotti’s quickly established himself and his team as the ‘everyman’ program to root for. In a series filled with million dollar cars and international drivers, Gigliotti’s slice of the American Dream needs to be preserved and secured for the remainder of the 2008 ALMS season.

The exotic, hushed tones of a diesel twin-turbo Audi V12 attracts countless fans, as does the classic Ferrari-Red hues of the F430, but in that mix of priceless European machinery, an equally important place must be held for what LG Motorsports offers: a ‘never say die’ team with a bad*ss, ground-pounding Corvette C6 sporting a wicked flame paint job. If their Riley-built C6 is truly gone, retaining the father and son team -- one the 'average Joe' can root for, is vital for the ALMS to help connect with fans of every demographic.

Believe it or not, there are plenty of 'beer-n-pizza' fans to balance out the 'wine-and-cheese' types at 'Series events.

I’m not sure if a Ferrari F430 in LG’s familiar colors would be received in the same manner as his C6 by those beer-n-pizza members of the crowd, but regardless of what chassis he's competing with, let’s hope ALMS fans get to see LG Motorsports in action again before the 2008 season draws to a close.


Marshall Pruett is Automotive and Sportscar Racing Editor for SPEEDtv.com. Pruett grew up at "Pruett's Olde English Garage," his father's shelter for abused foreign cars, and spent his childhood being dragged across the West Coast to help with his dad's amateur racing exploits. Pruett spent twenty years working in various open-wheel and sportscar series, retiring from active duty in 2001. And in case you were wondering, no, he isn’t related to Scott Pruett.

He can be reached at marshall.pruett@speedtv.com

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, SPEED, FOX, or NewsCorp.