Franchitti wins at Mid-Ohioposted in ALMS05 | 08 | 2012

BATHGATE'S MARINO FRANCHITTI won the latest round of the American Le Mans Series LMPC at Lexington Mid-Ohio. And the 33-year-old pipped his fellow Scot, Airdrie's Ryan Dalziel, to the victory.

Franchitti had qualified his PR1/Mathiasen LMPC car on pole position, having clocked a fastest time of 1min 15.107secs on the 2.4-mile, 15-turn course.

But when the Scot took the car from his team-mate Rudy Junco for the final hour of the 2hrs 45mins event, he was lying eighth overall, and second in the LMPC class behind Dalziel.

After a series of fastest laps of the race, Franchitti dramatically closed the 20s gap to Dalziel after clocking a best time of 1:16.897.

And with just two laps remaining, such was the intensity of the pace of both Scots as they battled for victory, Dalziel was forced to pit for a last-minute fuel stop.

See more photos of Marino Franchitti in action at Mid-Ohio

Franchitti powered ahead and confirmed his victory by finishing 16.156s ahead of Dalziel, and sixth overall.

“The perfect end to a perfect weekend”, Franchitti said afterwards. “It was great to go head-to-head with Ryan over the closing laps, and highlights the strength in depth of Scottish sportscar racing.

"Getting pole, fastest lap and race win, I couldn’t ask for more; I pushed all the way and the great strategy by the team allowed me not to have to refuel at the end.

"It’s been a pleasure working with Rudy and the PR1/Mathiasan team. They did a great job this weekend."

Franchitti will return to the PR1/Mathiasen team to partner Rudy Junco in the next round the ALMS Series at Road America in a fortnight.

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Jim McGill