Braselton, Ga. - If Intersport Racing is seeking any inspiration this year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it only need to look back in time to a year ago. What was a four-lap lead vanished at the 10-hour mark with a valvetrain problem that resulted in a DNF at the most prestigious motor race in the world.

This year offers a chance for redemption, however. Already boasting two class wins in the American Le Mans Series this year – including the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring – the defending LMP2 champion is running as well as it ever has heading to Le Mans. That bodes well for a chance at Intersport's second class title in three years.

"Winning a race like this is unbelievable," said Clint Field, who will drive the Lola B05/40-AER with Liz Halliday and Duncan Dayton. "Our chances are no worse than the year we won. It's a better car than in 2004. I think our team has gotten better and the people on our team have been better."

Field is the American Le Mans Series' defending LMP2 drivers champion, and he has teamed with Halliday for five class wins in the Series in the last year. The pairing is quick, but more importantly reliable. The Lola hasn't left a race early in nearly 11 months (at Road America).

It also helps that Le Mans was the first circuit at which Halliday drove the Intersport Lola. In last year's debut, she had not only to learn the car but also the 8.3-mile layout in a matter of days. Her first lap during Sunday's Test Day was a full six seconds better than her best time in 2005.

"I definitely have a lot more prototype experience," said Halliday, who is trying to become the first woman in the modern Le Mans era to win a class championship. "I still see myself as a sports car rookie, but I think I'm doing a pretty good job thanks to Clint and Jon (Field). I think we have a really strong lineup with Duncan. We'll definitely be in the running. As a car, we have a lot of things ironed out. I don't feel like we'll be underdogs."

Adding a driver of Dayton's caliber won't hurt Intersport's chances. He has driven with the team in the past and posted the fastest LMP2 lap at Sebring in 2005, the debut race for the team's Lola.

"It was great that the car did so well at Sebring and the other American Le Mans Series races so far this year," Dayton said. "Hopefully we can continue that with a class victory at Le Mans. It's one of the greatest races in the world and I'm honored to be making my fourth start there."

The 24 Hours of Le Mans starts at 5 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 17 and finishes at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 18. The race will be broadcast on SPEED Channel in North America and in Europe on MotorsTV, which will have flag-to-flag, extended 24-hour coverage. Live radio coverage will be available at www.radiolemans.com.