Liz Halliday LATEST Racing driver Liz Halliday will form part of Eurosport’s commentary team for their exclusive coverage of the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours on June 13-14.   Liz Wins! Liz Halliday returns to Le Mans with Eurosport - 2009 Liz wrote a column for us. Click here Bio Snippets Photo Gallery Related Issues: Women Racers Directory, Women in Racing, Women Racers, More Women in Racing, Race Schedules, Notable Women 2008 ALMS Race Schedule 2007 ALMS Race Schedule 2007 LeMans Race Schedule 2006 Race Schedules Contact: Halliday, Liz or E-Mail. Liz Halliday returns to Le Mans with Eurosport - 2009 Liz Halliday will return to the Le Mans 24 Hours this season after rejoining Eurosport’s commentary team for the second successive year for their live coverage of the world’s most famous motor race on 13-14 June. The dual sportswoman, who also competes in International 3 Day Eventing, has contested the world’s most famous motor race three times, finishing fourth in class in 2006, and will again provide expert analysis for the pan-European channel. The California-born Halliday has previous commentary experience on both sides of the Atlantic with CBS Sports and Motors TV and has vast experience of sportscar endurance racing having competed in the European based Le Mans Series, the FIA GT Championship and the American Le Mans Series, where she is the most successful female driver ever in the championship’s history. “I’m thrilled to be back with Eurosport again this year,” said Halliday. “I really enjoyed my time with them in 2008, which was my first time ever commentating at Le Mans and I’m looking forward to what should be a fantastic race." “I love Le Mans and everything about the historic race, and hopefully that enthusiasm will be transferred to the viewers during the race. I’ve got good experience there as a driver and I hope to bring that to the commentary box. This year’s race looks set to be another classic battle between Audi and Peugeot, and with Aston Martin also in the mix, I think the viewers are set to witness an epic.” Halliday has concentrated on her career in 3 Day Eventing this season, achieving fine results in a variety of international events including the Barroca D' Alva Horse Trials in Portugal earlier this year. She raced in both the European and American Le Mans Series last year but ultimately opted not to compete at La Sarthe for a fourth time in ’09. “There were some opportunities at Le Mans this year, but I didn’t think any of them were a great fit for myself or my sponsors, so I had to make the difficult decision to pass on being a driver this year. I am so pleased to be with Eurosport again though, and thrilled to still be there and be a part of the race.” said Liz. “I do hope to be back on track later in the year however in America or Europe, and hopefully I will have more news on that soon.” Eurosport’s coverage of the Le Mans 24 Hours begins on Wednesday 10 June with action from practice, followed by qualifying on Thursday 11 June and live coverage of the race on Saturday/Sunday 13/14 June on both Eurosport 1 and 2. For more details, please visit www.eurosport.com. For more information on Liz Halliday, or to download hi-res photos for use in editorial, please visit www.lizhalliday.com *     *     * The most successful female driver in American Le Mans Series history, Liz Halliday will return to the Series for the final two events of 2008 with Creation Autosportif and its two-car lineup of Creation-AIM prototypes in LMP1. ... Has won six times with 14 podium finishes (all with Intersport Racing) in 19 career starts ... Also an elite level equestrian competitor and has eye on future Olympic berth. At Le Mans: Drove with Sam Hancock/Gregor Fisken at Le Mans in 2005 for Intersport. Car led class by four laps 10 hours in before retiring. … In 2006, drove Intersport Lola with Field/Duncan Dayton. Early promise gave way to a frustrating string of mechanical and other failures that kept the car along pit lane throughout first hour. Team did manage to finish the race and took fourth in LMP2. ... Retired after 198 laps in Noel Del Bello Courage-AER in 2007. LMP2 entry suffered terminal gearshift issues near 11-hour mark. A world traveler and competitor in the truest sense. ... Also trains and competes in Olympic-level equestrian events and is eyeing Olympic berth in 2012. ... Raced in nine rounds of 2005 FIA GT Championship, where best showings for Lister Racing was seventh at Brno and Monza. ... Teamed up with Kevin Buckler, owner of The Racer’s Group, to race in the 2004 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. ... In August 2003, Halliday and Amanda Stretton became first women ever to win a round of the British GT Championship at the wheel of a Porsche GT3. ... Drove in famous Bathurst 24-hour race in Australia in late 2003. ... In 2002, named "Driver of the Day" at Donington and Croft and again at Rockingham in 2003. ... Halliday’s motor racing career, inspired by her father Don, opened in 1996 with the SCCA, the Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA) and the Alfa Romeo Club. ... Owns three horses and competes regularly in Three Day Eventing and Dressage. ... Would most like to attend Formula One race and Olympic Equestrian event “because I want to compete there one day”. ... Series driver she admires most is Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen. ... Likes to relax before race by meeting fans and hearing the anthems. ... Studied marine biology for three years at UC Santa Barbara and plans to finalize her degree in England. American former British GT driver (with Phil Hindley's Tech 9 operation), Liz Halliday stepped up a gear. At 26, the California native joined the No. 37 Interport Lola team in an American Le Mans Series LMP2 at Road Am. Also Europe'/s FIA AGT Champsionhip series. International GT and Sports Car Racing — After a busy 2004 season racing Porsche GT3s in America and Europe, Liz moved up another level in her racing career for 2005. She was given the exciting opportunity to race in the Factory Lister Storm for the entire FIA GT season with Justin Keen, as well as the chance to race in the 53rd annual Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, and the famous Le Mans 24 Hours with the Telesis Intersport Racing Team. This was the team who won the LMP2 class at Le Mans in 2004 and Sebring will be Liz’s first drive with the team and in an LMP2 car. Formula Woman — For a new twist to the year, Liz has joined forces with Formula Woman, which successfully ran a televised UK all women competition and race series in 2004. She has been appointed as the manager of the new Formula Woman race team, which will run a one –two car all women team in the European Endurance Racing Club. www.lizhalliday.com www.intersportracing.com www.americanlemans.com www.roadamerica.com For further information on Liz Halliday, please contact Vincent Franceschini: Mobile: +44 (0) 7860 410 950 Tel: +44 (0) 20 8543 2101 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 8543 4134 E-mail: A world traveler in the truest sense. . .She also competes in FIA GT Championship and competes in Olympic-level equestrian events. . .Drove with Sam Hancock/Gregor Fisken at Le Mans for Intersport. Car led class by four laps 10 hours in before retiring. . .Raced in nine rounds of FIA GT Championship, where best showings for Lister Racing was seventh at Brno and Monza. . .Teamed up with Kevin Buckler, owner of The Racer’s Group, to race in the 2004 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in a Porsche 911 GT3 RS. . .Recorded first ever podium, finishing third in class at the 2004 Grand Prix of Miami with co-driver Buckler. . .In August 2003, Halliday and Amanda Stretton became first women ever to win a round of the British GT Championship at the wheel of a Porsche GT3. . .Drove in famous Bathurst 24-hour race in Australia in late 2003. . .In 2002, named "Driver of the Day" at Donington and Croft, and again at Rockingham in 2003. . .Halliday’s motor racing career, inspired by her father Don’s, opened in 1996 with the SCCA, the Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA) and the Alfa Romeo Club. . .Owns three horses and competes regularly in Three Day Eventing and Dressage. . .Career goal is to take part in an Olympic Games equestrian competition. . .Would most like to attend Formula One race and Olympic Equestrian event “because I want to compete there one day”. . .Likes to relax before race by meeting fans and hearing the anthems. . .Studied marine biology for three years at UC Santa Barbara and plans to finalize her degree in England. Results Liz was the first women to race the Aston Martin DBR9 in International sportscar competition and the first women to ever win a round of the British GT Championship – Spa, 2003. 2007: At Sebring, debuted in Series GT1 class with Team Modena in an Aston Martin DBR9. With driving mates Antonio Garcia/Darren Turner, the trio battled sister cars from Corvette Racing for a third-place finish in GT1. . .At Houston, joined broadcast crew for CBS Sports as pit/feature reporter for the four CBS shows - Houston, Salt Lake City, Lime Rock and Mid-Ohio. . .At Le Mans, drove for Noel Del Bello and Courage LC75 that retired near the 10-hour mark with gearbox problems. Was her third consecutive appearance at Le Mans. 2006: At Sebring, hustled Intersport Lola to P2 win and second overall finish with her Field (Clint/Jon) teammates. It marked Halliday’s fourth win in just nine total starts. Halliday in turn became the highest-placing female driver in Sebring history, besting the previous fifth place finish turned in by Lyn St. James. The independent team found itself in a heated battle with the factory-sponsored Penske Porsche in the latter stages, relinquishing second place in Hour 10, but regaining the runner-up spot (to Audi) when the Porsche stopped on the track with 22 laps remaining. . . At Houston, Halliday and C. Field practiced patience and were rewarded with second win of '06 as both Porsches again fell by the wayside. For Halliday, her fifth victory tied her with Milka Duno for most victories by a female competitor. She’s also won half her career Series starts, now totaling 10. . . At Mid-Ohio, Halliday overcame potential disaster on the pace lap to end up with third podium appearance in as many ’06 starts. Paddle shift failed, necessitating pit stop for repairs and a start from rear of field. She made up most of the ground in race’s first hour before turning car over to Field; Halliday drove final 45-minute stint to claim third place in class, trailing just two Porsche Spyders, who finished 1-2 overall. . .At 24 Hours of Le Mans, drove Intersport Lola with Field and Duncan Dayton. Early promise gave way to a frustrating string of mechanical and other failures that kept the car along pit lane throughout first hour. Team did manage to finish the race, one of roughly half the original starters to do so, and took fourth in LMP2 ranks. . .At Lime Rock, took third place podium finish despite late-race contact that retired Intersport Lola at 136-lap mark. . .At Salt Lake City, Halliday and Field recovered from a subpar opening stint to claim second place among LMP2 competitors. Halliday ran two stints, with Field in the middle, and moved the car up a position with the No.7 Porsche Penske Spyder encountered throttle problems that necessitated a lengthy stay along pit road. . .At Portland, Halliday and Field saw perseverance pay off with their third LMP2 victory in six starts this year. After spending much of early portion of race in third class position, Intersport twosome moved into second place following No. 7 Porsche shunt and blown engine by leading No. 6 Porsche with 15 minutes left. Win allowed Intersport to maintain its slim points lead and made Halliday winningest female driver in Series history. . .At Road America, Halliday, Clint and Jon Field each took a turn piloting Intersport Lola to third place class finish and seventh consecutive podium in as many starts. With three events remaining, team trails Penske's Maassen by 2 points in LMP2 race. . .At Mosport, Halliday started Intersport Lola and drove what she described as ‘best stint in driving career’ before turning car over to Clint Field. Field maintained rapid pace for short interval before brake lining caught fire, forcing car behind pit wall for 30 minutes worth of repairs that eliminated any hopes of class win. Team did achieve necessary 70 percent of race to qualify for third place points. . .At Petit Le Mans, was heading for season's fourth class win before broken steering rack erased seven-lap lead over trailing RS Spyders. Lost time eventually resulted in fourth-place finish. . .At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, finished third in class for ninth podium in 10 races. 2005: Second year in Series saw the California native pick up three wins on this side of the Atlantic in LMP2. . .Paired with Clint Field/Gareth Ridpath at Sebring, only to have electrical malfunctions trip them after 82 laps for DNF. . .Returned to Series at Infineon and co-drove with Field to class win in the Intersport Lola EX257-AER. . .Did not compete at Portland when Intersport team asserted itself in P2 points chase with second win in row. . .Started from P2 pole at Road America but race came to abrupt end when car caught fire on lap 13 and was forced to retire. A split fuel filter was the culprit. . .At Mosport, Halliday/Field combination returned to victory circle as Halliday drove first hour-plus of shortened 2:30 event before turning car over to Field for second win of season – third for Intersport Racing. . .At Petit Le Mans, survived contact with Maserati MC12 to preserve P2 win; victory propelled Clint Field into prime position to win class driving championship as two were joined by Jon Field in cockpit. . .Same trio teamed at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with Intersport finishing a hard earned fifth after day of mechanical gremlins, but completed enough laps to win P2 team championship. . .Racked up 77 championship LMP2 driver points in six starts to finish four in standings. 2004: Paired up with Piers Masarati and Ian Donaldson in the PK Sport No. 60 Porsche at Petit Le Mans, but the trio saw its day come to a premature close with mechanical problems after 127 laps. . .Halliday/Masarati teamed at Laguna Seca, but this time electrical malfunctions shelved their car after 108 laps. 2007 Schedule Le Mans Series Monza 1000 kms, Italy: 13th, 14th and 15th April Valencia 1000 kms, Spain: 4th, 5th and 6th May Nurburgring 1000 kms, Germany: 29th, 30th June and 1st July Spa 1000 kms, Belgium: 17th, 18th and 19th August Silverstone 1000 kms, England: 14th, 15th and 16th September Mil Milhas, Brazil: 9th, 10th and 11th November Le Mans 24 Hours Official Test Day: Sunday 3rd June Qualifying 1: Wednesday 13th June Qualifying 2: Thursday 14th June Race: Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th June   Photo Gallery - Laguna Seca Photos: Laguna Seca Raceways, CA, October 20-22, 2006, Gordon Clay Photo Gallery - Portland International Photos: Portland International, July 21-22, 2006 by Gordon Clay  *     *     * WomenInRacing.org ©1996-2009 by of Gordon Clay