Birth Date:
2/24/1978
Birthplace:
Poughkeepsie
Residence:
Pleasant Valley
Race Starts:
104
Championships:
2
Wins:
8
Top 3 Finishes:
52
Fast Qualifier:
2
Fastest Lap:
0
Driver Bio:
Chris Dyson has established himself as both a championship talent and a key figure in the American Le Mans Series paddock as both a driver and sporting director for Dyson Racing. … Returned in 2013 with Guy Smith in Lola B12/60-Mazda. ... Added second ALMS title in 2011 with P1 championship in partnership with Guy Smith. Went along with LMP675 championship. ... ALMS leader in standings for consecutive starts. ... Inaugural member of ALMS `Green Dream Team` to serve as leading spokesperson for Series` green initiatives.
Driver History:
2013
Tough open at Sebring for race's defending ALMS P1 champions. Retired in five-hour period due to drivetrain failure. Drove with Guy Smith/Butch Leitzinger. … Encouraging start to weekend with second-place qualifying effort for Smith. Dyson held the position through 30 minutes before crashing into T8 tire wall due to mechanical issue.
2012
Followed up 2011 championship season with runner-up finish with Guy Smith driving No. 16 Lola-Mazda coupe. … Took two class wins on season - Sebring (highest-finish ALMS finisher in P1) and Road America. … Latter was by 0.083 seconds and set ALMS record for closest overall winning margin. … Also scored first-place points (and second-place P1 finish) at season-ended Petit Le Mans. … Runner-up in seven other events. … Introduced flybrid propulsion at VIR and used at Road Atlanta as well.
2011
Took second career ALMS title thanks to seven runner-up finishes or better on season. ... Won at Lime Rock for team's first overall win at home track. Dyson also won overall pole, his second career. ... Earned first-place points at Sebring and Petit Le Mans as part of the ILMC. ... Runner-up at remaining six event including title-clinching finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
2010
Fourth in combined LMP championship in Dyson Lola-Mazda with Smith. … Recorded three podium finishes. … Highlight was fantastic duel for victory at Mid-Ohio against Highcroft Racing's Simon Pagenaud. Was first overall win for Dyson/Smith pairing and for Mazda and Dunlop in ALMS. … Third in P1 at Long Beach and Mazda Raceway.
2009
Made 10 starts and finished fourth in P2 championship driving No. 20 Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda, all with Guy Smith. … Took runner-up finishes at St. Petersburg, Long Beach. Third in races at Sebring, Utah, Lime Rock and Mosport. … Ran Petit Le Mans and Mazda Raceway rounds unclassified as team tested isobutanol blend.
2008
Started all 11 events with Guy Smith claiming eight top six finishes driving a Porsche RS Spyder. Placed sixth in class championship in highly competitive field. … Recorded third-place finish to start season off at Sebring. … Among other highlights was fifth-place showing at Mid-Ohio in first race after chassis replaced following crash at Lime Rock. … Also ran in top-five at St. Petersburg and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
2007
Four in P2 championship with starts in all 12 events. Paired with Guy Smith in first season with Porsche RS Spyder. … Duo combined for runner-up finish at Petit Le Mans. … Fourth at Utah, Lime Rock and Road America. … Other top-five finishes at Long Beach, Houston, Mosport, Detroit and Mazda Raceway. … First year for Dyson as Porsche customer since IMSA GTP era.
2006
Started full slate of 10 races in LMP1 class with new Lola B06/10-AER. … Up-and-down effort highlighted by runner-up finish at Mosport in duel with Audi. … Ran third in class at Houston and Portland. … Fourth in season-finale at Mazda Raceway in last race for James Weaver. … Drove rest of year with Guy Smith.
2005
Runner-up in P1 championship with Lola EX257-AER in LMP1. Drove full season with Andy Wallace. … Runner-up finish at Mid-Ohio and overall pole position at Mosport highlighted season. … Race at Mid-Ohio was first 1-2 overall finish in ALMS. … Also posted second-place runs at Road Atlanta spring race, Infineon, Portland, Road America and Petit Le Mans. … Third at Mazda Raceway.
2004
Earned seven podiums in nine races in team's first year in P1 with Lola EX257-AER. ... Teamed with Wallace for second at Mid-Ohio and at Infineon. … Also recorded podium finishes at Lime Rock, Portland (in a heated battle with Audi’s JJ Lehto), Mosport and Petit Le Mans. … Forced out with retirements at Sebring, Road America and Mazda Raceway.
2003
Drove new Dyson Lola P675 to class championship. Ran seven of nine Series events with Wallace and long-distance events with Chad Block/de Radigues. … Opened year with Sebring class win for first of career and for Dyson Racing. … Made his championship move in second half of season with victories at Mosport, Road America and Miami as well as a runner-up finish at Petit Le Mans.
2002
Competed four times in LMP900 class, his first Series experience. … Teamed with father Rob and Dorsey Schroeder for eighth in class at Sebring. … Fourth in class and overall at Infineon, partnered with Weaver and 1999 Series champion Elliott Forbes-Robinson. … Seventh at Washington and sixth at Trois-Rivieres with Weaver.