We come to Oliver's final competitive event of the year, the Monterey Sports Car Championship at the fabulous Laguna Seca Raceway in California.  This circuit includes one of the 'signature' corners of the 2006 ALMS, the famous corkscrew!

The race lasts 4 hours and finishes in the dark so it will be a fitting test of man and machine for the final event of the American Le Mans Series.  For Oliver and Olivier in the No.4 Compuware Corvette C6.R the goal is a simple one, finish 1st or 2nd in GT1 to secure the team and manufacturers championship for Corvette.  By finishing the race they will, on the way, also secure a second straight GT1 driver's title!

So the rivalry with Aston Martin continues and, as at many races this year, there have been further performance adjustments ahead of the race at Laguna.  Both the Aston Martins and the Corvettes will start at the Le Mans GT1 weight limit of 1150 kgs.  However, the Corvette will still have smaller restrictors on the engine intakes.

Parts of the Laguna circuit have been resurfaced so conditions are a little unknown for both teams and their respective tyre partners.  As well as the Aston vs Corvette battle there has been an underlying battle between Pirelli (Aston) and Michelin (Corvette).  The way the tyres cope with the track will play a big part in the outcome of this race.

"It's going to be a great finale and we're certainly going to go all out for the win," Oliver confirmed.  "You can't go out and race for a finish, it just doesn't work, and besides, we want to win the team and manufacturers championship for all the people who have supported us throughout the year.  This is really a team event.

"It's certainly going to be tough out there.  Tomas (Enge) and Darren (Turner) are going for titles and they will be quick.  So will the 009 Aston and Ron & Johnny in the No.3 Corvette.  The excitement for the fans will be tremendous."

The race starts on Saturday at 2.45 pm local time, that's 10.45 pm in the UK!  There is live television coverage in the UK on Motors TV supported by Le Mans Series Radio and Live Timing on the internet at www.americanlemans.com.