However, the team owned by Sandy real estate developer Steve Pruitt hopes to return to the ALMS grid later this season.

According to a company news release, Corsa withdrew from the races because "an opportunity was presented at the 24 Hours of Le Mans [in France] which will require a transitioning of our program. We are currently researching its requirements, and in order to be able to appropriately do so, it requires the full focus of key members of our team in the immediate term."

The release did not state specifics about the "opportunity," but quoted Pruitt as saying he fully anticipates returning to the ALMS, perhaps in time for the Aug. 7-9 event in Wisconsin.

"Once we have completed the [research process], we will be able to determine our competition schedule for the balance of the season as it relates to the F430," Pruitt noted.

This weekend's event was at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, while next week the series heads to the Mid-Ohio track for the Acura Sports Car Challenge.

It has been nearly two months since Corsa competed in an ALMS race. Coincidentally, that was the Utah Grand Prix at Miller Motorsports Park, where it finished eighth. Prior to the Utah event, Corsa was fourth in the GT2 class at St. Petersburg, Fla., and fourth at Long Beach, Calif.

Racing for charity

Racing 2 Save Lives, an organization that brings together motorcyclists to help raise funds for children's charities, raised more than $30,000 in its season-opening event last weekend at Miller Motorsports Park.

More than 150 riders took part in the four-day event in which they were able to ride their bikes on MMP's race tracks without the pressure of competition. The average donation per rider was nearly $300, which, after expenses, netted funds for charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundations of Utah and Colorado, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Larry H. Miller Charities.

"We couldn't be more thrilled with the results, and are enormously grateful to the motorcycling community for its incredible generosity," said R2SL president Sharon Foxworthy.

drew@sltrib.com