American Le Mans Series Teams 2012 Shakedown At Sebring

Silicon Tech/Dempsy Racing's LMPC in for adjustments during the winter test at Sebring. Image Credit: LAT/Webb via ALMS

American Le Mans Series Teams 2012 Shakedown At Sebring

Many believe that the official preseason test for the American Le Mans Series teams comes during the lead up and the participation in the 24 hours of Daytona but this is far from the case. Not all classes or teams can take part in the event even though some crossover takes place. The 2012 ALMS season begins in earnest in advance of next month's 60th anniversary Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring and this effort took place Wednesday and Thursday of this past week.

Most observers had their attention on the renewed intrest in teams signing up to participate in the LMP2 class, the primarily open cockpit class of prototype sports car formula designed to be limited in its cost to teams but to be incredibly fast and competitive. Smaller and less powerful than their LMP1 counterparts, LMP2 cars still are impressive, purpose-built prototypes. Just as in the LMP1, multiple manufacturers supply open-top and coupe chassis including the Lola B11/40, HPD ARX-01d, ORECA 03 and Radical SR9. LMP2 cars can produce similar horsepower figures to GT cars (450-500 vs 475-575 horsepower for LMP1) with speeds up to 170 mph but weigh a maximum of 900 kilograms (LMP1 can reach top speeds of 200 mph with a minimum weight requirement of 900 kilograms or just under 2,000 lbs.).

The LMP2 class leading #055 driven by Christophe Bouchut leads #52 Oreca FLM09 driven by Butch Leitzinger. Luis Diaz set the fastest lap in the Wednesday afternoon session, 1 minute, 53.044 seconds (117.830 mph), in Level 5's #055 HPD ARX-03b. Image Credit: ALMS

This excerpted and edited from Racer -

Thursday Notebook: Sebring Winter Test

February 09, 2012

FAST TIMES, DAY TWO – Muscle Milk's new HPD ARX-03a was literally quick out of the box as it registered the day's, and week's, fastest time of 1:48.192.

The three LMP2 cars also all improved on their Wednesday times, with the two Level 5 HPDs (P2-spec ARX-03bs) in at 1:51.522 and 1:51.714, respectively. Pecom's Oreca 03 Nissan got down to a 1:52.134. All three were ahead of last year's P2 class pole of 1:53.815.

DOUBLE THE MUSCLE – Muscle Milk Pickett Racing was able to debut its new HPD ARX-03a Thursday, the first time Honda Performance Development's new LMP1 contender had made a lap anywhere in the world. HPD has a six-team, seven-car lineup split between the LMP1 and LMP2 classes in both the ALMS and FIA World Endurance Championship.

Simon Pagenaud, the longtime Honda pilot, joined Muscle Milk regulars Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr. All three seemed very complimentary of the car, and it certainly showed its pace as it ripped off some fliers only a day after being assembled! The car arrived in Sebring in various boxes and was put together all day Wednesday.

“It's such a big evolution from last year's car,” said Pagenaud, who was one of three drivers to have a chance in the one-off HPD ARX-01e run to second at last year's race. “The engine gives us good power, the front splitter gives the car additional downforce and the new tub gives us better efficiency as well. It's generally the same aero package as the car we ran last year.”

Team principal Greg Pickett took the ceremonial first laps and unsurprisingly didn't want to get out of the cockpit when his stint was over. The team's LMPC car continued to rack up the laps as well, marking the first day there were two Muscle Milk prototypes on track.

[Reference Here]

Additional background on LMP Class efforts during the Sebring Winter Test, from Wednesday, highlight the dynamic performance improvements over 2011.

Southern California native, Duncan Ende in the Silicon Tech/Dempsy Racing LMPC as it receives a dialing in service during the winter test Sebring Image Credit: LAT/Webb via ALMS

This excerpted and edited from Autoweek -

ALMS: Luis Diaz, [LMP2's] Level 5 Racing top first day of Sebring test

Published on 2/08/2012

Level 5 Motorsports on Wednesday rolled out its new Honda Performance Development prototypes and set the fastest time on the opening day of the American Le Mans Series' winter test at Sebring International Raceway. Luis Diaz set the fastest lap in the afternoon session, 1 minute, 53.044 seconds (117.830 mph), in Level 5's HPD ARX-03b.

Diaz's time was nearly 0.8 second quicker than last year's LMP2 pole time for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. Diaz, the 2009 LMP2 race winner, was a full second quicker than Pecom Racing's ORECA-Nissan of Pierre Kaffer, Soheil Ayari and Luis Pérez Companc.

“With the new cars and everyone knowing each other better, I think it's going to be a strong year for us,” said Diaz, who is splitting time in the car with Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker. “The car is very similar to last year's car. I would say that the biggest thing today was learning the Dunlop tires. So far, they are very good tires and good people to work with. It was nice to be [quickest] at the end of the day with the new car and new tires. There is a long way to go to the race, but I think we started on the right foot.”

Level 5's second HPD prototype was third quickest on the day. Bouchut set the time of 1:55.759 (115.067 mph) during the morning session.

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PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports' entry of Butch Leitzinger and Rudy Junco posted the best lap in the LMP Challenge class with a time of 1:56.270 (114.561 mph). The PR1 ORECA FLM09--a class winner at Road America and Road Atlanta in 2011--set its time in the afternoon session, as did Dempsey Racing's entry of Henri Richard, Duncan Ende and Dane Cameron.

The Dempsey car's best time of 2:01.419 (113.845 mph) put it 0.43 second ahead of Muscle Milk Pickett Racing's duo of Memo Gidley and Michael Guasch; their best lap came in the morning session.

[Reference Here]

Lastly, the 2012 ALMS broadcast schedule was released this week on the heels of the activity surrounding the Sebring Winter Test.

Fastest lap recorded by Muscle Milk/Pickett Racing's #6 LMP1 entry. The Luhr/Graf/Pagenaud driver team car lapped the Sebring airport circuit at 1:48.192. Image Credit: John Dagys

This excerpted and edited from Autoweek -

ALMS: Series confirms 2012 Web, TV broadcast package

By: Steven Cole Smith on 2/08/2012

The American Le Mans Series broadcast package for the 2011 season was deemed futuristic when ALMS executives last year announced that all of the series’ races would be broadcast live online via ESPN3.com, with cable or over-the-air TV broadcasts on a tape-delayed basis.

But it might have been too futuristic, as most fans had to have a participating cable or online provider to get ESPN3. Now, the ALMS has revised its 2012 schedule to include four live television broadcasts of its 10-race season, all of which will again be broadcast live on ESPN3.com.

ESPN2 will air the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach (Calif.) on April 14, the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park (Conn.) on July 7 and the Grand Prix of Mosport (Ontario, Canada) on July 22, and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge (Lexington, Ohio) in August will air on ABC.

The other six races will air on TV once again on a tape-delayed basis. The season opener, the 60th anniversary of the 12 Hours of Sebring, will air as a cut-down, tape-delayed broadcast on ABC on March 18.

Similarly, the Monterey race from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will air tape-delayed on ESPN2 on May 13, Road America will air on ESPN2 on Aug. 19, Virginia International Raceway will air on ESPN2 on Sept. 16, and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta will air on Oct. 21 on ABC. The Grand Prix of Baltimore, if it happens this year, will air on ABC on Sept. 2.

“Thanks to our growing relationship with ABC and ESPN, we’ve answered our fans’ desire for more live TV programming in 2012,” ALMS president and CEO Scott Atherton said. “The ALMS is fortunate to have a diverse fan base that consumes video in a variety of ways.”

To be clear: All ALMS races and qualifying sessions will be broadcast live and in their entirety on ESPN3.com, and for viewers outside the U.S., via ALMS.com. The lone exception will be the Mid-Ohio race, which ESPN3.com will not carry during ABC’s live broadcast.

Races will remain archived for on-demand viewing at ESPN3.com for three weeks following each race and on ALMS.com, for all users, indefinitely. Fans can also watch races on the go with the WatchESPN app for smart phones and iPad.

[Reference Here]

With an expanded field looking to compete in the LMP2 Class, 2012 season is shaping up to be one of the most busy on-track seasons in recent history.

The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón with its five classes of high-tech sports cars competing together in each race offers constant passing and engaging on-track battles throughout. Given the speed variation between the classes and other competitive nuances, each Series round offer the fan an unparalleled motorsports experience.

Timing & Scoring session by session (4) 2012 Sebring Winter Test results - HERE

... notes from The EDJE

American Le Mans Series Begins 2011 As 2010 Ended - Winning

Sebring Winter Test kicks off the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón season. Image Credit: ALMS - Ryan Smith (2010)

American Le Mans Series Begins 2011 As 2010 Ended - Winning

With a rich offering of dynamic grids over the years, this season’s running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida may top them all. An impressive list of full-season entrants in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will combine with the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup field for a 59-car grid, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated editions of America’s greatest sports car race.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest – sanctioning body for the Le Mans 24 Hours – announced Wednesday the teams that will participate in the seven-round ILMC. Concurrently, ALMS sanctioning body IMSA released its list of full-season entrants for 2011. Together, it gives Sebring one of the largest and most diverse gatherings of sports cars it has seen in what will be its 59th running. It ties the largest Sebring field in the ALMS era, matching the 2002 grid.

Each of last year’s Sebring class winners are back for 2011 – Peugeot Sport in LMP1, Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing (up to P1 from LMP2), Level 5 Motorsports (LMPC to LMP2), Risi Competizione (GT) and Alex Job Racing (GTC). In addition, defending ALMS champions Highcroft Racing (P1), BMW Team RLL (GT) and Black Swan Racing (GTC), are on the initial Sebring entry.

A bevy of manufacturers will compete in the March 19 race. The battle at the head of the grid will be fascinating once again. In LMP1 alone, Peugeot will defend against the likes of Audi and representatives from Aston Martin, Honda Performance Development, Toyota, Mazda and Pescarolo.

The entry in GT is even more expansive with marques such as Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Panoz and Porsche. In addition, the LMP and GT Challenge classes that debuted in 2010 will compete alongside ILMC entries at both Sebring and Petit Le Mans.

“The American Le Mans Series was founded by Don Panoz as a year-round showcase of everything that makes the 24 Hours of Le Mans the greatest motor race in the world,” Scott Atherton, ALMS President and CEO said. “Having Sebring serve as the first round of this important new championship is another validation of the world-class stature of our platform and Sebring’s status in global endurance racing.”

This week features a record 31 cars participating in the annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway, only one of many pieces of noteworthy news making the rounds in the Series. A collection of drivers, teams and officials from the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón visited with media members Wednesday and the following are some of the bits of information shared at the Winter Test Media Day.

Paddock crowds are growing. Image Credit: ALMS

Atherton: Carrying the Momentum

Series President and CEO Scott Atherton remained bullish on the outlook for 2011. There is good reason, given last year’s fantastic championship battles, a full-season grid of between 35 and 37 cars for this season, and an increasing share of a coveted youth demographic.

“Last year was the first year where all four class championships went down to the final race - in one instance, it was the last lap of the final race to decide the GT championship,” Scott said. “It was an incredible level of competition and mix of winners that we’ve never had."

“There’s a lot being written about the fact that traditional sports have lost the youth market,” he added. “It’s an important part of our demographic makeup, because those are our future core fans, and it’s important to be relevant to that fan base as you look at a long-range perspective. In our category of 18 to 34 age group, from two years ago, we doubled. That has caught the attention of a lot of organizations and companies that are already involved with us and those, who for the first time, are looking to be involved with us. At a time when other areas of our industry are experiencing significant declines, that demo is headed our direction.”

Corvette’s Newcomers

Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook are growing quite comfortable at Corvette Racing.

“When I was invited to be part of the Test, I was both nervous and excited,” said Milner, who raced against Corvette the last two seasons with BMW Rahal Letterman Racing. “As Doug (Fehan) said, it is a family-atmosphere and that is exactly what it was like when I showed up."

“With Corvette Racing, no matter what session, if it was pouring down rain or blazing hot, you would always see a Corvette out in the front. I look forward to having a target on our backs and being held to that standard- and to win races.”

Milner will drive the full season with Olivier Beretta. Westbrook will team with Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin at Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans.

“It is great to be a part of the team. As you know, I am used to driving Porsches and they are quite different from Corvettes,” Westbrook said. “I would rather be racing a Corvette than racing against one.”

Corvette Racing. Image Credit: ALMS

Corvette and Road America

Chevrolet and Road America announced a multifaceted marketing partnership today that will put Chevrolet in the spotlight at one of America's premier racing venues. Chevrolet is now the Official Vehicle of Road America, the renowned Corvette Bridge will return to the historic track, and the Corvette World Tribute will celebrate Corvette's rich racing heritage.

A ceremony will be held during the ALMS race weekend in August to rededicate the famed Corvette Bridge, which spans the track at Turn 6. The Corvette Bridge was a signature landmark at the track from 1963-81, and the Corvette logo reappeared on the crossover in 1992. The Corvette World Tribute, to be held on August 21, the day following the seventh round of the ALMS, will include a Corvette racers reunion, club and pro series races, a concours, parade laps and other activities.

“When you think of iconic venues, Road America is definitely on the list,” said Doug Fehan, Corvette Racing program manager. “It started out as a race on the streets and then moved to a road course. What we like about Road America is how it embraces and values all the cars on the grid. The Corvette nation is excited for what’s to come at Road America.”

Secret to Lizards’ Success

According to Porsche factory driver Patrick Long, the formula for back-to-back driver championships with Flying Lizard teammate Jörg Bergmeister isn’t really that complicated.

“Our goal for 2011 is to continue on what we have been doing,” Long said. “The Flying Lizards have held the championship for three years. We don’t usually start out as favorites in pure speed or lap times. The strategy and pit stops are what we have worked on which helps us in the highly competitive field. You have to have a flawless season, not just a weekend, to defend a championship.”

The Lizards’ dynamic duo is testing out a series of updates in Porsche’s 911 GT3 RSR racer.

“There are updates with the suspension; right now we are trying to find where the car works the best at Sebring,” said Bergmeister, a five-time ALMS champion. “Also we have some aero changes along with different mufflers and restrictors to help reduce the noise on the track.”

The new car also features a paddle-shift system, which requires a bit of mental adjustment.

“Jörg and I both reached down for the gearshift and it wasn’t there,” Long cracked. “I was hoping our in-car camera wasn’t on when that happened!”

Bringing on Ferrari’s 458

Both Risi Competizione and Extreme Speed Motorsports are testing Ferrari’s new F458 this week at Sebring – the first time the car has turned a wheel in North America.

“This is the first real test for the 458,” said Risi’s Jaime Melo, a winner at Sebring three times with the Ferrari F430. “We have spent some days testing in Europe but the weather was not so nice and it was definitely not Sebring. The car has a lot of potential. We need to work on the setup some more, but the performance has been something that will only get better and better.”

Risi Competizione's Ferrari F458. Image Credit: ALMS

Speaking of the 430, how is it similar to the 458?

“The biggest difference is the engine, aero, suspension… so it is actually a completely different package,” Risi team manager Dave Sims. “There is no comparison. But we have to get it up (and ready) straightaway. The GT championship is so challenging that there is no choice.”

ESM’s Ed Brown was in Italy a couple of weeks ago at Ferrari’s official test track to shakedown the first of the team’s F458s.

“The car is unbelievable. We are working through some things right now, but it will be great,” said Brown, who will drive for the full season with Guy Cosmo. “Sebring is a huge test for the car. The biggest strain right now is to have the car race-ready for Sebring. Our crew’s goal is to shake it down to make it as reliable as possible.”

First Day Test Top Runners

Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing opened the Sebring Winter Test in strong style Wednesday with the fastest times in both sessions with its Aston Martin-powered Lola. The exotic closed-top prototype turned in a best lap of 1:50.530 (120.510 mph) with team owner Greg Pickett, Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr sharing driving duties.

Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing's Lola. Image Credit: ALMS

Of all the motivating factors driving Greg Pickett to get back behind the wheel of a race car, one simply took the cake. “I didn’t want my career to end upside down in a Porsche!”

The annual Sebring Winter Test is the first time Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing’s owner/driver has been in the cockpit since a horrific crash that left Pickett on top of a tire barrier at Mid-Ohio in August. Wednesday, Pickett got his first lap in his team’s new Aston Martin-powered Lola coupe on the first day of the two-day test.

“It’s a pretty little car,” Pickett said. “We were brokenhearted to close the door on the RS Spyder, and Porsche was sad about it as well. The Lola really does feel different, and you can feel the extra weight (around 75 kilograms). It’s nice to be able to squeeze through the GT cars easier than we did last year. For an old guy like me, it’s more fun!”

The Muscle Milk squad will race its new coupe for the first time in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón next month as part of a 59-car field for the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. In last year's race, the Aston Martin factory team drove the car to a third-place overall finish.

Dyson Racing's Mazda-powered Lola B09/86, another prototype coupe, was second quickest at 1:51.042 (119.955 mph). Chris Dyson, Guy Smith and Jay Cochran each drove Wednesday.

The 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida is set for 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 19. The race will be shown live and in its entirety on ESPN3.com and americanlemans.com starting at 10 a.m. ET. ABC will provide coverage from 12:30 to 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 20. Visit the American Le Mans Series’ schedule page for information on tickets and area accommodations.
(ht: ALMS)

... notes from The EDJE