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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Audi Evaluating, Toyota Unlikely For Sebring 2013
Audi looking to run possible 2013 development R18 in next year's American Le Mans Series season-opener...
Audi is evaluating a return to Sebring next year, despite the race not being a round of the FIA WEC. (Photo: LAT)
While the face of motorsport in North America has dramatically changed over the last two months, one stalwart LMP1 manufacturer appears to be in favor of still taking part in the traditional opener of the international endurance racing season.
Despite the event not being part of next year's FIA World Endurance Championship, Audi has expressed interest in still running next year's Twelve Hours of Sebring, which will open the 15th and final season of the American Le Mans Series.
The German manufacturer, which locked up the FIA WEC Manufacturers' World Championship earlier this summer, has been represented in the Florida classic every year since 1999, with the exception of 2010, when it focused on its testing program instead.
In all, Audi has 10 overall victories at Sebring, the most by any modern-day manufacturer currently competing for outright honors.
"We're thinking about it but no decisions have been made yet," Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich told SPEED.com. "I think a decision will not be [made] until before November."
While Audi has been a mainstay at Sebring for more than a decade, Toyota, its LMP1 rival in the WEC, has effectively ruled out taking its TS030 Hybrid to central Florida for next year, even from a testing perspective.
"At the moment, I don't think so,” Toyota Racing technical director Pascal Vasselon told SPEED.com. “As long as Sebring is not part of championship, I think we will maximize our preparation in Europe. We will do most of the development in Europe and have no plans to test at Sebring, either."
The potential for Audi to start its 2013 season at Sebring comes as no surprise, as the factory squad has generally used the 3.7-mile airfield circuit as one of its primary winter testing locations.
In past years, Audi has raced last year's model in the 12-hour, while testing its latest-generation car in the days following the around-the-clock enduro.
But that could change for 2013, according to the Audi Sport boss.
"It would make sense to run a new car there because we basically used Sebring to do endurance runs [and tests]," Ullrich said. "Maybe we can combine it for next year but it's something that has to be decided and it has not been decided."
While an announcement will not likely be made until Audi's 2013 presentation, expected either next month or in December, newly crowned Petit Le Mans overall winners, Rebellion Racing, could also be on the grid next March.
The potential influx of WEC entrants heading to Sebring has been made possible due to a gap in the start of its 2013 season, which doesn't kick off until April 14 in Silverstone.
“We could envision potentially sending at least one car,” team manager Bart Hayden said. “Honing your skills and getting yourself back on the pace again is a much quicker process at a race meeting. You can go to Sebring and really get yourself back on the pace again.
“I think it's a possibility for us and hats off to the WEC. I think they've recognized that teams are going to want to do that. They've allowed us in the way they've formulated the calendar for that to happen and I think it's a good thing.”
Other FIA WEC teams, including American-based Krohn Racing and LMP2 World Champions Starworks Motorsport, have also expressed interest, which gives some optimism heading into the 12-hour classic.
The 61st Twelve Hours of Sebring, scheduled for March 16, will be Live! on SPEED.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Despite the event not being part of next year's FIA World Endurance Championship, Audi has expressed interest in still running next year's Twelve Hours of Sebring, which will open the 15th and final season of the American Le Mans Series.
The German manufacturer, which locked up the FIA WEC Manufacturers' World Championship earlier this summer, has been represented in the Florida classic every year since 1999, with the exception of 2010, when it focused on its testing program instead.
In all, Audi has 10 overall victories at Sebring, the most by any modern-day manufacturer currently competing for outright honors.
"We're thinking about it but no decisions have been made yet," Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich told SPEED.com. "I think a decision will not be [made] until before November."
While Audi has been a mainstay at Sebring for more than a decade, Toyota, its LMP1 rival in the WEC, has effectively ruled out taking its TS030 Hybrid to central Florida for next year, even from a testing perspective.
"At the moment, I don't think so,” Toyota Racing technical director Pascal Vasselon told SPEED.com. “As long as Sebring is not part of championship, I think we will maximize our preparation in Europe. We will do most of the development in Europe and have no plans to test at Sebring, either."
The potential for Audi to start its 2013 season at Sebring comes as no surprise, as the factory squad has generally used the 3.7-mile airfield circuit as one of its primary winter testing locations.
In past years, Audi has raced last year's model in the 12-hour, while testing its latest-generation car in the days following the around-the-clock enduro.
But that could change for 2013, according to the Audi Sport boss.
"It would make sense to run a new car there because we basically used Sebring to do endurance runs [and tests]," Ullrich said. "Maybe we can combine it for next year but it's something that has to be decided and it has not been decided."
While an announcement will not likely be made until Audi's 2013 presentation, expected either next month or in December, newly crowned Petit Le Mans overall winners, Rebellion Racing, could also be on the grid next March.
The potential influx of WEC entrants heading to Sebring has been made possible due to a gap in the start of its 2013 season, which doesn't kick off until April 14 in Silverstone.
“We could envision potentially sending at least one car,” team manager Bart Hayden said. “Honing your skills and getting yourself back on the pace again is a much quicker process at a race meeting. You can go to Sebring and really get yourself back on the pace again.
“I think it's a possibility for us and hats off to the WEC. I think they've recognized that teams are going to want to do that. They've allowed us in the way they've formulated the calendar for that to happen and I think it's a good thing.”
Other FIA WEC teams, including American-based Krohn Racing and LMP2 World Champions Starworks Motorsport, have also expressed interest, which gives some optimism heading into the 12-hour classic.
The 61st Twelve Hours of Sebring, scheduled for March 16, will be Live! on SPEED.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Monterey
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