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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Sebring Prototype Preview
John Dagys takes a team-by-team look at the P1, P2 and PC contenders in this year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring (Live! 10:30 a.m. ET, SPEED)...
The 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will be the final outing for P1 cars in the Florida endurance classic. (Photo: John Dagys)
The 61st annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will go down in the history books in more than one way, with the American Le Mans Series kicking off its 15th and final season, while it also being the last hurrah for the factory LMP1 prototypes from Audi at the famed airfield circuit.
While there appears to be plenty of optimism heading into 2014, which will see a unified North American sports car championship for the first time in more than a decade, there is still a season to run, and champions to be crowned in each of the respective five categories.
READ: Sebring GT Preview
Following yesterday’s look at the production-based ranks, SPEED.com previews the P1, P2 and PC class contenders for this weekend’s American Le Mans Series season opener (Live! SPEED 10:30 a.m. ET).
P1 (7 Entries)
THE CONTENDERS:
Audi Sport Team Joest (Audi R18 e-tron quattro): The diesel juggernauts return to Sebring for one final time as they chase their 11th overall victory in America’s oldest endurance race. Audi has entered two R18 e-tron quattros, one 2012-spec machine for defending WEC champions Marcel Fassler and Benoit Treluyer, who is joined by Oliver Jarvis, with Audi veterans Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish teaming in a 2013-spec R18 with Lucas Di Grassi.
The Brazilian makes his second start with the German manufacturer following his impressive debut at the WEC Six Hours of Sao Paulo last year. With two bullets in the gun, and no factory competition in sight, it could end up being an Audi runaway in the race, especially when looking at the IMSA-issued Balance of Performance adjustments, which appear to do little to help for the full-season ALMS privateer entrants.
THE SPOILERS:
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing (HPD ARX-03c): Heading in as defending ALMS P1 champions, the Greg Pickett-owned squad has worked tirelessly during the off-season to perfect its upgraded HPD ARX-03c, which features larger front tires as well as revised aero and suspension. Having completed countless pre-season tests at Sebring, drivers Klaus Graf, Lucas Luhr and Romain Dumas should be as prepared as anyone to tackle the race.
But with BoP adjustments putting the Audis in full 2013 WEC spec, and the ALMS entrants given only a minor boost over last year, it’s unclear whether Muscle Milk, and the rest of the privateer contingent for that matter, could be in a position to fight for the overall victory.
Rebellion Racing (Lola B12/60 Toyota): The Anglo-Swiss squad enters two Lola-Toyotas for the season opener, with a single-car entry of Neel Jani and Nick Heidfeld expected to make a championship run. Nicolas Prost completes the lineup in the No. 12 car for Sebring, with Mathias Beche, Andrea Belicchi and Congfu Cheng set to do battle in the No. 13 entry.
After taking a convincing overall victory at Petit Le Mans, although without the presence of Audi, it’s clear the Bart Hayden-led team has the potential to be the best of the privateers. But whether they can fight the factory Audi clan remains to be seen under the latest BoP adjustments.
Dyson Racing (Lola B12/60 Mazda): The 2011 ALMS P1 champs and defending Sebring class winners have opted to focus its efforts on a single Lola B12/60 Mazda entry, with Chris Dyson and Guy Smith being reunited by longtime team driver Butch Leitzinger. The proven lineup, along with the now proven Lola-Mazda package, could pay dividends this weekend, especially with a switch back to Michelin tires for 2013.
THE UNKNOWN:
DeltaWing Racing Cars (DeltaWing LM12 Elan): The Don Panoz-led DeltaWing effort is in new territory as it embarks on its maiden Twelve Hours of Sebring and first race as a classified P1 entrant. Featuring a new team, engine, drivers and tire partner, there’s not much that’s actually been carried over from last year’s effort, which saw the revolutionary car claim a fifth place overall finish at Petit Le Mans.
This time around, just getting to the checkered flag would be considered an accomplishment, following engine-related electrical issues in testing at Road Atlanta for the new 1.9-liter Elan-tuned four-cylinder turbo. Olivier Pla and Andy Meyrick will pilot the Bridgestone-shod entry, now run under the guidance of endurance racing specialist Dave Price.
It’s unclear where the DeltaWing will stack up to its competition. With a slightly larger engine from last year’s 1.6-liter Nissan powerplant, it should be in the ballpark of other P1s.
PHOTOS: 12 Hours of Sebring Testing Photo Gallery
While there appears to be plenty of optimism heading into 2014, which will see a unified North American sports car championship for the first time in more than a decade, there is still a season to run, and champions to be crowned in each of the respective five categories.
READ: Sebring GT Preview
Following yesterday’s look at the production-based ranks, SPEED.com previews the P1, P2 and PC class contenders for this weekend’s American Le Mans Series season opener (Live! SPEED 10:30 a.m. ET).
P1 (7 Entries)
THE CONTENDERS:
Audi Sport Team Joest (Audi R18 e-tron quattro): The diesel juggernauts return to Sebring for one final time as they chase their 11th overall victory in America’s oldest endurance race. Audi has entered two R18 e-tron quattros, one 2012-spec machine for defending WEC champions Marcel Fassler and Benoit Treluyer, who is joined by Oliver Jarvis, with Audi veterans Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish teaming in a 2013-spec R18 with Lucas Di Grassi.
The Brazilian makes his second start with the German manufacturer following his impressive debut at the WEC Six Hours of Sao Paulo last year. With two bullets in the gun, and no factory competition in sight, it could end up being an Audi runaway in the race, especially when looking at the IMSA-issued Balance of Performance adjustments, which appear to do little to help for the full-season ALMS privateer entrants.
THE SPOILERS:
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing (HPD ARX-03c): Heading in as defending ALMS P1 champions, the Greg Pickett-owned squad has worked tirelessly during the off-season to perfect its upgraded HPD ARX-03c, which features larger front tires as well as revised aero and suspension. Having completed countless pre-season tests at Sebring, drivers Klaus Graf, Lucas Luhr and Romain Dumas should be as prepared as anyone to tackle the race.
But with BoP adjustments putting the Audis in full 2013 WEC spec, and the ALMS entrants given only a minor boost over last year, it’s unclear whether Muscle Milk, and the rest of the privateer contingent for that matter, could be in a position to fight for the overall victory.
Rebellion Racing (Lola B12/60 Toyota): The Anglo-Swiss squad enters two Lola-Toyotas for the season opener, with a single-car entry of Neel Jani and Nick Heidfeld expected to make a championship run. Nicolas Prost completes the lineup in the No. 12 car for Sebring, with Mathias Beche, Andrea Belicchi and Congfu Cheng set to do battle in the No. 13 entry.
After taking a convincing overall victory at Petit Le Mans, although without the presence of Audi, it’s clear the Bart Hayden-led team has the potential to be the best of the privateers. But whether they can fight the factory Audi clan remains to be seen under the latest BoP adjustments.
Dyson Racing (Lola B12/60 Mazda): The 2011 ALMS P1 champs and defending Sebring class winners have opted to focus its efforts on a single Lola B12/60 Mazda entry, with Chris Dyson and Guy Smith being reunited by longtime team driver Butch Leitzinger. The proven lineup, along with the now proven Lola-Mazda package, could pay dividends this weekend, especially with a switch back to Michelin tires for 2013.
THE UNKNOWN:
DeltaWing Racing Cars (DeltaWing LM12 Elan): The Don Panoz-led DeltaWing effort is in new territory as it embarks on its maiden Twelve Hours of Sebring and first race as a classified P1 entrant. Featuring a new team, engine, drivers and tire partner, there’s not much that’s actually been carried over from last year’s effort, which saw the revolutionary car claim a fifth place overall finish at Petit Le Mans.
This time around, just getting to the checkered flag would be considered an accomplishment, following engine-related electrical issues in testing at Road Atlanta for the new 1.9-liter Elan-tuned four-cylinder turbo. Olivier Pla and Andy Meyrick will pilot the Bridgestone-shod entry, now run under the guidance of endurance racing specialist Dave Price.
It’s unclear where the DeltaWing will stack up to its competition. With a slightly larger engine from last year’s 1.6-liter Nissan powerplant, it should be in the ballpark of other P1s.
PHOTOS: 12 Hours of Sebring Testing Photo Gallery
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