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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Sebring Winter Test Notebook
News and notes from the paddock at this week’s American Le Mans Series Winter Test...
Ferraris were fast at the American Le Mans Series Winter Test. (Photo: John Dagys)
SUCCESSFUL DEBUT FOR MUSCLE MILK HPD — Muscle Milk Pickett Racing made the worldwide debut of HPD’s new ARX-03a this week at Sebring, with the new Wirth Research-designed LMP1 contender turning its first laps during Thursday’s second and final day of testing.
Greg Pickett had the honor of climbing behind the wheel of his team’s first-ever brand-new prototype before handing it over to full-season drivers Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr, along with Honda pilot Simon Pagenaud, who will complete the lineup for next month’s Twelve Hours of Sebring.
“I think this car is going to surprise a lot of people,” Pagenaud told SPEED.com. “It's probably one of the best sports cars I've driven in my short career.”
The rapid Frenchman, who will embark on his first full-season of IndyCar competition with Sam Schmidt Motorsports, was part of Highcroft Racing’s effort here last year, where the team’s HPD ARX-01e finished a remarkable second overall in what turned out to be the car’s one-and-only start.
Despite being built around a different tub, the new ARX-03a is an evolution from last year's car.
“Last year, we only had one day of testing, so we didn't get to do much with the car. But it was actually pretty good in the race,” Pagenaud said. “This one is carrying a lot more downforce. The splitter is a brand-new design and the tub is a little bit higher front, so the efficiency is much better as it has less drag. Everything is better about it. It behaves so well in the corner. It's pretty unbelievable.”
HPDs swept the top three positions overall at the test, as Level 5 Motorsports’ two LMP2 contenders, including one new ARX-03b, showed impressive pace.
WALTRIP TURNS FIRST LAPS AT SEBRING — Following his debut in last month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona and previous starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and around-the-clock enduros in Dubai and Spa, NASCAR star Michael Waltrip is quickly checking the boxes on his endurance racing resume.
Next stop? Sebring, as the two-time Daytona 500 winner took his first laps around the historic 3.7-mile airfield circuit for the first time this week, aboard a TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.
“There’s a lot more turns than I thought!” Waltrip said. “I haven’t really had a chance to experience it yet because I’m constantly trying to figure out where I am. I’ve gone really slow. I’m still learning the turns. I can’t imagine how fun it’s going to be when I know the turns and I’m able to commit to them and get on the gas and go.”
While things didn't go exactly to plan for teammate Rob Kauffman, who nosed the No. 68 Porsche into the Turn 1 barriers shortly before lunchtime on Thursday, the Kevin Buckler-led team got its spare GTC-class contender out for Waltrip, Kauffman and Rui Aguas for the afternoon session.
The trio plan to return next month aboard a GTE-Am-class Ferrari F458 Italia, as they pursue the FIA World Endurance Championship with AF Corse.
FERRARI SHOWS EARLY PACE IN GT — While everyone was not likely showing all of their cards, the two-day test saw Ferrari out front with an early edge, as Prancing Horses swept the top three times in the highly competitive GT category.
The Michelotto test mule, in the hands of factory drivers Olivier Beretta, Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni was quickest with a 2:00.061 lap time, ahead of the Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek-driven Extreme Speed Motorsports machine in second.
Krohn Racing, which debuted its new 2011-spec Ferrari F458 Italia for the FIA World Endurance Championship, was third on the time sheets, a mere 0.087 seconds behind the factory test entry.
Despite some development work, the F458 Italia is relatively unchanged from 2011, unlike the Corvettes and Porsches, which underwent significant updates for the season ahead, including a wider front and rear track.
BRIEFLY... Two additional manufacturers look set to enter the highly competitive GT ranks this year, one possibly as soon as Long Beach... Audi will run three of its 2011-specification R18 TDIs at Sebring and not debut its new hybrid until the Six Hours of Spa in May... This week’s test saw the public debut of the ACO’s newly mandated louver cut-outs for LMP1 and LMP2 cars, which received early mixed reviews among teams.
PHOTOS: ALMS Sebring Winter Test
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
Greg Pickett had the honor of climbing behind the wheel of his team’s first-ever brand-new prototype before handing it over to full-season drivers Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr, along with Honda pilot Simon Pagenaud, who will complete the lineup for next month’s Twelve Hours of Sebring.
“I think this car is going to surprise a lot of people,” Pagenaud told SPEED.com. “It's probably one of the best sports cars I've driven in my short career.”
The rapid Frenchman, who will embark on his first full-season of IndyCar competition with Sam Schmidt Motorsports, was part of Highcroft Racing’s effort here last year, where the team’s HPD ARX-01e finished a remarkable second overall in what turned out to be the car’s one-and-only start.
Despite being built around a different tub, the new ARX-03a is an evolution from last year's car.
“Last year, we only had one day of testing, so we didn't get to do much with the car. But it was actually pretty good in the race,” Pagenaud said. “This one is carrying a lot more downforce. The splitter is a brand-new design and the tub is a little bit higher front, so the efficiency is much better as it has less drag. Everything is better about it. It behaves so well in the corner. It's pretty unbelievable.”
HPDs swept the top three positions overall at the test, as Level 5 Motorsports’ two LMP2 contenders, including one new ARX-03b, showed impressive pace.
WALTRIP TURNS FIRST LAPS AT SEBRING — Following his debut in last month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona and previous starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and around-the-clock enduros in Dubai and Spa, NASCAR star Michael Waltrip is quickly checking the boxes on his endurance racing resume.
Next stop? Sebring, as the two-time Daytona 500 winner took his first laps around the historic 3.7-mile airfield circuit for the first time this week, aboard a TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.
“There’s a lot more turns than I thought!” Waltrip said. “I haven’t really had a chance to experience it yet because I’m constantly trying to figure out where I am. I’ve gone really slow. I’m still learning the turns. I can’t imagine how fun it’s going to be when I know the turns and I’m able to commit to them and get on the gas and go.”
While things didn't go exactly to plan for teammate Rob Kauffman, who nosed the No. 68 Porsche into the Turn 1 barriers shortly before lunchtime on Thursday, the Kevin Buckler-led team got its spare GTC-class contender out for Waltrip, Kauffman and Rui Aguas for the afternoon session.
The trio plan to return next month aboard a GTE-Am-class Ferrari F458 Italia, as they pursue the FIA World Endurance Championship with AF Corse.
FERRARI SHOWS EARLY PACE IN GT — While everyone was not likely showing all of their cards, the two-day test saw Ferrari out front with an early edge, as Prancing Horses swept the top three times in the highly competitive GT category.
The Michelotto test mule, in the hands of factory drivers Olivier Beretta, Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni was quickest with a 2:00.061 lap time, ahead of the Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek-driven Extreme Speed Motorsports machine in second.
Krohn Racing, which debuted its new 2011-spec Ferrari F458 Italia for the FIA World Endurance Championship, was third on the time sheets, a mere 0.087 seconds behind the factory test entry.
Despite some development work, the F458 Italia is relatively unchanged from 2011, unlike the Corvettes and Porsches, which underwent significant updates for the season ahead, including a wider front and rear track.
BRIEFLY... Two additional manufacturers look set to enter the highly competitive GT ranks this year, one possibly as soon as Long Beach... Audi will run three of its 2011-specification R18 TDIs at Sebring and not debut its new hybrid until the Six Hours of Spa in May... This week’s test saw the public debut of the ACO’s newly mandated louver cut-outs for LMP1 and LMP2 cars, which received early mixed reviews among teams.
PHOTOS: ALMS Sebring Winter Test
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
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