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American LeMans
ALMS: Sebring Winter Test Tuesday Blog
Aston Martin Racing suffers major accident. Harold Primat released from local hospital with no apparent serious injuries.
John Dagys  |  Posted February 23, 2010   Sebring, FL
Heavy left-side damage was sustained to the No. 009 Lola-Aston Martin following Primat's shunt. (John Dagys)

Check back frequently for continuing updates from the second day of action from the Sebring Winter Test.

SEBRING WINTER TEST PHOTO GALLERY 2

Update on Condition of Harold Primat Updated 11:25 p.m.

Harold Primat has been released from a local hospital following this afternoon's accident in the No. 009 Aston Martin Racing Lola.

Final Session Results & Notes Updated 5:22 p.m.

Aston Martin Racing topped the time charts, despite only completing 12 laps before its session-ending crash. The No. 009 Lola-Aston Martin turned best time of 1:47.634 before Harold Primat's big shunt into the Turn 1 barriers. The Prodrive squad has a busy few weeks ahead of them with rebuilding this car and also participating in the Le Mans Series Paul Ricard test on March 7-8.
The AMR Lola-Aston Martin before its test-ending accident. (John Dagys)

The No. 37 Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER of Jon and Clint Field saved the best for last, clocking a 1:47.925, the car's fastest time all week. They were closely followed by the No. 1 Patron Highcroft Racing HPD ARX-01C in third.

For the second straight session, the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari of Jamie Melo and Gimmi Bruni were quickest in GT2. Their best lap time of 2:02.722 was 0.505 seconds faster than the ever-improving No. 17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler in second.

Genoa Racing topped the time charts in LMPC, while the No. 92x Kelly Moss Racing Porsche led the way in GTC.

That's a wrap from the sixth annual Sebring Winter Test. We'll have plenty further insight and analysis in our Sebring Test Notebook, due out tomorrow.

AMR Lola Suffers Significant Accident Updated 4:10 p.m.

Harold Primat in the No. 009 Aston Martin Racing Lola suffered what is to believed to be a considerable-sized accident just minutes ago. The Swiss driver apparently lost control of his V12-powered car over the bumps in Turn 1, backing hard into the wall. Considerable left-side and rear-end damage was sustained the car, with the day certainly done for the British squad.
With a significant size difference between Harold Primat, Stefan Mucke and Adrian Fernnadez, the team has been forced to make a compromise with the seat fitting. (John Dagys)

It appears Primat has escaped serious injury but is being transported to a local hospital in Sebring for observation. While the cause of the accident is currently unknown, it isn't the first time the Swiss driver has crashed an AMR Lola, as Primat was involved in a race-ending accident at Le Mans last year.

UPDATE: After a brief chat with Adrian Fernandez and Stefan Mucke, it appears the tub is still intact and will not require a replacement. Mucke confirmed the team's other chassis will be used at the Le Mans Series Paul Ricard test in two weeks, as originally planned.

We've been unable to get an official statement from team principal George Howard-Chappell, as he's left the track. The team, meanwhile continue to strip away the remains of the bodywork for a complete rebuild.

Adrian Fernandez On Lola-Aston Martin Updated 2:15 p.m.

Aston Martin Racing has certainly made the most of the Winter Test. The works Lola-Aston Martin, making its North American debut, racked up 235 laps in the three sessions thus far, out lapping every other team in the paddock.

Adrian Fernandez has been one of the team’s three drivers here turning the miles in the Gulf-liveried machine. The reigning LMP2 co-champion, who has become an AMR factory driver for 2010, was pleased with his first experience in the V12-powered beast, but was quick to point out the differences to his LMP2 championship-winning Acura ARX-01b.

“It’s a different animal compared to the P2,” Fernandez said. “It’s a lot heavier but a lot more power, which I enjoy. The sound is beautiful and a pretty looking car. I’m just getting used to everything to the car. There’s definitely a lot more restrictions inside the cockpit. We’re more restricted in terms of visibility and things like that.”

The open-wheel veteran has relatively limited experience in closed-top cars, having competed in one season in a GRAND-AM Daytona Prototype and occasional NASCAR races. Overcoming the obvious hurdles, such as lack of visibility and driver comfort, is on the checklist.

“The problem is that I’m not very comfortable inside of the car,” Fernandez said. “There’s not much we can do right now. I don’t think it’s slowing me down right now. That’s something we’ll have to fix later and I’ll just focus on learning the systems. I’m just trying to make sure I don’t make any mistakes and stay within my limits.”
AMR's Lola-Aston Martin turned 76 laps in the third session, the most by any car. (John Dagys)

It certainly hasn’t slowed Fernandez or his co-drivers Stefan Mucke or Harold Primat down any bit, as the car has topped the time charts in all three sessions thus far. Mucke’s 1:46.894 lap time this morning was by far the quickest of the week, but still some two seconds off Marco Werner’s track qualifying record set here in 2007.

But the focus thus far is not on ultimate pace, but reliability. With it being the car’s first visit to the fast and bumpy 3.7-mile airfield circuit, there’s still much to be learned. That’s why many use the Twelve Hours of Sebring as the prep race for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“This is basically the best test you can have for a race car,” Fernandez said. “Sebring is the roughest, toughest track you’ll find. When I went to Le Mans in 2007, I noticed how smooth everything was. It’s not the case here. From here on, things will get better in terms of the feel [of the car]. This is a tough track, but it’s a good test for reliability for the 24 hours. It also gives me time to get used to the car and the guys so that come Le Mans, the big one, we’re more familiar with how things operate.”

While the team’s lineup for Sebring is not yet confirmed, Fernandez indicated that Primat and Chris Buncombe will likely join him behind the wheel of the No. 009 machine next month.

Morning Session News & Notes Updated 12:30 p.m.

The No. 009 Aston Martin Racing Lola continued to top the time charts in testing. Stefan Mucke turned a 1:46.894 lap time early in the morning session. Adrian Fernandez and Harold Primat also took turns in the Gulf Oil-liveried machine.
JR Hildebrand and Andy Wallace share their thoughts on the ORECA FLM09. (John Dagys)

On the heels of announcing GE as a new team sponsor earlier this morning, Patron Highcroft Racing turned the second quickest time overall and fastest in LMP2, 1.259 seconds behind the Lola-Aston Martin. The No. 16 Dyson Racing Lola B09/86 Mazda was third.

Risi Competizione’s Jamie Melo and Gimmi Bruni posted the quickest lap time in GT2, ahead of the two Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs in second and third.

ALMS newcomers Level 5 Motorsports was the team to beat in LMPC, while the No. 65 Kelly Moss Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car continued to lead the way in GTC.

The session began under overcast skies, but conditions improved around noon-time, with no threat of rain in the forecast.

Andy Wallace & JR Hildebrand Test Genoa LMPC Updated 9:45 a.m.

One of the most interesting elements of a pre-season test is seeing the variety of drivers jumping in and out of cars rather unannounced. With Larry Connor the only listed driver for Genoa Racing, I had suspected the veteran open-wheel squad would try out a few other drivers. My suspicion was correct, as both Andy Wallace and JR Hildebrand were seen behind the wheel of the team’s new ORECA FLM09 LMPC car on Monday.

“Because the car was so new and my experience in sportscar racing, they asked me to shakedown the car and help us out,” Wallace said. “I’ve worked with Thomas Knapp before and he’s a very good engineer. I wasn’t doing anything these couple of days so I took the chance. It’s nice to be back and see so many cars in the Series.”

Wallace, who competed in a HSR race at Sebring in December with an Audi R8, was impressed with the drivability and durability of the new LMPC car, although admitting it lacks the horsepower of the LMP1 and P2 machines.

“These are really good cars,” Wallace said. “It’s great that the series has decided to bring these in. It’s obviously bolstered the numbers. But when you look at them, they look like a proper LMP car. They’re a little bit short of the power I’m used to, but otherwise, it drives really well.”
Joey Hand and Dirk Muller are now co-drivers following a reshuffle in the team's pairings for 2010. (John Dagys)

Having a veteran in Wallace provide a baseline setup for the new car is often one of the keys to success in any form of racing and LMPC is no different. For up-and-coming open-wheel star JR Hildebrand, it’s made his transition into a sportscar that much easier.

“It’s been really neat having Andy around,” Hildebrand said. “I’m just trying to be a sponge and absorb everything he’s given off. Whether it’s the stories of driving Group C cars to little bits of information about the track, he’s driven many different cars around here and just a really great guy.”

The 2009 Indy Lights champion and Atlantic veteran got his first taste of a sportscar yesterday and quickly came to grips of the 500hp prototype and his new surroundings.

“It’s been going well,” Hildebrand said. “Yesterday we had some teething problems, as it’s the first time any of these teams have run this car. So we’re trying to wrap our heads around it. I got in the car for eight or 10 laps and got a feel. It’s actually my first time running on the full course here, so I’ve been getting up to speed on where everything is. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back in the car for some more laps today.”

Hildebrand, who impressed many last December when testing for the Force India Formula One squad, has treated this test like any other session in any other car. That mentality has paid off thus far.

“When it comes down to it, it’s just another race car,” he said. “We’re just working at it as if I might with an Atlantic car, Lights car or IndyCar. There’s certainly some things that are different in the way the car works. For instance, you’re sitting off to the side instead of the middle, but it’s been pretty easy to get used to.”

It’s undecided whether Hildebrand or Wallace will return with the team for the race, but both have at least walked away with favorable impressions of the Series’ new formula.

Driver Reshuffle at BMW RLR Updated 8:05 a.m.

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team arrived at Sebring with fresh liveries and a reshuffled driver pairing piloting its two E92-spec M3s. After a season together with Tommy Milner, Dirk Muller moves over to the No. 90 car to team with Bill Auberlen, leaving Joey Hand and Muller to pilot the No. 90 entry.

After driving with Auberlen for five years with various teams in the ALMS and GRAND-AM, it’s been a strange feeling for Hand to see his longtime co-driver on the track at the same time.

“I looked in my mirror yesterday and it was Bill driving behind me. In all my years, he’s not out there if I’m out there,” Hand said. “Bill and I have been together for so long, it’s a question of how do you sort out with another driver? But Dirk and I have had the same feedback to the engineers and we drive basically the same. It’s looking like it’s actually going to be a fairly easy transition.”

With one year with the M3 under its belt, the team head into 2010 more prepared than ever. Both cars completed a successful 12-hour simulation race here last month, which proved to be pivotal considering both cars had failed to finish here last year.

“Considering we didn’t start the race last year and we’ve already completed a 12-hour simulation run, which was a proper simulation,” Hand said. “Everybody’s a lot more excited. That’s what we were looking for. The car hadn’t done more than five hours up until that point. We’re happy with our pace.”

While the No. 92 car is the only brand-new chassis, both cars are sporting new liveries featuring the “Story of Joy” creative aesthetic. Hand and company will be hoping this motoring mentality will help land them in victory lane next month.

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