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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: New Car, Same Goals For Porsche, Flying Lizard
Wide-body Porsche 911 GT3 RSR sees significant gains in ALMS Winter Test...
The worldwide debut of Porsche's 2012-spec 911 GT3 RSR came at this month's ALMS Sebring Winter Test. (Photo: Rich Chenet/Porsche)
With competition in the GTE categories at an all-time high, particularly in the American Le Mans Series, none of the leading brands have been standing still during the off-season, including Porsche.
The German manufacturer, once the dominant marque in the GT racing world, has taken a significant leap forward for 2012 with its new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, which made its worldwide public debut at the ALMS Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway earlier this month.
Despite still originating from the 997 platform and featuring the distinct 4.0-liter, flat-six boxer engine, the new-generation RSR sees significant developments in the aerodynamic department, including a wider front and rear track, taller front tire and revised engine intake and cooling.
"Porsche took a big step with the car this year, bigger than a typical step year-to-year,” explained Eric Ingraham, Flying Lizard Motorsports team manager. “They did a lot of work to find some speed. We're optimistic that the car is going to be significantly improved. It's going to take a little bit of learning for sure.”
Flying Lizard Motorsports was one of three ALMS teams to take delivery of the heavily revised 911 just a few weeks ago, with both Team Falken Tire and Paul Miller Racing also turning laps in the series official pre-season test.
The 911‘s facelift has resulted in the car having a much aggressive approach, with the width of the RSR increasing by nearly two inches, a trend also seen by Corvette C6.Rs, thanks to a change in the ACO regulations that now allow all GT contenders to have a wider profile.
According to Porsche factory driver Patrick Long, the updated 911 delivers a stiffer ride through the bumpy Turns 1 and 17 at Sebring. The new approach reminds the three-time ALMS GT
champion of his days at the wheel of the Porsche RS Spyder in the way it now grips the track.
“So many of my years at Sebring has been spent just holding on through Turn 1 and wondering where the car is going to land at the exit,” Long said. “Now the car is more squatted. Dynamically, there's less movement and therefore the car is going forward rather than sideways.
“When you have a car that's more aerodynamically efficient and is creating more downforce, it makes the car's job and the driver's job less over the huge bumps [at Sebring].”
Long, who will again join fellow factory driver Joerg Bergmeister in the No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports entry, believes the updates will also be a major benefit for the remainder of the ALMS season, especially at some of the circuits where the Porsche had lacked downforce compared to its competition.
The German manufacturer, once the dominant marque in the GT racing world, has taken a significant leap forward for 2012 with its new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, which made its worldwide public debut at the ALMS Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway earlier this month.
Despite still originating from the 997 platform and featuring the distinct 4.0-liter, flat-six boxer engine, the new-generation RSR sees significant developments in the aerodynamic department, including a wider front and rear track, taller front tire and revised engine intake and cooling.
"Porsche took a big step with the car this year, bigger than a typical step year-to-year,” explained Eric Ingraham, Flying Lizard Motorsports team manager. “They did a lot of work to find some speed. We're optimistic that the car is going to be significantly improved. It's going to take a little bit of learning for sure.”
Flying Lizard Motorsports was one of three ALMS teams to take delivery of the heavily revised 911 just a few weeks ago, with both Team Falken Tire and Paul Miller Racing also turning laps in the series official pre-season test.
The 911‘s facelift has resulted in the car having a much aggressive approach, with the width of the RSR increasing by nearly two inches, a trend also seen by Corvette C6.Rs, thanks to a change in the ACO regulations that now allow all GT contenders to have a wider profile.
According to Porsche factory driver Patrick Long, the updated 911 delivers a stiffer ride through the bumpy Turns 1 and 17 at Sebring. The new approach reminds the three-time ALMS GT
champion of his days at the wheel of the Porsche RS Spyder in the way it now grips the track.
“So many of my years at Sebring has been spent just holding on through Turn 1 and wondering where the car is going to land at the exit,” Long said. “Now the car is more squatted. Dynamically, there's less movement and therefore the car is going forward rather than sideways.
“When you have a car that's more aerodynamically efficient and is creating more downforce, it makes the car's job and the driver's job less over the huge bumps [at Sebring].”
Long, who will again join fellow factory driver Joerg Bergmeister in the No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports entry, believes the updates will also be a major benefit for the remainder of the ALMS season, especially at some of the circuits where the Porsche had lacked downforce compared to its competition.
Monterey
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