- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Sebring WEC Preview
SPEED.com takes a look at the contenders, spoilers and other notable FIA World Endurance Championship teams entered in this weekend’s 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring...
While mixed in this photo shoot, the FIA WEC and ALMS cars will have separate classifications for the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. (Photo: John Dagys)
With a star-studded lineup in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and American Le Mans Series, the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring could be a race for the ages. More than 60 entries from around the globe, featuring some of the world’s best sports car drivers, will take part in Saturday’s around-the-clock Florida road race classic.
READ: ALMS Sebring Preview
READ: Sebring Rules & Regs FAQ
As each series will be scored individually, despite being in the same race, SPEED.com has split its Sebring preview into separate sections as well. Following yesterday’s look at the ALMS contenders, it’s time to dive into the 30-car FIA WEC field.
LMP1 (9 Entries)
THE CONTENDERS:
Audi Sport Team Joest: The once all-dominant force at Sebring could very well return to its winning ways, despite starting the season with last year’s car. Audi has turned up in force, with three R18 TDIs, but face no other factory competition in LMP1 following Peugeot’s shock withdrawal in January.
The German manufacturer will be seeking its tenth overall win and first since 2009 at the famed airfield circuit with a car that will carry 15kg of additional ballast due to its 2011 aero configuration. Yet that isn’t likely to stop a diesel freight-train.
Defending Le Mans winners Marcel Fassler, Benoit Treluyer and Andre Lotterer return to the No. 1 machine, with veterans Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Dindo Capello in No. 2. Audi’s No. 3 entry sees Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, Porsche factory drivers on-loan, being joined by 2011 Sebring winner Loic Duval, who will make his debut with the four-rings.
THE SPOILERS:
Rebellion Racing: After making its Sebring debut as a single-car ILMC effort, the Anglo-Swiss squad returns locked and loaded with a two-car Lola B11/60 Toyota effort. As one of the handful of teams still utilizing last year’s permitted aero package (no shark fin or louver cut-outs), Rebellion will also run 15 kilos heavier than teams in full 2012 spec.
The black and gold Lolas, carrying the iconic John Player Special Lotus livery from the ‘70s, may not be able to take the fight directly to Audi, or even some of the other LMP1 competition, but will likely be there in the end to potentially sneak out a podium finish.
Rebellion’s No. 12 entry of Nicolas Prost, Neel Jani and F1 veteran Nick Heidfeld, who will be making his first sports car start since Le Mans in ’99, looks particularly strong, with Jeroen Bleekemolen and Andrea Belicchi leading the charge in the No. 13 car with Harold Primat.
OAK Racing: Scaling back from a two-car effort in 2011 but seeing its customer LMP2 business expand, OAK Racing will field only one of three WEC LMP1s in full 2012 specification. For the French squad, that could come as an advantage, especially after making significant aerodynamic updates to its self-built prototype over the winter.
OAK’s driver lineup for this year clearly shows that it means business. Former IndyCar driver Bertrand Baguette and Austrian rising star Dominik Kraihamer join team regular Guillaume Moreau, undoubtedly completing one of the dark horse picks for the race, although understandably at a slim chance given the strength of Audi.
JRM Racing: Having made the switch from the FIA GT1 World Championship, James Rumsey’s team has a lot to learn in the world of prototype racing. However, the British squad has all of the key ingredients for success. With an HPD ARX-03a, drivers David Brabham, Peter Dumbreck and Indian F1 star Karun Chandhok, and F1 ace Nigel Stepney calling the shots, this could be the effort that takes the fight to Audi.
However, the team’s lack of prototype racing experience, along with the Wirth-designed entry having not turned a wheel until this week, puts JRM up against the odds this weekend. While Highcroft Racing was able to pull magic out of its HPD ARX-01e, the predecessor to the 03a, here last year, it may be optimistic to expect instant results, although it certainly could be possible.
OTHER NOTABLES:
Strakka Racing: Also fielding an HPD ARX-03a is Strakka Racing, which will also be making its Sebring debut. While the British squad has had more track time with its car than JRM, its Pro-Am driver lineup will struggle to match the pace of the competition, despite having Danny Watts, arguably one of the quickest pilots out there.
Watts and co-driver Jonny Kane will no doubt keep this car near the top of the time sheets in practice and qualifying, but with team owner Nick Leventis completing the lineup, it will be tough for Strakka to be a contender in a class comprised entirely of Platinum or Gold-rated professionals.
Pescarolo Team: A perennial favorite at Le Mans, Henri Pescarolo returns to Sebring for the first time since 2001, but his French squad is unlikely to make a dent in the LMP1 competition. With the team’s new Pescarolo 03 chassis, based off the ill-fated Aston Martin AMR-One, not yet ready, Pescarolo has entrusted his 2011 ELMS-winning Pescarolo 01, complete with a 5.0-liter Judd V8, for one last hurrah.
The 2010-spec LMP1 car, which was grandfathered in for last year-only, was given a special exception for Sebring. Despite hot shoes Emmanuel Collard and Julien Jousse joining the veteran Jean-Christophe Boullion at the wheel, there’s not much hope for this entry to be fighting for a top-five, let alone a podium, unless attrition plays a role.
READ: ALMS Sebring Preview
READ: Sebring Rules & Regs FAQ
As each series will be scored individually, despite being in the same race, SPEED.com has split its Sebring preview into separate sections as well. Following yesterday’s look at the ALMS contenders, it’s time to dive into the 30-car FIA WEC field.
LMP1 (9 Entries)
THE CONTENDERS:
Audi Sport Team Joest: The once all-dominant force at Sebring could very well return to its winning ways, despite starting the season with last year’s car. Audi has turned up in force, with three R18 TDIs, but face no other factory competition in LMP1 following Peugeot’s shock withdrawal in January.
The German manufacturer will be seeking its tenth overall win and first since 2009 at the famed airfield circuit with a car that will carry 15kg of additional ballast due to its 2011 aero configuration. Yet that isn’t likely to stop a diesel freight-train.
Defending Le Mans winners Marcel Fassler, Benoit Treluyer and Andre Lotterer return to the No. 1 machine, with veterans Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Dindo Capello in No. 2. Audi’s No. 3 entry sees Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, Porsche factory drivers on-loan, being joined by 2011 Sebring winner Loic Duval, who will make his debut with the four-rings.
THE SPOILERS:
Rebellion Racing: After making its Sebring debut as a single-car ILMC effort, the Anglo-Swiss squad returns locked and loaded with a two-car Lola B11/60 Toyota effort. As one of the handful of teams still utilizing last year’s permitted aero package (no shark fin or louver cut-outs), Rebellion will also run 15 kilos heavier than teams in full 2012 spec.
The black and gold Lolas, carrying the iconic John Player Special Lotus livery from the ‘70s, may not be able to take the fight directly to Audi, or even some of the other LMP1 competition, but will likely be there in the end to potentially sneak out a podium finish.
Rebellion’s No. 12 entry of Nicolas Prost, Neel Jani and F1 veteran Nick Heidfeld, who will be making his first sports car start since Le Mans in ’99, looks particularly strong, with Jeroen Bleekemolen and Andrea Belicchi leading the charge in the No. 13 car with Harold Primat.
OAK Racing: Scaling back from a two-car effort in 2011 but seeing its customer LMP2 business expand, OAK Racing will field only one of three WEC LMP1s in full 2012 specification. For the French squad, that could come as an advantage, especially after making significant aerodynamic updates to its self-built prototype over the winter.
OAK’s driver lineup for this year clearly shows that it means business. Former IndyCar driver Bertrand Baguette and Austrian rising star Dominik Kraihamer join team regular Guillaume Moreau, undoubtedly completing one of the dark horse picks for the race, although understandably at a slim chance given the strength of Audi.
JRM Racing: Having made the switch from the FIA GT1 World Championship, James Rumsey’s team has a lot to learn in the world of prototype racing. However, the British squad has all of the key ingredients for success. With an HPD ARX-03a, drivers David Brabham, Peter Dumbreck and Indian F1 star Karun Chandhok, and F1 ace Nigel Stepney calling the shots, this could be the effort that takes the fight to Audi.
However, the team’s lack of prototype racing experience, along with the Wirth-designed entry having not turned a wheel until this week, puts JRM up against the odds this weekend. While Highcroft Racing was able to pull magic out of its HPD ARX-01e, the predecessor to the 03a, here last year, it may be optimistic to expect instant results, although it certainly could be possible.
OTHER NOTABLES:
Strakka Racing: Also fielding an HPD ARX-03a is Strakka Racing, which will also be making its Sebring debut. While the British squad has had more track time with its car than JRM, its Pro-Am driver lineup will struggle to match the pace of the competition, despite having Danny Watts, arguably one of the quickest pilots out there.
Watts and co-driver Jonny Kane will no doubt keep this car near the top of the time sheets in practice and qualifying, but with team owner Nick Leventis completing the lineup, it will be tough for Strakka to be a contender in a class comprised entirely of Platinum or Gold-rated professionals.
Pescarolo Team: A perennial favorite at Le Mans, Henri Pescarolo returns to Sebring for the first time since 2001, but his French squad is unlikely to make a dent in the LMP1 competition. With the team’s new Pescarolo 03 chassis, based off the ill-fated Aston Martin AMR-One, not yet ready, Pescarolo has entrusted his 2011 ELMS-winning Pescarolo 01, complete with a 5.0-liter Judd V8, for one last hurrah.
The 2010-spec LMP1 car, which was grandfathered in for last year-only, was given a special exception for Sebring. Despite hot shoes Emmanuel Collard and Julien Jousse joining the veteran Jean-Christophe Boullion at the wheel, there’s not much hope for this entry to be fighting for a top-five, let alone a podium, unless attrition plays a role.
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
LE MANS: Corvette On-Board Pass Returns For LM24
Watch! Live in-car and garage cameras from Corvette Racing during… -
LE MANS: Lotus LMP2 Cars Seized By Court
BREAKING: Lotus T128 parts seized by local courts over financial… -
LE MANS: Taylor Brothers Continuing Family Tradition
Second-generation racers Jordan, Ricky Taylor seek victory at Le… -
LE MANS: LM24 LMP1 Preview
John Dagys takes a team-by-team look at this year’s LMP1 class… -
DE CHAUNAC: Le Mans 1998, Extreme Tension
After two participations without podium with the Viper, 1998 was… -
LE MANS: Baron's Helping Hand At SRT
2012 LMP2 class-winning team owner and strategist drafted in to support… -
INDYCAR: Milwaukee-To-Elkhart Wisconsin Events For 2014?
From 1982-2007 there were at least two IndyCar races in Wisconsin:… - More News
