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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Starworks Closing In On LMP2 Title
Starworks Motorsport can clinch the FIA WEC LMP2 title with a win in Sunday's Six Hours of Fuji...
Starworks Motorsport can clinch the FIA WEC LMP2 title with a win in Sunday's Six Hours of Fuji. (Photo: John Dagys)
From its success in GRAND-AM, including an historic win at Indy and the North American Endurance Championship, to class victories in the Twelve Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2012 has been the year of Starworks Motorsport.
And heading into this weekend’s Six Hours of Fuji, the American squad could add a World Championship to its already overflowing mantle, as Starworks closes in on the FIA WEC LMP2 title.
With a 23-point lead in the highly competitive class, a win on Sunday for the No. 44 HPD ARX-03b of Enzo Potolicchio, Ryan Dalziel and Stephane Sarrazin would lock up the championship, with one race still to spare.
"For us, it's just like another weekend," Dalziel said. "We know that anything can happen and we saw that in Bahrain. It's been an amazing season for the team but Bahrain kind of brought everybody back down to reality a little bit.
"I think everybody's going to triple check rather than double check this weekend. We've replaced a bunch of parts in the car just to be cautious. But I think the championship looks pretty good for us."
The Peter Baron-owned team has enjoyed a remarkable debut season of international competition, which has seen three class victories and five podiums out of the six FIA WEC races this year.
A fourth win appeared to be in the cards last month in Bahrain, but an overheated starter motor during the car’s final stop dropped them to a third place result. Their closest championship rival, Pecom Racing, meanwhile, took top class honors.
But with only two races to go, and a maximum of 52 points up for grabs, Starworks is in the catbird’s seat, in what could be an historic occasion and realization of a dream for team owner Baron.
"On my flight over, I was trying to think of when the last time anything American had a World Championship title,” Baron said. “I think you'd have to go back to Mario Andretti but it's still debated if he was Italian or American when he won his F1 championship! Before that, you have to go to Phil Hill. I don't think there was really any American sports car champion.
"That's be hugely significant to have an American team with the title World Championship in it. It's been really cool seeing the flag hoisted at three races this year. Hopefully we can get it a couple of more times.”
While flying the stars and stripes, Starworks' breakout success has come with a separate operation from its Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based GRAND-AM squad, which has made the effort even more rewarding, according to car owner Potolicchio.
"The guys have done an amazing job," Potolicchio said. "It's a brand new team we put together last October and it's amazing the way it's gone.
"I think our expectations were to do well but we over exceeded even our own dreams and expectations... We really want to leave this place with a win. That way we can go to China and have some more fun."
For Dalziel, who ended up 12 points shy of winning the Rolex Sports Car Series Drivers’ Championship, the FIA WEC title, although only officially recognizing the team, would still come as a significant achievement for the Scottish ace.
"It's kind of strange as a driver being in a season where it's all about the teams championships, but I always felt that Starworks is somewhat my team deep down. I've been here since the start,” Dalziel said.
“Even winning the North American Endurance Championship when I had such a terrible race at Indy, I was the first guy to go onto the podium and celebrate with the rest of the team.
“We came up short in GRAND-AM. But to go through the season we had with different changes in co-drivers and the performance from the Rileys and Corvettes, and to come out of the championship in second was a huge accomplishment for us.
“We're hoping to win the World Championship here. Le Mans has been the icing on the cake, but when you roll everything in together, it doesn't seem real."
Baron added: "You have to appreciate it and it's one of those things that we joke about... You just don't walk in and win Sebring, Le Mans and hopefully the championship, in the same season.
“It's been an amazing year. Anybody to do that again next year is going to be hard-pressed to do it. It's going to be big shoes to fill for next year."
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
And heading into this weekend’s Six Hours of Fuji, the American squad could add a World Championship to its already overflowing mantle, as Starworks closes in on the FIA WEC LMP2 title.
With a 23-point lead in the highly competitive class, a win on Sunday for the No. 44 HPD ARX-03b of Enzo Potolicchio, Ryan Dalziel and Stephane Sarrazin would lock up the championship, with one race still to spare.
"For us, it's just like another weekend," Dalziel said. "We know that anything can happen and we saw that in Bahrain. It's been an amazing season for the team but Bahrain kind of brought everybody back down to reality a little bit.
"I think everybody's going to triple check rather than double check this weekend. We've replaced a bunch of parts in the car just to be cautious. But I think the championship looks pretty good for us."
The Peter Baron-owned team has enjoyed a remarkable debut season of international competition, which has seen three class victories and five podiums out of the six FIA WEC races this year.
A fourth win appeared to be in the cards last month in Bahrain, but an overheated starter motor during the car’s final stop dropped them to a third place result. Their closest championship rival, Pecom Racing, meanwhile, took top class honors.
But with only two races to go, and a maximum of 52 points up for grabs, Starworks is in the catbird’s seat, in what could be an historic occasion and realization of a dream for team owner Baron.
"On my flight over, I was trying to think of when the last time anything American had a World Championship title,” Baron said. “I think you'd have to go back to Mario Andretti but it's still debated if he was Italian or American when he won his F1 championship! Before that, you have to go to Phil Hill. I don't think there was really any American sports car champion.
"That's be hugely significant to have an American team with the title World Championship in it. It's been really cool seeing the flag hoisted at three races this year. Hopefully we can get it a couple of more times.”
While flying the stars and stripes, Starworks' breakout success has come with a separate operation from its Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based GRAND-AM squad, which has made the effort even more rewarding, according to car owner Potolicchio.
"The guys have done an amazing job," Potolicchio said. "It's a brand new team we put together last October and it's amazing the way it's gone.
"I think our expectations were to do well but we over exceeded even our own dreams and expectations... We really want to leave this place with a win. That way we can go to China and have some more fun."
For Dalziel, who ended up 12 points shy of winning the Rolex Sports Car Series Drivers’ Championship, the FIA WEC title, although only officially recognizing the team, would still come as a significant achievement for the Scottish ace.
"It's kind of strange as a driver being in a season where it's all about the teams championships, but I always felt that Starworks is somewhat my team deep down. I've been here since the start,” Dalziel said.
“Even winning the North American Endurance Championship when I had such a terrible race at Indy, I was the first guy to go onto the podium and celebrate with the rest of the team.
“We came up short in GRAND-AM. But to go through the season we had with different changes in co-drivers and the performance from the Rileys and Corvettes, and to come out of the championship in second was a huge accomplishment for us.
“We're hoping to win the World Championship here. Le Mans has been the icing on the cake, but when you roll everything in together, it doesn't seem real."
Baron added: "You have to appreciate it and it's one of those things that we joke about... You just don't walk in and win Sebring, Le Mans and hopefully the championship, in the same season.
“It's been an amazing year. Anybody to do that again next year is going to be hard-pressed to do it. It's going to be big shoes to fill for next year."
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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