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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Starworks Set To Defend WEC LMP2 Title
Peter Baron-led squad working to field HPD ARX-03b for Alex Popow, Ryan Dalziel...
Starworks Motorsport plans to return to the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2013. (Photo: John Dagys)
Following a season that included wins at Sebring, Le Mans and the class championship, Starworks Motorsport is set to return to the FIA World Endurance Championship to defend its LMP2 title.
Confirmation of the American squad’s entry came Friday by the FIA and ACO, which revealed the list of teams invited to take part in both the global sports car championship as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
While initially having ambitions of fielding two entries, the Peter Baron-led squad has focused its efforts again on a single-car effort for nominated drivers Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow, with the likelihood of continuing with a HPD ARX-03b chassis.
"The funding came together a little late to have all the details sorted now,” Baron told SPEED.com. “Our first choice was to purchase a new HPD, but the lead time and the experience we went through last year made it difficult.
“We can't buy a new HPD to start, so we're reviewing our options for chassis right now. There are a couple different manufacturers that have things out there, but we're trying to find out how we can work it out with Honda to do it."
Baron said the team has sourced a few existing HPD chassis that could be used for the first two rounds of the season at Silverstone and Spa, prior to a possible delivery of a brand-new HPD ARX-03b in time for the double-points scoring round at Le Mans.
One of the biggest changes for 2013 comes with the arrival of Popow, who replaces the departing Enzo Potolicchio as the Silver-graded driver within the squad.
The 2012 ALMS PC champion is no stranger to the Starworks organization, having been with the team for the past two seasons in GRAND-AM, and keeping a close eye on the team’s success around the world.
"I think one thing that last year taught us was the importance of a strong Silver driver,” Baron said. “I think Alex has showed that he's a tremendous Silver driver. He saw everything we did last year and he really wanted to be part of it. He'd be among the top Silvers out there and will be a good weapon for us to try and get the championship again."
Starworks will also see some changes in personnel, with its championship-winning team manager, Brian Colangelo, having moved to Potolicchio’s new 8Star Motorsports operation. Baron said they are also looking for a new No. 1 mechanic but will retain the same engineering staff, led by former open-wheel ace Steve Challis.
Full details of the team’s program has yet to be confirmed.
"For sure, we're excited but wish it could have been planned a little more in advance,” Baron said. “Obviously, we have ties to the sponsorship in Venezuela and the political instability down there has played out some dramas in a lot of different programs, including this one.”
Due to the tight timeframe, the team has already ruled out running the Twelve Hours of Sebring, which is no longer part of the WEC season. Baron is hopeful of putting the final pieces of its WEC program in place in the coming weeks.
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
Confirmation of the American squad’s entry came Friday by the FIA and ACO, which revealed the list of teams invited to take part in both the global sports car championship as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
While initially having ambitions of fielding two entries, the Peter Baron-led squad has focused its efforts again on a single-car effort for nominated drivers Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow, with the likelihood of continuing with a HPD ARX-03b chassis.
"The funding came together a little late to have all the details sorted now,” Baron told SPEED.com. “Our first choice was to purchase a new HPD, but the lead time and the experience we went through last year made it difficult.
“We can't buy a new HPD to start, so we're reviewing our options for chassis right now. There are a couple different manufacturers that have things out there, but we're trying to find out how we can work it out with Honda to do it."
Baron said the team has sourced a few existing HPD chassis that could be used for the first two rounds of the season at Silverstone and Spa, prior to a possible delivery of a brand-new HPD ARX-03b in time for the double-points scoring round at Le Mans.
One of the biggest changes for 2013 comes with the arrival of Popow, who replaces the departing Enzo Potolicchio as the Silver-graded driver within the squad.
The 2012 ALMS PC champion is no stranger to the Starworks organization, having been with the team for the past two seasons in GRAND-AM, and keeping a close eye on the team’s success around the world.
"I think one thing that last year taught us was the importance of a strong Silver driver,” Baron said. “I think Alex has showed that he's a tremendous Silver driver. He saw everything we did last year and he really wanted to be part of it. He'd be among the top Silvers out there and will be a good weapon for us to try and get the championship again."
Starworks will also see some changes in personnel, with its championship-winning team manager, Brian Colangelo, having moved to Potolicchio’s new 8Star Motorsports operation. Baron said they are also looking for a new No. 1 mechanic but will retain the same engineering staff, led by former open-wheel ace Steve Challis.
Full details of the team’s program has yet to be confirmed.
"For sure, we're excited but wish it could have been planned a little more in advance,” Baron said. “Obviously, we have ties to the sponsorship in Venezuela and the political instability down there has played out some dramas in a lot of different programs, including this one.”
Due to the tight timeframe, the team has already ruled out running the Twelve Hours of Sebring, which is no longer part of the WEC season. Baron is hopeful of putting the final pieces of its WEC program in place in the coming weeks.
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
FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa
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