Muscle Milk Team Wins Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix, Canadians Fared Well

Photo Credit: American Le Mans Series

Canada's oldest surviving motorsport complex, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park continued its tradition of hosting some of the greatest sports cars on the globe. Sunday's Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix is another occasion over the 2.46-mile road course's 50-plus year history where classes of premium cars and drivers found themselves challenging the track's tricky turns and elevations. Though the only Canadian race on the American Le Mans Series has recently existed as a spot where car counts were lower than major races at Sebring or Daytona, the 2013 edition of the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix still attracted the likes of the SRT Viper GTS-R, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R ZR1 and a DeltaWing chassis P1 car.

The #6 Muscle Milk sponsored HPD ARX-03a driven by Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf went unchallenged through the event. With only three P1 entrants part of the 2013 Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix, there was never a prospect of an overall battle at any point during the weekend. The 2-hour, 45-minute sports car race simply confirmed the suspicions. The second highest entry in P1 finished 7 fewer laps around the 2.46-mile track. The Mazda-powered #16 Dyson Racing vehicle piloted by Canadian Tony Burgess and Chris McMurry took the second in class honours. The Luhr/Graf combination in the #6 prototype has won their fourth-straight event in the 2013 ALMS championship.

Finishing four laps behind the Muscle Milk race car, the P2 class battle was more wide-open affair. Drivers Scott Tucker and Marino Franchitti prevailed in P2 behind the wheel of the #551 car for Level 5 Motorsports. The #551 car would also serve as the second finisher overall in the 2013 Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix. Second in P2 was the Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD ARX-03b race car shared by Scott Sharp and Guy Cosmo. The #552 car was third in the P2 class. Part of the driving team for the second Level 5 Motorsport machine was IndyCar Detroit race winner Mike Conway. Conway was filling in for Ryan Briscoe who sustained wrist injury last Saturday at the 2013 Honda Indy Toronto event.

The PC category finish was the tightest in the prototype class at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park sports car race. With the class' top-three on the same lap at the end, it was the #05 Core Autosport ride driven by Jonathan Bennett and Colin Braun who snatched victory. While the Core Autosport car finished 15 seconds ahead of the second place PC entry, a battle between the #81 and #8 cars was less than two seconds apart. The  Mirco Schultis and Renger van der Zande prevailed for the runner-up spot over the entry driven by Canadians Kyle Marcelli and Chris Cumming. Missing out on victory in class with #8 BAR1 Motorsports car, Marcelli's third place finish is his first podium at the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix after three DNFs in previous years. In the lead of the PC category during the early stages of the 2013 Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix, the #9 car piloted by Bruno Junqueira and Duncan Ende would be taken out of contention for their second 2013 ALMS class win by a starting issue following a mid-race pit stop. Eventually restarting their #9 Oreca FLM09 for RSR Racing, Junqeira and Ende settled with a fifth place class result.




Photo Credit: Richard Prince for Corvette Racing

As usual with the 2013 American Le Mans Series season, the GT classes provided the most amusement. In the main GT class during Saturday's qualifying, the SRT Viper GTS-R recorded its second pole of the 2013 championship season. Jonathan Bomarito recorded the top time in the #93 car co-driven with Canadian Kuno Wittmer. In the race, the final laps was a scrap between the SRT Viper GTS-R cars and the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R. Crossing the line a mere 0.27 seconds ahead of the #91 Viper GTS-R of Dominik Farnbacher and Marc Goossens, the #4 Corvette Racing machine was the winner. Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner captured their first win together since the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring earlier this season. A finish that mirrored the intensity of a 2000 battle on the Mosport track between the than-young Corvette Racing and the experienced Vipers in the hands of Team Oreca, the result in 2013 was in favour of Corvette.

Nearly as exciting as the GT class was the GTC category result. Winning by 2.3 seconds, the #22 Alex Job Racing car driven by Cooper MacNeil and Jeroen Bleekemolen took their second victory of 2013. Second in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup dominated GTC class was #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports car of Nelson Canache, Jr. and Spencer Pumpelly.
 
Only two cars were classified as not running at the end of the 2013 Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix. The #7 PC class machine for BAR1 Motorsports ended the race with a hard hit in turn 1 after competing 85 laps. Prior to this, the promising Elan-powered DeltaWing P1 car was retired after only 16 laps.

Sports Car Converge on Toronto for RaceFest Exhibit Ahead of CTMP Race Weekend

Photo Credit: American Le Mans Series

Just days after the Honda Indy Toronto exhibited some exquisite racing action, the downtown streets of Canada's largest city will once again be a stage for showing off high-horsepower motorsport vehicles. Venturing away from open wheel, fenderless vehicles, sports car racing will gain the limelight in the streets of Toronto for a brief time on July 17th. Canadian Tire Motorsport Park's RaceFest will cause an additional bustle of auto racing excitement ahead of the 2013 Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix. Celebrating the essence of the American Le Mans Series sports car racing tour, the RaceFest will take place on Wednesday between 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. within Yonge-Dundas Square.

There will be several worthwhile components to RaceFest in Toronto providing close encounter with sports car racing culture. Live pit stop demonstrations will be performed by the Corvette Racing team. A special guest for the pit stop exhibition is also planned to make an appearance. Canadian auto racing legend, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park track part-owner and upcoming Motorsport Hall of Fame inductee Ron Fellows will once-again pilot the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R sports car.

What could have been the look of the IZOD IndyCar Series, a DeltaWing race car will be displayed as part of the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park's RaceFest. Powered by a Elan engine, the 2013 DeltaWing will make its Canadian debut in sports car racing competition this weekend at the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix. The unusual but innovative lightweight sports car will be piloted by Andy Meyrick and Katherine Legge at this weekend's race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park as one of three entrants in the P1 class.

Also competing in the P1 class will be Toronto driver Tony Burgess. Piloting a Dyson Racing Mazda-Lola race car, Burgess will be part of Wednesday's RaceFest. A popular, young Canadian driver Kyle Marcelli will also be part of the pre-race event in Toronto. Piloting the #8 Prototype Challenge category car for BAR1 Motorsports, Marcelli is eagerly seeking his first class win at the only home stop for American Le Mans Series. Kyle Marcelli is teaming up with Vancouver driver Chris Cumming this weekend. In addition to Canada's greatest American Le Mans Series contenders, home country drivers from the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Challenge Canada and Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup will be present at RaceFest.

Following the RaceFest festivities in the center of Toronto, competition at Canadian Tire Motorsport will run from July 18th through to the 21st.

Exclusive Interview: Canadian ALMS Driver Kyle Marcelli



Photo supplied by Kyle Marcelli

Two weekends ago, the streets of Toronto was consumed by the action surrounding the 2012 Honda Indy. Within the major league open wheel IZOD INDYCAR Series competing on the temporary street circuit, many Canadian eyes rested on the efforts of Toronto-born and raised driver James Hinchcliffe. As the IZOD INDYCAR Series circus departed Toronto without a favourable outcome for Hinchcliffe, nearby Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (previously known as Mosport International Raceway) hosts professional sports cars under the American Le Mans Series banner with another stand-out young Canuck eager for victory at home soil.

At 22 years old, Kyle Marcelli has three years of experience in the American Le Mans Series' Prototype Challenge category (a one-class competition containing only Oreca chassis powered by Chevrolet engines). In 2011, he co-drove his way to a total of three major sports car racing class victories. Of the three, there was a class win in the European Le Mans Series 6 Hours of Imola that ultimately became Kyle Marcelli's first big league sports car victory. After two years at Intersport Racing, Marcelli joined the newly-formed Merchant Services Racing LMPC class team for 2012 assembled by his Imola win co-driver Chapman Ducote. A class pole in the last race at Lime Rock Park has been a highlight for what has been a difficult start to the 2012 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season.



1RM: What have been your icons as you have developed your career in motorsports?KM: On the race track I look up to guys like Ron Fellows, a first generation race driver that found his passion for the sport and did everything it took to be successful. For Ron, I know it required taking a few years off to work in the northern mines to earn some money to get back behind the wheel. When he was behind the wheel, he was driven to be a winner. Off the track, my dad is a big inspiration. He is an extremely hard working man, I get my passion, persistence, dedication and hard work ethics from him.

　

1RM: Last year was, by definition, a breakthrough era as you were part of the winning driving team in a class category at Imola. Winning a major event, was there anything unique you have learned about yourself after the accomplishment?KM: 2011 was definitely a successful year of competition for me. I earned two ALMS pole positions and race wins as well as my first ELMS race win. 2011 marked the first time in my career that I was back in the same car for a second season. I was always told while moving through the ranks that you should plan on two years at each level. The first as a learning year and the second as a year to win the championship. For me that really clicked in during 2011. I was so confident and comfortable in the car and I think it really showed in my performances.

Photo Credit: Oreca

　

1RM: You have earned a reputation as being a fast driver in the largely spec LMPC class. What is most difficult, driving fast in a sports car or the endurance aspect of racing?KM: Thank You. The LMPC category is a spec class, each team is working with the same equipment so it really comes down to the driver and engineer to get the most out of the machine. The professional drivers on each team are very close in speed, to be the fastest it really takes a perfect lap. For me its very rewarding to put in a perfect lap and get the most of the race car, words cant describe the sensation.

　

1RM: Sponsorship is obviously a big component in major, modern motorsports. Besides winning on the race track, what do you believe are key factors companies have looked for from you?KM: That's correct, this is a very expensive sport for the race teams and manufactures. There is no right or wrong answer to what it takes for companies to want to be involved. The goals are really different for everyone. However, I'd say the number one factor that companies look for in a race driver aside from being fast is personality. At the end of the day we are representing a brand and the better you can do that the more companies will take a liking to you.

Photo supplied by Kyle Marcelli

　

1RM: What do you think is one thing motorsport fans may not fully grasp about the career of a race car driver?KM: The number one thing that fans may not fully grasp about the career of a race driver is one the sacrifice and time that is put into building your career and two is the travel and time away from home, friends and family. Like professional sport, you literally need to dedicate you entire life for the chance at being successful. That said, I believe that if you work hard enough and want it bad enough, dreams do come true.

　

1RM: Sports car racing is a very international sport. Do you think that you are racing for your country as much as you are racing for yourself, teams and sponsors?KM: Very good question. The simple answer is "Yes". I'm a very proud Canadian and the only Canadian currently competing full-time in the American Le Mans Series. For me this is very important and I do feel like I am racing for not only myself but my country.

Photo supplied by Kyle Marcelli

　

1RM: What is your general assessment of motorsports in Canada?KM: Motorsports in Canada seems to be pretty dull. For what ever reason, Canadian's just don't seem to have the same passion for the sport as other counties in the world do. That said, it's amazing how many talented race drivers Canada has produced.


1RM: If you had an opportunity to run another form of auto racing, what would be your preference?KM: Next to sports car and prototype endurance racing for me would be Indy Car. I'm very content to stay at this level of auto racing, however Indy Car is on the radar.

　

1RM: If you could have driven in any era of sports car racing and drove any type of race car in competition, when and what type of vehicle?
KM: If I could have driven in any era of sports car racing, I would choose the mid to late 90's. I'm a big fan of Porsche's Le Mans winning 911 GT1 race car. Its such an attractive piece of machinery and proved itself to be the car to beat on the track as well. It wouldamazing to get behind the wheel.


Kyle Marcelli will be competing in both the American Le Mans Series 2-hour, 45-minute event and the two Porsche GT3 Cup Canada Series races this weekend with the #9 car.

60th Running of 2012 Twelve Hours of Sebring Opens and Finishes Big

Photo Credit: DPPI

First held in 1950, the Sebring International Raceway has provided the United States motorsport fans a chance to witness the world’s most awesome sports car operating at the peak of performance. As the American Le Mans Series and the newly formed World Endurance Championship arrived at the Sebring 5.95-kilometer (3.7-mile), the venue was prepared to play host to the 60^th running of their famous 12-hour event. The 2012 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida recorded a stellar 64-car field starting the event from race team representing countries of Germany, France, the United Kingdom as well as the United States.

A hot day where the sun toasted the asphalt/concrete surface of the Sebring International Raceway at 26 degrees Celsius, the race commenced with the three Audi R18 TDI prototype sports cars storming away through the advantage of the lead track position on the start. Deeper in the field, the traffic of 60-plus cars played a part in a collision between two GT cars as the race was just beginning. The #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and the #51 Ferrari both sustained serious damage to sports cars requiring extended work in the garage area.

Photo Credit: DPPI

The story of the 60^th anniversary of the 2012 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida would circulate around a high frequency of caution periods. With the first full course yellow slowing the sports car field at the 13 minute mark for a stopped #61 Ferrari F458 Italia, the 12-hour race proved to be a close one in several of the five categories racing at the track. It was only in the lead LMP1 class that a race car was able to dominate.

The lead prototype category presented the least amount of suspense but still featured a historical performance of the three-car effort that was Audi Sport Team Joest. While the #1 car (consisting of Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler) took pole on Friday, it the #2 Audi R18 would control much of the Sebring race. In the middle of the fifth hour, the #1 Audi R18 TDI suffered an electronic issue in the gearbox shifter. Originally making an unscheduled stop to repair the issue at the end of hour four of the Sebring event, the Audi Sport Team Joest operation realized their #1 car needed extended repairs costing the 2011 driving combination a chance to win.

Like clockwork, the remaining two Audi R18 TDI sailed to prototype and overall victory. At the end, the #2 car helmed by Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello took the top honours with a four-lap lead over the #3 car. Finishing in the top-2 overall positions at the 2012 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, the Audi R18 TDI executed a near masterful run for this 10^th win in 14 starts at the Florida sports car track.

Photo Credit: Porsche Cars

Third overall, the class-winning P2 entry from Starworks Motorsports found success with the Honda-powered HPD-ARX 03b race machine. The #44 prototype picked up the third overall in the 12-hour event due to a fuel rig failure with the Muscle Milk Pickett Racing #6 car in the race‘s late stage. Vicente Potolicchio, Ryan Delziel and Stephane Sarrazin made up the driving team for the #44 car’s win. The #44 Starworks Motorsports poached the lead from the #055 Level 5 Motorsports operation competing in an identical HPD-ARX 03b P2 sports car by 32.27 seconds. Finishing third in P2 category was the #24 Oak Racing Morgan-Judd. Leading the P2 class early in the event, the Oak Racing Morgan lost touch with the top spot in class partly due to a spin in turn four that resulted in a full course yellow to retrieve the car.

In what proved to be the most competitive class during the entire 12-hour running of the Sebring event, the production car-based GT category ended as a fight among multiple teams. In the first hour of the race, the Ferrari F458 Italia cars were planted in the top three GT class positions. However, as the Sebring event clock continued to tick, the #17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 GT3 RSR took the lead. The #155 BMW M3 car prepped by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing were also in the hunt early but a stop and start penalty on pit road robbed the team of momentum early.
In hour two, the #17 Porsche encountered a vibration that took the victory-contending race machine out of the GT lead pack. With Porsche’s losing a chance to claim the primary GT class victory out, the German sports car maker still only had the GTE-AM sub category and the GT Challenge consisting of all-Porsche 911 Cup cars to cheer.

Photo Credit: Porsche Cars

By hour five in the Sebring 12-Hour race‘s GT contest, the Chevrolet Corvette C6R ZR1 race cars appeared to gain the upper hand. Having won the GT class seven times before at Sebring International Raceway, he Corvette Racing squad were motivated by the performance of both the #03 and #4 car. As night time dawned on the Sebring race, the Chevrolet Corvette C6R ZR1 continued to pace their class until the #56 BMW M3 poured on some serious speed in the final two hours. Setting a class fast lap just above 2-minutes flat, the second Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing BMW M3 car took the lead from the Corvette team cars into the final hour.

In the last hour, the GT class of the 2012 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida provided a terrific on-track bout where five cars on the lead lap fought. The #56 BMW M3 continued leading while the Corvette Racing squad efforts to keep pace fell short of class victory. One GT with the best chance to spoil the #56 BMW M3 was the #71 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia. Closing from 4.64 to 1.64 seconds within the last minutes of the event, the #71 Ferrari caught the #56 and bravely fought for the GT category victory on the last lap. Almost capturing the lead, the #71 AF Corse Ferrari handled by Oliver Beretta went off course, dramatically costing the team Sebring victory as well as second place as the #03 Corvette C6R ZR1 crept by for second place. The #56 BMW M3 of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing soared to win the GT class for the second straight year at Sebring.

Photo Credit: BMW Motorsports

While each category of racing in the American Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship competitions provided their own level of excitement, the 60th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring supplied a memorable, lively sports car event. Topping the 12 hours of on-track racing, the Audi fulfilled their near-duty by capturing overall victory  Due to a multitude of full course yellow flags in the 2012 edition of the Sebring sports car competition, an overall distance of 1,201.6 miles recorded this year was the shortest since the 2000 race.



2012 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida 
American Le Mans Series/ FIA World Endurance Championship
Race Results

LMP1/P1

1 #2 McNish, Kristensen, Capello, Audi R18
2 #3 Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas,Loic Duval, Audi R18
3 #16 Collard, Boullion, Jousse; Pescarolo Judd
4 #6 Dyson, Smith, Kane Lola B12/60 Mazda
5 #21 Kane, Leventis, Watts; HPD ARX-03a Honda

LMP2/P2

1 #44 Sarrazin, Potolicchio, Dalziel; HPD ARX-03b Honda
2 #055 Tucker; Bouchut, Barbosa, HPD ARX-03b
3 #24 Pla, Nicolet, Lahaye; Morgan/Judd
4 #49 Kaffer, Ayari, Companc; Oreca/Nissan
5 #41 Julian, Zugel, Gonzalez; Zytek Z11SN-Nissan

PC

1 #06 Papow, Viso, Frisselle; Oreca FLM09
2 #52 Leitzinger, Dobson, Junco Jr; Oreca FLM09
3 #05 Bennett, Braun, Lux; Oreca FLM09
4 #7 Sanchez, Ducote, Echeverria; Oreca FLM09
5 #5 Guasch, Gidley, Wills; Oreca FLM09

GT/GTE-PRO

1 #56 Mueller, Summerton; Hand; BMW E92 M3
2 #03 Magnussen, Garcia, Taylor; Corvette C6-ZR1
3 #71 Beretta, Cioci, Bertolini; Ferrari F458 Italia
4 #4 Gavin, Milner, Westbrook; Corvette C6-ZR1
5 #055 Auberlen, Alzen, Muller; BMW E92 M3

GTE-AM

1 #88 Ruberti, Ried, Roda; Porsche 911 RSR 997
2 #70 Belloc, Bourret, Gibon; Corvette C6-ZR1
3 #50 Lamy, Bornhauser, Canal; Corvette C6-ZR1
4 #57 Jonsson, Rugulo, Krohn; Ferrari F458 Italia
5 #55 Camathias, Binnie, Palttala; Porsche 911 RSR 997

GTC

1 #023 Moltke, Sweedler, Bell; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
2 #022 Keen, Dumoulin, MacNeil; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
3 #34 Faulkner, Bleekemolen, Lesaffre; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
4 #66 Di Guida, Bunting, Pumpelly; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
5 #11 Estre, Cumming, Bullitt; Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Audi R18 Takes Pole for 2012 Sebring Sports Car Opener

Photo Credit: Audi AG

The 60th anniversary to the first 12-hour sports car race to be run at the converted airstrip evolving into Sebring International Raceway, the 2012 edition of the prestigious March race prepares to host five classes of premium race vehicles for an event starting late Saturday morning. With 63 cars set to compete at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida race, this historic event is the season opener for the 2012 American Le Mans Series and will also serve as the launch pad for the all-new FIA World Endurance Championship.

Qualifying on the 3.74-mile circuit Friday provided the first meaningful measurements for the caliber of the teams and drivers. Coming as little surprise to spectators, Audi Sport Team Joest mounted a dominating performance in the time trial track sessions with the 2012 R18 RDI prototype sports cars. Convincingly, the three-car Audi R18 TDI vehicles claimed the overall top-three for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida. Starting in the order of their car numbers, the Audi Sport Team Joest organization #1 car took pole at a time of 1 minute, 45.820 seconds. The #1 Audi R18 TDI is set to be driven by the 2011 24 Hour Le Mans winning combination of Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer. The #2 Audi R18 TDI was 4/10th of a second slower than the pole-winning #1 car. The #3 car for the Audi Sport Team Joest effort was 1.12 seconds off the pace of the lead car.

The fastest non-Audi runner overall in Sebring sports car qualifying was the #6 Muscle Milk Racing team. Fielding a Honda Racing Development-derived ARX-03a sports car, the #6 Muscle Milk Racing effort was 6/10th of a second slower than the 3rd fastest Audi R18 TDI. With a total of three participants campaigning the HRD ARX-03a vehicle, the prototype matches Audi as well as the Lola in total entrants for the 2012 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.

In other prototype categories, the 12-car strong P2 class at the Sebring International Raceway will start with the Morgan making a fantastic return to the sports car track. The Oak Racing backed #24 Morgan powered by a Judd V8 engine posted a 1 minute, 50.467 second time to lead the P2 category participants to green for Saturday's 12-hour race. In the spec American Le Mans Series LMPC category, the #9 RSR Racing car (piloted by open wheel racing veteran Bruno Junqueira in qualifying) outran the Core Autosport #06 to take class honours in Friday's time trials.

Almost 13 seconds slower than the Audi R18 TDI cars, the GT class at Sebring once again features a tight battle between production-based sports cars. The likes of BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin and Chevrolet are set to become one of the most hotly-contested competitions at not only 2012 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring but throughout the American Le Mans Series and World Endurance Championship season.

Photo Credit: BMW USA

Shooting first blood in Sebring qualifying, the Ferrari F458 Italia race cars sailed around the 3.74-mile course fastest among GT competitors. The #51 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia (featuring the pairing of Giancarlo Fischella, Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander) took the pole with a 1 minute, 58.427 second lap time ahead of the Luxury Racing team. The Corvette Racing pair of C6R ZR1 race cars inserted into the second row of the GT class with the #03 ahead of the #4 car only 0.66 seconds separates the top-5 cars in the GT category in Sebring qualifying serving as a strong precursor to a wide-open bout for the class victory on Saturday. Also racing at sub-categories of the GT class at the Sebring International Raceway will be the GTE-AM cars and the GT Challenge Porsche 911 GT3 Cup vehicles.

The 60th running of the 2012 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida will start at 10:30 AM Eastern time. Weather for the 2012 sports car race is forecasted to have sun with clouds through the daytime as temperatures will reside in the 20 degree Celsius range almost throughout the event.

Peugeot Grabs Petit Le Mans Pole Over Audi

Photo Credit: Peugeot UK

American Le Mans Series-style sports car debuted on the 2.54-mile Road Atlanta circuit for the first time in 1999 for the Petit Le Mans event. One of the most recent endurance races, victory at the Petit Le Mans has gained the prestige as a coveted victory in sports car racing. Pleasing the American Le Mans Series head and Road Atlanta owner Don Panoz, teams competing in the event stretching 1,000-mile or 10-hour (whichever mark is approached first) can also secure an automatic entrance in next year's 24-Hour of Le Mans. For 2011, 58 cars among 5 racing categories have shown up for the 12th annual autumn race.

With Audi confirming the presence of Team Joest at the event last week, the 2011 Petit Le Mans is set to become another modern rivalry between the Peugoet 908 and the Audi R18. In what amounted to be a close qualifying result, the overall lead to the green flag, the French squad of Peugeot claimed first blood against Audi. Featuring the driver pairing of Sebastien Bourdais, Simon Pagenaud and Anthony Davidson for this weekend, the #7 Peugoet 908 flew around the Road Atlanta track in 1 minute, 7.428 seconds.

The pole-winning Peugeot claimed only a 0.128 second advantage for the top spot. The #1 Audi R18 demonstrated the ability to keep pace with the winning team of the past two Petit Le Mans events. Competing the past two times with variations of the R15 prototype, Audi Sport Team Joest have been foiled for what would be their 10th Petit Le Mans victory by the Peugeot 908. Audi Sport Team Joest is determined to claim back its dominating ways which transpired as their storied R8 and R10 prototype sports cars went mostly contested. In the second row for the 2011 Petit Le Mans start, Peugeot and Audi cars share the grid position for the LMP category and overall for the event.

The second-most watched class in the Petit Le Mans on Saturday will be the GT category where Ferrari, BMW, Porsche and Chevrolet all have a likelihood for claiming a season-ending honour of victory. With each of these automaker recording at least one win in the American Le Mans Series season entering Road Atlanta, the GT class is a battle royal among the production-based vehicles. Leading in the overall team point standings is the BMW M3 GT cars fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing convincingly over the fierce competitors for 2011. For Petit Le Mans qualifying, the #51 Ferrari F458 Italia took the class pole over the BMW M3 pair. The #51 Ferrari who be starting 24th overall in the starting line-up for the Petit Le Mans with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing BMWs securing 25th and 26th. The top-3 cars in the GT running order were separated by only 0.52 seconds on the qualifying time sheet.

Making its American Le Mans GT class debut at Road Atlanta will be the Lotus Evora GTE race car. Campaigned by Lotus Jetalliance, the Evora GTE will be participating as a prep for the car's full season of competition in 2012.    

In the Prototype Challange category, Intersport Racing's #89 car was rebuilt from a Friday morning practice crash to lead class. Concluding the practice session at Road Atlanta, the Intersport Racing crew were able to effect repairs to the exact racing machine that was involved in a massive crash with the Robertson Racing #40 Ford GT. Unfortunately, the Robertson Racing car was unable time into the Petit Le Mans event Friday but could race Saturday.

Starting at 11:30 an Eastern time, the 2011 Petit Le Mans under what is expected to be a largely sunny day at Road Atlanta.

 

Muscle Milk Aston Martin Triumphs in Stormy Mid-Ohio ALMS Round

Photo Credit: BMW Group USA



 

After the team started the season with a mechanical retirement in the American Le Mans Series opening round, the Muscle Milk Racing Aston Martin powered Lola has mounted an impressive domination in the 2011 LMP1 class. Winning three of the last four ALMS events with overall victory, the pairing of Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr have been a top podium mainstay for a sports car category presenting fewer than a half-dozen runners in most 2011 events. Mounting a serious offensive against the Muscle Milk Aston Martin-Lola has been the Mazda-engined prototype fielded by Dyson Racing. Winning the Lime Rock event, the Dyson Racing car took pole for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge Saturday. In GT class, the Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing #56 BMW M3 GT car driven by Jorg Muller and Joey Hand led over their teammate's vehicle. 

Once the green dropped on the Mid-Ohio Sport Car Challenge for a 2 hour and 45 minute sprint event, the sports cars initially were confronted with a slippery 2.258-mile race course covered with race rubber left by the IZOD INDYCAR Series' Firestone tires. This early grip challenge caused the GT class leading BMW M3 GT to relinquish not just one but two positions as the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R ZR1 took over the category lead. At the front of the overall field for the Mid-Ohio event, the #16 Lola-Mazda pulled away to an advantage lasting for 37 laps.   

 

By halfway through the event, on track contact between many cars amounted to a slew of penalties being issued for avoidable contact. One incident of on-track collisions involved the GT class BMW M3s belonging Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan. Entering the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course's Keyhole turn, the teammates made contact resulting in the #56 car spinning. Incidents of contact on track would involve many other GT, Prototype and Challenge class machines. 

 

Shaping into a bizarre race with the high number of penalties, when the first caution flew for a stopped Prototype Challenge machine, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge event for the American Le Mans Series turned comical. During the caution period midway through the event, the Honda S2000 pace car withdrew due to a transmission problem. The Porsche Cayenne medical vehicle needed to fill in as the race's pace car.

 

In the last 40 minutes of the event, rain began to pelt the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course causing some dangerously slick conditions even for sports cars which pitted for wet weather tires. The late stage of the race in inclement weather proved costly for the Corvette Racing team. After first appearing to gain the upper hand by promptly swapping to rain tires, the #3 Corvette C6R ZR1 spun after making contact with a fellow GT competitor. Driven by Olivier Beretta and Tommy Milner, the #3 car had to fight its way back to 6th place in class. As for the #4 piloted by the pairing of Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen, their long-term leading the GT class would not include the important final laps. As the skies opened up to completely drench the circuit, the #4 Corvette briefly fought to retain control. This moment of correction by the #4 car, in the hands of Oliver Gavin, was just enough time for the #17 Team Falken Tires Porsche 911 RSR wheeled by Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler to take lead and the GT victory at Mid-Ohio. Finishing second, the Corvette driver Oliver Gavin later said, "Those last four or five laps were absolutely insane,".  

 

Due to three cars sliding off track in the midst of a major downpour, the American Le Mans Series ended the race under yellow with the #6 Muscle Milk Aston Martin-Lola taking the class victory for the fourth time this season in American Le Mans Series competition. Taking the race's lead for the final time at lap 62, the Aston Martin-powered Muscle Milk Motorsports effort sailed to an almost 1 minute and 10 second lead over the #16 car.  

 

In the LMPC class, a fight between Intersport Racing cars concluded with the #89 machine driven by Tomy Drissi and Kyle Marcelli taking class victory at Mid-Ohio. Spencer Pumpelly and Duncan Ende drove their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to GT Challenge class victory for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge. 

 

 

2011 American Le Mans Series

Lexington, Ohio 

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge

Race Results

 

1. 6  LMP1  Klaus Graf/Lucas Luhr AMR/ Lola Coupe B08 62 
2. 16  LMP1  Chris Dyson/ Guy Smith  Lola B09 86/Mazda 
3. 89  LMPC  Kyle Marcelli /Tomy Drissi Oreca FLM09 
4. 37  LMPC  Clint Field/ Jon Field  Oreca FLM09 
5. 52  LMPC  Javier Echeverria  Oreca FLM09 
6. 17  GT  Bryan Sellers/Wolf Henzler  Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 
7. 4  GT  Jan MagnussenOliver Gavin  Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 
8. 55  GT  Bill Auberlen/ Dirk Werner BMW M3 GT 
9. 56  GT  Dirk Mueller/ Joey Hand  BMW M3 GT 
10. 01  GT  Johannes van Overb/ Scott Sharp Ferrari F458 Italia 
11. 3  GT  Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner  Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 
12. 06  LMPC  Gunnar Jeannette/ Ricardo Gonzalez Oreca FLM09 
13. 04  GT  Anthony Lazzaro/ David Murry Doran Ford GT 
14. 63  LMPC Christian Zugel/ Eric Lux  Oreca FLM09 
15. 48  GT  Bryce Miller/ Sascha Maassen Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 
16. 45  GT  Joerg Bergmeister/Patrick Long  Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 
17. 05  LMPC  Frankie Montecalvo/ Jon Bennett  Oreca FLM09 
18. 44  GT Darren Law/ Seth Neiman  Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 
19. 12  LMP1  Chris McMurry/ Tony Burgess  Lola B06/10 
20. 98  GT PJ Jones/ Rocky Moran  Jaguar XKR 
21. 99  GT  Bruno Junqueira/ Ken Wilden Jaguar XKR 
22. 66  GTC Spencer Pumpelly/ Duncan Ende Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
23. 54  GTC  Jeroen Bleekemolen/ Tim Pappas Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
24. 77  GTC  Craig Stanton/ John Potter  Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
25. 18  LMPC  Anthony Nicolosi/ Jarrett Boon Oreca FLM09 
26. 11  GTC  Chris Cumming/Nick Ham  Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
27. 62  GT  Jaime Melo/ Toni Vilander  Ferrari F458 Italia 
28. 23  GTC  Leh Keen/ Bill Sweedler  Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
29. 40  GT Andrea Robinson/ Melanie Snow  Doran Ford GT/Elan 
30. 34  GTC  Andrew Davis/ Peter Lesaffre Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
31. 68  GTC  Dion von Moltke/ Marc Bunting  Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 
32. 02  GT Ed Brown/ Guy Cosmo Ferrari F458 Italia 
33. 20  LMP1  Humaid Al Masaood/Steven Kane  Lola B09/86 Mazda 

Peugeot Wins 2010 12-Hours of Sebring

Photo Credit: GM Media

After two times where the Peugeot 908 HDI FAP prototype came up short of the 12 Hour of Sebring victory in 2008 and 2009, the French marque claimed the prestigious victory through a triumphant effort by the two-car team. Piloted through the final laps by Alexander Wurz, the #07 Peugeot 908 crossed the line 13.817 seconds ahead of the #08 team car which was in the hands of Formula 1 driver and Champ Car champion Sebastian Bourdais. Joined by his co-drivers Anthony Davidson and Marc Gene, the #07 Peugeot team celebrated a picture perfect 12 hour run.


Photo Credit: Aston Martin

Behind the French-made diesel-powered prototypes, the #007 Lola-Aston Martin took third on the podium only 3 laps behind the indomitable Peugeot team. With long-standing corporate history at Sebring started with the first 12 hour race, Aston Martin toasted the podium finish. Aston Martin Chairman David Richards praised the team saying “Another immaculate performance by George (Team Principal, George Howard-Chappell) and his team in finishing here as fastest petrol car and a great start to the season.” Unlike the Peugeot squad, the Lola-Aston Martin is committed to running the second round in Long Beach with the American Le Mans Series.

In the P2 category for prototypes, the Porsche RS Spyder once again found class victory at Sebring campaigned by the CytoSport team. Finishing 4th overall in the 12-Hours of Sebring, the driver lineup was a road racing all-star team consisting of Greg Pickett, Klaus Graf and Sascha Maassen. 14 laps behind the Peugeot 908, the CtyoSport group did finish 4 laps ahead of their P2 rival Patron Highcroft Racing opponent.

The third prototype class, the all-new Prototype Challenge took their first green flag torture-testing the Chevrolet-powered spec racers. While all but one car that started the Prototype Challenge class were running at the end, many of the teams faced interruptions such as Primetime Racing team which needed an extended time to replace a broken rear suspension piece. Overcoming the bad luck of fellow the Prototype Challenge, the #55 Level 5 Motorsports car co-driven by team owner Scott Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Canadian Mark Wilkins rolled to victory in class and an impressive 10th overall finish.

Even before the race started, the GT class was guaranteed to be the most contested category in the 12-Hours of Sebring. This promise was fulfilled even before the race started as the fastest qualifying #90 Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 was bumped to the back of the GT2 class field after failing post-qualifying technical inspection. Having to start from pitlane, the #90 car did soldier through the event for a podium finish in class. Through the 12 hour race, the #17 Falken Tire Porsche grabbed the lead from the start of the race but the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT would be holding the lead through the second hour and for much of the remaining event.

As some in GT2 showed strength in the 12-hour duration at Sebring International Raceway, some of the production-based vehicles experienced less than desirable results. The early leading #17 Falken Tire Porsche would be drawn to pit road in two occasions for a rear wheel and tire flying off the vehicle on-track. In the second case, the rear wheel would damaging fellow Porsche, the #45 Flying Lizards car.

The #75 Jaguar XKRS GT2 car suffered a quick withdraw from the event due to engine overheating problem disappointing of team owner and driver Paul Gentilozzi. While the Jaguar averted a catastrophic failure, the Ferrari 430 GT of Scott Sharp's new Extreme Speed Motorsports experienced an extreme hot engine compartment late in the 12-Hour race. With Sharp at the wheel, he brought the Patron-sponsored Ferrari to a stop off the course. A fast-acting track worker with a fire extinguisher prevented the red hot fire from engulfing the whole car.

Another entrant in class, the Ford GT run for the 3rd year by Robertson Racing also fell on tough luck. After a Monday testing crash at Sebring, the #40 Ford GT was skillfully repaired in time for Friday qualifying. In the race, more misfortune found the Robertson Racing effort in the 9th of 12 hours. Running off-track, some comic relief could be found with a Florida Fresh track sign planted onto the front of the Ford GT once the #40 car returned onto the race surface. Repairs on the Robertson Racing #40 Ford GT allowed the team to finish rounding out 10th in the GT2 class.

The final GT2 hard luck story goes to the Corvette Racing team at the 2010 Sebring event. While the Peugeot Sport team enjoyed a near clockwork 12 hour race in the prototype category, the GT2 class saw the prominent Corvette Racing team suffer a rare mistake in pit road within the 3rd hour of the timed event. Reportedly caused by crossed radio communications, the #3 Chevrolet Corvette C6R was heading down pit road for service when the car made hard contact with the #4 Corvette Racing teammate. Not only embarrassing, this collision endangered the crew members of both teams. Fortunately, no one on pit lane suffered injuries as result of the American car tingle. While the #3 Corvette was already displaced deep in the GT2 standings with repairs for a fluid leak, the #4 car damage forced the car behind the wall for repairs taking Corvette Racing out of winning contention for the GT2 class at Sebring. The cars would finish the race 9th and 10th place in class.


Photo Credit: GM Media

The GT2 class winner from last year, he #62 Ferrari 430 GT waltzed to victory after a late race caution positioned the Risi Competizione car one lap ahead of the BMW M3 pair. Gianmaria Bruni, Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer shared the red Ferrari for a second-straight Sebring win.

Winning the GT Challenge class after scoring pole on Friday, the #81 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car driven by Butch Leitzinger, Juan Gonzalez and Leh Keen ended the 12-Hours of Sebring race exactly where they started. A bonus for Alex Job Racing was the racing organization's sweep of the GT Challenge podium with the #23 in 2nd and #80 finishing 3rd at Sebring.

The story of the 2010 12-Hours of Sebring is of course the overall victory of the Peugeot 908 diesel prototype car. The French automaker now holds the sports car racing Triple Crown by winning at Le Mans, the Petit Le Mans in Road Atlanta and now Sebring.

ALMS for 2010 Starting with 12-Hour of Sebring

Formulated from an World War 2-era US Army Air Force B-17 training base, 3.7 mile Sebring International Raceway on southern Florida is the holy grail site of sports car racing in the United States. As a race which has run once around the clock 57 times, past winners of America's most prestigious sports car event includes racing legends Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt, Sir Sterling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio. Coinciding with the reputed all-stars of auto racing, equally as memorable is the cars which have triumphed after the 12 hour distance with names plates Ferrari, Porsche and most recently Audi being sprayed with the champagne of victory. For the 12th full season, the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) will act as the sanctioning body to the 2010 12-Hour of Sebring supplying a 34 car field of International sports car contenders.

The fastest P1 class group only consists of 5 cars for the 2010 Sebring 12-hour race with two of those vehicles visiting from across the Atlantic Ocean. Two Peugeot 908 HDI FAP prototype cars return for the 3rd time in order to capture the win in the 12-Hour of Sebring (the last remaining sports car racing crown jewel left for the Peugeot 908 to capture). In Wednesday testing and Thursday practice both Peugeot 908s, the #07 and #08, have been easily finding top speed around the Sebring track.

For the first time since 1998, an Audi will not be present among prototype contender at the 2010 12-Hour of Sebring. Winning the event 9 of the past 10 times, Audi Sport has decided to further condense their 2010 race schedule for the Audi R15 prototype race car to just the 24-hour of Le Mans in France and the Petit Le Mans race to run September in Road Atlanta.

Left with the chore of providing a fight against the powerhouse French sports cars will be 4 Lolas (running Mazda, Aston Martin and Judd V-10 powerplants), a Porsche RS Spyder, as well as a Honda-powered ARX-01C car campaigned by 2009 ALMS overall champion team Patron Highcroft Racing. On Thursday, the #8 Lola-Judd of Drayson Racing ran 6/10th of a second slower than the fastest Peugeot but has a serious chance at victory with a strong driving pairing which includes long-time Audi prototype driver Emanuelle Pirro. While three prototype cars are registered as smaller-engined P2 entries, increased air restrictors sizes will allow the P2 cars to favourably compete for overall victory through 2010.

The 2010 12-Hour of Sebring, a new class of prototype race cars will be debuting with a cost-friendlier model for ALMS racing. The Le Mans Prototype Challenge class features common race chassis from Oreca, engine power from a LS3 Chevrolet V8 and a Xtrac transmission. In this first competition for the class will consist of a 6 Oreca-Chevy racers. In practice, these spec prototype racers performed best laps 10 seconds slower than the lead Peugeot.

Two classes will also be running under the GT banner for the Sebring 12 hour race. In GT2, a rich flavour of cars features the two-car General Motors factory-support Chevrolet Corvette C6Rs , the Rahal-Letterman BMW M3s, and a four-car Ferrari 430 GT grouping consisting of 2 cars each from Risi Competizione as well as the new Scott Sharp-owned Extreme Speed Motorsports along with highly competitive Porsche 911 RSRs. Making its first Sebring start in GT2, the Jaguar XJRS will be put through its paces.

In the first practice for the GT2 cars, the BMW M3s had an edge over the Extreme Speed Motorsport Ferrari. However, with the top-6 GT2 teams separated by 0.7 seconds, the GT2 battle is likely to be the hottest contended category through qualifying on Friday and through Saturday's main event.

Much like the newly-devised Prototype Challenge class, the GT Challenge category has also been an attempt by the American Le Mans Series to increase the overall field with a less-expensive class of vehicle. The GT Challenge or GTC is exclusive to Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers this year but talks surround the possible expansion as Audi has expressed interest for the 2011 season.

With Qualifying set to run Friday, the 58th annual 12-Hour of Sebring coverage is set to start on television at Saturday morning 10 AM on Speed. Announced today, XM Radio subscribers will also be able to follow the 12-Hour of Sebring as well as the entire ALMS schedule on Channel 245. Sirius satellite radio customers can listen on channel 127 .

Naughty and Nice of Auto Racing 2009: Sports Car Racing

Counting down to Christmas, Santa Claus has been checking his list twice assuring that all the good kids (or even kids at heart) will receive at least that one gift. XSL Speed Reporter will use the 'Naughty and Nice' scale to judge this past year in auto racing. Placing events into two categories, the nice and positive movements in motorsports will be granted a 'Gift' rating. Negative moments and disappointing news will be given a 'Lump of Coal' rating.

Starting with the look back to 2009, XSL Speed Reporter will review the transpiration in the North American Sports Car series, the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the Grand American Sports Car Series. While both leagues were injured by the recent economic meltdown, they have also been able to gain solidarity in specific classes.

Gift: The ALMS' GT class categories- With Porsche 911, BMW M3, Ferrari F430GT, Panoz and now the Chevrolet Corvette competing in the same GT category by the end of 2009, this all-new eclectic grouping have provided the most captivating competition seen in the sports car series. One of the most memorable on-track battles occurred at the Mosport round where a Corvette C6R edged by and held off a Risi Competizione Ferrari through in the final minutes of the event.

Photo Credit Richard Prince/GM Racing Photo

Lump of Coal: Audi Sport Team Joest- We know that the current economic climate for automakers have left factory auto racing on shoestring budgets, Audi went to all the trouble to build their R15 prototype only to limit its race involvement to 3 major events.

Gift: Pursuit of more environmentally-friendly technology- The American Le Mans series has become a showcase of greener racing through recent years. Started ages ago on the Audi R8 prototypes adoption of gasoline direct injection, latest innovations inside the ALMS field have included diesel powered race engines, e85 fuel, and kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS). Of course, these green initiatives always contains a strong undercurrent of public relations, sports car racing have long since demonstrated its advantages to production cars. With the help of series brass and rewards such as the Michelin Green Challenge, created to spotlight these technological improvements, racing can remain relevant well into the future.

Lump of Coal: The Weather by Road Atlanta during the Petit Le Mans- Completing only 184 laps (less than half of the race's 1,000 mile distance within 10 hours), the 2009 Petit Le Mans was halted by an intense thunderstorm system. With around 3 inches of rainfall accompanying the troubling skies over top of the Road Atlanta, the win was awarded to the Peugeot 908 prototype after a lengthy red flag period. A bad break for the American Le Mans Series competitors, this rainstorm was crushing to the residents within the Georgia area who had been victims of up to 5 inches of precipitation over a 1 week period just a few days earlier.

Gift: Daytona Prototype Car Counts- The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series made some massive noise when the France family-owned sports car decided to phase out the traditional sports car prototype class in the favour of their own. The Daytona Prototype class was created in 2003 on the framework of NASCAR stock car racing to make racing closer betw

een teams and ultimately more affordable. While top teams exist in the Daytona Prototype class such as Chip Ganassi Racing, 11 cars ran a full schedule in 2009 when the American Le Mans top prototype division is fighting to maintain half a dozen cars per race.

Lump of Coal: Canadian Race Promoters- With snow blanketing the Canadian landscape for as much 6 months a year, auto racing has a limited season to make use of national racetracks. This past race season, the American Le Mans Series race at Mosport coincided with the major NASCAR weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, which also featured the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series on the Saturday. As a Canadian motorsport fan, booking two big races on the same weekend cost us either a chance to watch an incredible dice between Ferrari and Corvette at Grand Prix of Mosport or the chance watch Andrew Ranger and Jacques Villeneuve finish strong against NASCAR regulars in the Nationwide series.

Perhaps we should not be surprising as a Canadian sports fan (yes, auto racing is a sport); For almost 40 years in the Canadian Football League (CFL) there were two teams that played under the name Rough Riders.

Gift: Acura's continuing commitment to sports car racing- At one point during 2009, inside sources indicated to the media that Acura may have considered bowing out of the American Le Mans Series after the year wrapped. However, 2009 prototype championship team Patron Highcroft Racing have confirmed they're returning with the Acura ARX-02 for a 2010 title defense. The 2010 season also includes an invitation to the upcoming Le Mans 24-hour race for the Japanese brand's first visit to the event.

Photo Credit: Dan R Boyd/Acura Media

Photo By GM/Pontiac Racing

Lump of Coal: The loss of Pontiac- As a General Motors division since 1926, Pontiac had a long association with motorsports. Competing within the fields of NASCAR, NHRA, as well as sports car racing, Pontiac would never enjoy the immense GM support for the motorsport efforts of Chevrolet. The final triumphs for Pontiac came in the Grand American Rolex Sport Car Series. Pontiac badging adorned GM Racing engines in many of the Daytona Prototype class champions including the 2009 series winning team Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing. As well as involvement in the Daytona Prototype category, Pontiac enlisted GT teams to compete with race cars derived from first the GTO and later the G6. In the final race of 2009 at Homestead Miami Speedway, Paul Edwards and Kelly Collins bought a Pontiac G6 GXP-R to class victory.

ACO Plans to Unify Le Mans Prototype with Intercontinental Cup

While the 24 hour of Le Mans has long been the pinnacle event for defining sports car greatness, the organizers of famous day-long French auto race have been working hard to bring unified rules and even cars to across the world. The ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest or Automobile Club of the West of France) has been influential in sanctioning much of the world's sports car racing action. In cooperation with Don Panoz, the American Le Mans Series has enjoyed the ACO's backing since 1998 establishment of the racing calendar. The ACO later formulated a successful European-based tour known simply as the Le Mans Series and are currently engaged in effectively launching an Asian tour under the same rules format.

For 2010, the ACO is undertaking the first step into a bold, new move into establishing a world honour for prototype competitors. Called the Intercontinental Cup, this series within the three Le Mans series will consist of one race from each tour.


2010 Intercontinental Cup for Le Mans Prototypes

Le Mans Series Silverstone 1000 km event- September 13th
American Le Mans Series Petit Le Mans 1000 mile - October 2nd
Asian Le Mans Series Round Circuit Okayama 500 km- November (Rumored)

To be eligible for the Intercontinental Cup, the ACO attached some provisions to guarantee prototype teams will not cherry-pick the 3 races in the tour. Entrants will be required to run 5 races in every of the Le Series sports car series (the Le Mans 24 hour race can not be counted).

Shortly upon the announcement, Audi Sport Team Joest pledged their pair of R15 prototypes will campaign in quest for the inaugural Intercontinental Cup. 2009 Audi rival and 24-Hour of Le Mans successor Peugeot has yet to express a firm commitment to running their 908 HDi FAP the new prototype Cup for 2010. However, Peugeot does intend to compete once again for the 24-hour of Le Mans podium, defending last year's crown. Besides Audi and Peugeot, it is likely that those two auto makers will be the only 2010 Intercontinental Cup contenders. Though Acura Motorsports had made a dominating stand through the 2009 American Le Mans Series circuit, their commitment to the 2010 schedule was in doubt until Patron Highcroft Racing locked up plans to compete in the 2010 American Le Mans Series. With an Asian round in the Intercontinental Cup, it remains to be seen if this might reinvigorate the Honda-based brand's interest in a future with sport car prototypes. Entrants for the upcoming season must be affirmed by February of 2010.

With the inaugural Intercontinental Cup planned for only 3 races in 2010, the ACO has already mentioned a desire to expand the tour in 2011 and beyond to at least double the events.

Rain soaks the 2009 Petit Le Mans race; Peugeot takes victory

At 4:09PM, the red flag dropped on the American Le Mans Series crucial Petit Le Mans round. While the American Le Mans Series vehicles are equipped to run in rainfall, the rate of the precipitation on the 2.54 mile road course made racing too unsafe for the various sport car classes. As several cars lost traction even under a yellow flag pace, the call was well-warranted but nonetheless disappointing. At 8:00pm, IMSA and the American Le Mans Series announced that the standings at the moment of the race stoppage were the final standings for the 2009 Petit Le Mans.

Taking their first win on American Le Mans Series schedule, the #08 diesel-powered Peugeot 908 piloted by Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin took victory over their #07 team car driven by a Lamy/Capello duo. Before the rain fell, the Audi R15 had the perfect chance to capture what could have been their 9th victory during the Road Atlanta. In the last race stint Allan McNish had the lead until the wet track caused the Audi R15 and its driver to become unsettled. The Audi R15 received a third place finish. Both Audi Sport and Peugeot are wrapping up their 2009 American Le Mans Series season after competing in only two races.

Another 1-2 team finish at the Petit Le Mans occurred inside the P2 class as the Mazda B09/86 fielded by Dyson Racing. The Chris Dyson/Guy Smith #16 appeared in the top position while the #20 car, who started on the P2 class pole, came second for the category.

With the diverse class of GT2 in the American Le Mans Series, Risi Competizione can take enormous pride keeping their Ferrari F430 GT ahead as the downpour soaked the Road Atlanta circuit. The grouping of Jaime Melo, Pierre Kaffer and Mika Salo celebrates for a second straight year on the top spot of the Podium with the red #62 car. Rahal Letterman Racing trio of Dirk Müller, Jörg Müller, and Andy Priaulx settled with second place in their BMW M3. Rounding out the top five in GT2 were the #87 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR campaigned by Farnbacher Loles Racing, the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C6R, and another Porsche 911 GT3 RSR from Flying Lizards.


With only 4 of the race's 10 hour timed distance ran on the track, the force of mother nature has proven stronger than the forces of race-prepped engines. The hindered running of the Petit Le Mans of Road Atlanta is minor disturbance caused for what has been an disastrous ongoing weather event which the citizens of Georgia state are enduring. With record of more than 5 inches rainfall damaging and destroying property, the Petit Le Mans feels a little less smaller in 2009.

Petit Le Mans Running this weekend

Seemingly arriving earlier every year, the American Le Mans Series is running their crown race at Road Atlanta called the Petit Le Mans. Close to the American Le Mans Series founder Don Panoz's hometown of Atlanta, the Petit Le Mans competitors have been tempted by the additional incentive since the races inception through a guaranteed spot at the next 24-hour Le Mans race in France.

With the flag having dropped at 11 am Saturday morning, this race runs 1,000 miles or 10 hours (whichever marker comes first). Remembering the race having been initially run during the second week of October, the first time of the race being run on September 26 would likely have caught a lot of sports car fans off guard. While running earlier this year, the 2009 Petit Le Mans is racing around a misfortunate scene caused by widespread flooding in the state of Georgia which has been estimated to cause up to $500 million dollars in damage. Nonetheless, as the American Le Mans Series most significant event on the schedule, the 2009 Petit Le Mans started under cloudy, ominous conditions.


Having taken the overall win in a thrilling 2008 Petit Le Mans race, Audi Sport held off a strong Peugeot as well as a LMP2 Penske Porsche with the now obsolete R10 prototype. This is only one of two occasions to see the radical Audi R15 prototype racer in North American sports car competition following the earlier season win at the Sebring 12-hour event. However, as the flag fell today on the Petit Le Mans 2009, French automaker Peugeot took the pole with one of their 24-hour of Le Mans winning 908 closed cockpit sports cars. Having previously taken pole in 2008, the Peugeot 908 competes as a stronger car manned with a more experienced, seasoned team of crew members and drivers.

In the P2 class consisting of slightly detuned prototype racers, the Porsche RS Skyder returns with Team Cytosport, not with Penske Racing. Lowes Fernandez Acura and the pair of Dyson Mazdas are going to be firm challengers for the 2009 P2 win.

In GT2, the league of Porsches will attempt to take their 9th category win in 11 previous Petit Le Mans races. Defending their 2008 GT2 win will be the #62 Rizi Competizione Ferrari F430 GT racer with Mika Salo rejoined Rizi's Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer. Worth honourable mentioning is Rahal/Letterman Racing's BMW as well as the pair of C6R prepped by Corvette Racing.

As of the 4 hour mark, the Peugeot 908 prototypes hold both first and second overall with the #2 Audi R15 on the lead lap in hot pursuit. The Dyson Mazdas handily holds onto P2 top positions with fellow P2 competitors struggling around the wet Road Atlanta circuit. GT2 is being led again by the Ferrari F430 GT fielded by Rizi Comptizione by a full lap over a heat consisting of two Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, a BMW M3, and a Chevrolet Corvette C6R.

As 4:09PM, the Petit Le Mans has been red flagged due to continuing harsh rainfall. Putting a damper on the race, this precipitation is likely to rage hard on the already disaster-struck areas in the United States. More than an hour later, racing activities for the American Le Mans Series are still halted by the rain adding to record-setting levels.