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Five Porsche RS Spyders contest in the bumpy Sebring Airfield Race


Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing  Sascha Maassen, Patrick Long, Ryan Briscoe

Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing Sascha Maassen, Patrick Long, Ryan Briscoe

Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing  Sascha Maassen, Patrick Long, Ryan Briscoe

Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing Sascha Maassen, Patrick Long, Ryan Briscoe

Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Emmanuel Collard

Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Emmanuel Collard

Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Emmanuel Collard

Porsche RS Spyder, Penske Racing Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Emmanuel Collard

Porsche RS Spyder, Dyson Racing Chris Dyson, Guy Smith

Porsche RS Spyder, Dyson Racing Chris Dyson, Guy Smith

Porsche RS Spyder, Dyson Racing Butch Leitzinger, Marino Franchitti, Andy Lally

Porsche RS Spyder, Dyson Racing Butch Leitzinger, Marino Franchitti, Andy Lally

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Flying Lizard Motorsports Jörg Bergmeister, Wolf Henzler, Marc Lieb

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Flying Lizard Motorsports Jörg Bergmeister, Wolf Henzler, Marc Lieb

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Flying Lizard Motorsports Jörg Bergmeister, Wolf Henzler, Marc Lieb

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Flying Lizard Motorsports Jörg Bergmeister, Wolf Henzler, Marc Lieb

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Flying Lizard Motorsports Darren Law, Seth Neiman, Alex Davison

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Flying Lizard Motorsports Darren Law, Seth Neiman, Alex Davison

 

The American Le Mans Series takes off into the new season with a true classic: The Sebring 12 Hours on the bumpy airfield circuit in the heart of Florida on 15 March is the longest and toughest race of the year and presents the greatest challenge for drivers and teams. "At this race we’re all at our limits," says Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard (Germany). "Those who are not optimally prepared have no chance."

The oldest sports car race in the USA, which this year celebrates its 56th running, is an important indicator for the rest of the season. Due to the long race duration, more points are allocated at Sebring than at the majority of the other races – success at the season-opener can give an excellent boost in the race for the title. Great role models are not in short supply: Immortalized on the winners list of this long distance classic are racing greats like Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Hans Herrmann, Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx. With 17 overall wins and 62 class victories, Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in the history of this prestigious race.

"Our objective in Sebring is to win the fiercely competitive LMP2 class," says Porsche head of motorsport Hartmut Kristen. "We’ve made improvements to several areas of the RS Spyder. The aerodynamics have been upgraded, the fuel consumption optimised. We think we are excellently prepared for Sebring and the challenges of this season."

Already in 2007, the Weissach-developed and built sports prototype set the benchmark in the American Le Mans Series. Its impressive balance of success: eight overall wins and eleven class victories. With this, Porsche not only won the drivers title in the LMP2 class with Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France) but was also undisputedly the most successful manufacturer.

Eleven races in the USA and Canada make up this year’s calendar of the race series with the world’s fastest sports cars. Last year saw the championship undergo a very positive development: It not only increased its worldwide television coverage but, contrary to the overall trend, also enjoyed a huge upturn in spectator numbers.

With factory support from Porsche, Penske Racing, winner of the team title in the last two years, again fields two RS Spyders in the LMP2 class. This is the most fiercely contested class in the American Le Mans Series. It features almost twice as many starters as the second sports prototype LMP1 class and offers fans the most exciting fights for positions. The RS Spyder with starting number #6 is shared by Sascha Maassen (Germany) and his new team mate Patrick Long (USA). The pair receives support from Ryan Briscoe (Australia) in Sebring. Manning the #7 RS Spyder are Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas. Emmanuel Collard (France) joins the duo as the third driver for the season-opening round.

The US privateer Dyson Racing team, supported by Porsche as part of its successful customer racing programme, enters its second season running two RS Spyders. Chris Dyson (USA) and Guy Smith (Great Britain) share the cockpit of the #16 car. Butch Leitzinger (USA) and Marino Franchitti (Great Britain) pilot the #20 RS Spyder. Providing back-up in Sebring is Andy Lally (USA). Horag Racing brings the fifth Porsche-assisted RS Spyder to Sebring. The Swiss privateer racing team celebrates its debut in Florida with the sports prototype from Weissach, before returning across the pond to contest all rounds of the European-based Le Mans Series. With Fredy Lienhard (Switzerland), Didier Theys (Belgium) and Jan Lammers (Netherlands) the team has signed on an experienced line-up for their RS Spyder with starting number 27.

The "Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring" on the 5.950 kilometre airfield circuit is a tough endurance test for both car and driver. Pilots must not only withstand extreme stresses with the many bumps on the circuit, but over the course of the race must tackle 5,500 corners and make around 7,000 gear changes. In the face of such torture, Timo Bernhard remains calm. "We train hard to be top fit from the very first race," he says. In preparation for the season, Porsche put its works drivers through an intensive fitness camp on the Canary island of Fuerteventura, where they received both physical and mental training. Romain Dumas has no problem to start the year with the longest and toughest race. "At least we know immediately where we stand compared to our rivals. Sebring is a fascinating race and an excellent season-opener."

Traditionally, Porsche is also strongly represented in the GT2 class. The customer team, Flying Lizard Motorsports, competes in Sebring with three of the completely modified 911 GT3 RSR racers. The most distinguishing feature of the new GT3 RSR is the front end which received major improvements to the aerodynamics. The majority of innovations however are hidden under the body, where an optimised air ducting with newly-designed side air outlets generates more downforce and reduces drag. Much of the know-how in the GT3 RSR’s totally new gearbox, developed by Porsche engineers, has come from the RS Spyder sports prototype. The range of possible suspension set-ups was broadened.

Sharing driving duties in the #45 Porsche is Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), the 2006 champion and vice champion of last year, with his new team mate and compatriot Wolf Henzler. Providing back-up is their Porsche factory driver colleague Marc Lieb (Germany). Johannes van Overbeek (USA) and the new Porsche works driver Patrick Pilet (France) drive the #46 vehicle, with factory driver team mate Richard Lietz (Austria) as the third driver. In the 911 GT3 RSR with the starting number 44 sit Darren Law (USA), Seth Neiman (USA) and Alex Davison (Australia). The Farnbacher Loles Racing team enters a 911 GT3 RSR for Dirk Werner (Germany) and Marc Basseng (Germany).

The Sebring 12 hour race starts on Saturday, 15 March 2008, at 10.00 am local time (16.00 CET).

 

American Le Mans Series – 2008 calendar

15 March

Sebring

Florida

05 April

St. Petersburg

Florida

19 April

Long Beach

California

18 May

Salt Lake City

Utah

12 July

Lime Rock

Connecticut

19 July

Mid-Ohio

Ohio

09 August

Road America

Wisconsin

24 August

Mosport

Canada

30 August

Detroit

Michigan

04 October

Road Atlanta (Petit Le Mans)

Georgia

18 October

Laguna Seca

California

 

Facts and Figures American Le Mans Series

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999. The regulations are based on the rules of the Le Mans 24 hour race. This season eleven rounds will be contested in the USA and Canada. The traditional highlights of the year are the Sebring 12 hour race and the 1,000 mile "Petit Le Mans" race in Road Atlanta. Most races run over 2.45 hours. The ALMS is the American counterpart to the European-based Le Mans Series (LMS).

The starting field consists of two different sports vehicle categories: Sports prototypes and standard sports cars. They are divided into four class

  • LMP1 class
    Sports prototypes with up to 750 hp and a minimum weight of 925 kilograms (in the LMS: 750 hp/900 kilograms)
  • LMP2 class
    Sports prototypes with around 475 hp and an 800 kilogram minimum weight (in the LMS: 475 hp/825 kg). The Porsche RS Spyder competes in this class
  • GT1 class
    Heavily modified standard sports cars with up to 650 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (in the LMS: 650 hp/1,125 – 1,325 kilograms)
  • GT2 class
    Slightly modified standard sports cars with between 450 hp to 470 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (in the LMS: 450 to 470 hp/1,125 – 1,325 kilograms). The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR competes in this class

All race cars start together but are classified separately according to the class. This system ensures diverse and gripping racing with many overtaking manoeuvres. Points are only allocated for placings in each class. Championship titles are awarded in the LMP1 and LMP2 classes for drivers, chassis and engine manufacturers, teams and tyre suppliers. In the GT1 and GT2 classes titles are awarded for drivers, car manufacturer and teams. With the RS Spyder in 2006 and 2007, Porsche won the championship title for drivers (Sascha Maassen/Lucas Luhr and Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas respectively) as well as for manufacturer chassis, manufacturer engine and team (Penske Racing).