AUDI R10, PORSCHE RS SPYDER SET THE PACE ON SECOND DAY OF AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES WINTER TEST

The Audi R10 and Porsche RS Spyder were the fastest cars Tuesday at the American Le Mans Series Winter Test.

Sebring, Fla. - Speeds were up and times were down on the second day of the American Le Mans Series Winter Test, with the Audi R10 heading to the top of the speed chart. Rinaldo Capello turned a 1:48.816 during the second of the three sessions Tuesday at Sebring International Raceway.

This is the first American test for the new diesel-powered prototype, two of which are scheduled to start the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 18.

Next was Penske Racing's Porsche RS Spyder, with Lucas Luhr posting a lap of 1:49.477 during the day's first 90-minute session. Third on Tuesday was Andy Wallace in Highcroft Racing's No. 9 AER-powered Lola EX257-AER, a 1:49.547 effort.

On its first day at the Winter Test, Flying Lizard Motorsports' No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR posted the fastest time among all GT2 cars at 2:03.361 with Mike Rockenfeller at the wheel. Rockenfeller worked with the team Tuesday to assist in the setup process. Seth Neiman and Lonnie Pechnik are driving the car this week, as well. The car actually was the fastest GT2 entry in each of the three sessions.

Next was Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz's No. 50 Panoz Esperante of Gunnar Jeannette and Scott Maxwell. Jeannette posted a 2:04.664 in the afternoon session.

MUSICAL CHAIRS: There were a number of faces in different places Tuesday during the three test sessions. Oh, where to start?

Andy Wallace is assisting Highcroft Racing as it tests the No. 9 Lola EX257-AER.

Andy Wallace turned a number of laps Tuesday afternoon – and Monday – in Highcroft Racing's Lola EX257-AER. That's the No. 16 Dyson Racing entry that Wallace piloted last year at Sebring and at Petit Le Mans.

"It's nice to see our old cars here," Chris Dyson said. "There's no one better to give some feedback on the car than Andy."

Tom Milner took a turn in Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz's Panoz Esperante GTLM on Tuesday morning. Larry Holt, Multimatic's vice president and team technical director was quite pleased Milner's performance.

In addition, BMW Team PTG says that Graham Rahal will test in one of its BMW M3s on Wednesday.

FULL CIRCLE FOR B-K: B-K Motorsports is back where it all began as far as the American Le Mans Series goes. It was 10 months ago that the team's LMP2 program got off the ground with an announcement at last year's 12 Hours.

B-K Motorsports and Mazda are at Sebring in an LMP2 for the first time since it announced its program 10 months ago.

So far, the team's first Winter Test has gone extremely well. Guy Cosmo was very upbeat Tuesday afternoon. He had tested the car in the morning, and Raphael Matos took the car out during the afternoon. Both Cosmo and Matos are former Star Mazda North America champions, and both have extensive

"In (the Courage), you hit the bump and you have to trust that you'll have the same grip when you hit the track again," Cosmo said. "We had a little trouble in the morning with that but I think we've solved it."

HELLO OLLIE: Corvette Racing's Oliver Gavin rolled into Sebring on Monday night and spent part of Tuesday at the race track visiting with Dyson Racing. Gavin, who won the 2005 GT1 drivers championship with teammate Olivier Beretta, will drive for Dyson at Daytona this weekend.

Corvette Racing has a test session scheduled at Sebring for three days in early February. Early reports indicate the new version of the Corvette C6.R has been solid so far, but there's always room for some form of improvement.

On a side note, Gavin said that 3-month-old Fergus is doing quite well. Of course, Dad couldn't be prouder.

AROUND THE PADDOCK: Audi Sport North America's two Audi R10s didn't make the three-hour afternoon session. Capello suffered a puncture as he left pit lane during the day's second session, which the team said was caused by the bodywork slicing the rubber. The team expects to be back on track Wednesday. … Penske Racing's Porsche RS Spyder had to deal with a couple of engine issues early, the most notable a small fire during Tuesday's second session. By the afternoon, though, the car was running normally – which is to say among the quickest cars on the track. … Marino Franchitti and Bryan Sellers, who drove the No. 51 Panoz Esperante last year for Panoz Motor Sports, were in the pits checking out the performance of the No. 50 car late Tuesday.

The American Le Mans Series Winter Test concludes today with two four-hour sessions at Sebring International Raceway.

American Le Mans Series Winter Test
Session 4

1. Capello, 1:48.816 (122.408 mph), Audi R10 (LMP1)
2. Dyson/Weaver, 1:52.288 (118.624 mph), Lola B06/10-AER (LMP1)
3. Field/Field/Halliday, 1:52.676 (118.215 mph), Lola B05/40-AER (LMP2)
4. Biela, 1:54.037 (116.804 mph), Audi R10 (LMP1)
5. Dayton/Knoop/Fisken/Wallace, 1:57.101 (113.748 mph), Lola EX257-AER (LMP1)
6. Cosmo/Matos, 1:57.244 (113.609 mph), Courage C65-Mazda (LMP2)
7. Neiman/Pechnik, 2:04.952 (106.601 mph), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2)
8. van Overbeek/Fogarty, 2:05.031 (106.534 mph), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2)
9. Jeannette/Maxwell, 2:05.243 (106.353 mph), Panoz Esperante LMGT (GT2)
10. Tomlinson/Kimber-Smith/Hughes, 2:05.958 (105.750 mph), Panoz Esperante LMGT (GT2)
11. Hand/Marks, 2:06.504 (105.293 mph), BMW E46 M3 (GT2)
12. Ehret/Nielsen/Farnbacher, 2:07.167 (104.744 22 mph), Porsche GT3 RSR (GT2)
13. Auberlen/Milner, 2:08.920 (103.320 mph), BMW E46 M3 (GT2)
14. Maassen/Luhr/Collard, 2:18.603 (96.102 mph), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)
Session 6

1. Dayton/Knoop/Fisken/Wallace, 1:49.547 (121.592 mph), Lola EX257-AER (LMP1)
2. Field/Field/Halliday, 1:50.231 (120.837 mph), Lola B05/40-AER (LMP2)
3. Maassen/Luhr/Collard, 1:50.313 (120.747 mph), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)
4. Dyson/Weaver, 1:50.359 (120.697 mph), Lola B06/10-AER (LMP1)
5. Cosmo/Matos, 1:56.696 (114.143 mph), Courage C65-Mazda (LMP2)
6. Neiman/Pechnik, 2:03.361 (107.976 mph), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2)
7. Jeannette/Maxwell, 2:04.664 (106.847 mph), Panoz Esperante LMGT (GT2)
8. Tomlinson/Kimber-Smith/Hughes, 2:04.903 (106.643 mph), Panoz Esperante LMGT (GT2)
9. Hand/Marks, 2:05.170 (106.415 mph), BMW E46 M3 (GT2)
10. Ehret/Nielsen/Farnbacher, 2:05.298 (106.307 mph), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2)
11. van Overbeek/Fogarty, 2:05.750 (105.924 mph), Porsche GT3 RSR (GT2)
12. Auberlen/Milner, 2:38.304 (84.142 mph), BMW E46 M3 (GT2)

WINTER TEST AT SEBRING OPENS SEASON FOR AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES

Two Audi R10s will make their on-track debut in America next week at the American Le Mans Series Winter Test.

Braselton, Ga. - Several hundred representatives of the media, teams, manufacturers and corporate sponsors will convene at Sebring International Raceway on January 23-25 for the second annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test, marking the unofficial opening of the Series' 2006 season.

This year's Winter Test features 14 teams, including the long-awaited American debut of the innovative diesel-powered Audi R10 prototype. A year ago, the Audi R8 stalwart, under the auspices of Champion Racing, captured the Series championship as well as key titles in the world's most difficult endurance races – the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans and the storied 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, great anticipation reigns for Audi's next generation race car, the R10, two of which are expected at the Winter Test.

Audi is not the only team with a new race car. Dyson Racing brings its new Lola B06/10-AER to Sebring for the first time, hoping to challenge Audi and make a run at the 2006 overall championship. Dyson Racing captured six poles and podium spots at every race last year, winning at Mid-Ohio and Mosport. The other LMP1 prototype at Sebring will be the new Highcroft Racing team, which will be testing in a Lola EX257-AER.

Porsche and Penske Racing will try to wrestle the LMP2 championship away from Intersport Racing in 2006.

Penske Racing heads the LMP2 class at the Winter Test. The Porsche RS Spyder made a spectacular debut with a victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in the Series' finale last year. Although Penske Racing will field two Porsche teams this year, it will only test one car next week. All six Porsche drivers – Sascha Maassen, Lucas Luhr, Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard, Patrick Long and Emmanuel Collard – are expected to test in the car. Long and Collard have been signed for the endurance races at Sebring and Petit Le Mans (Road Atlanta) and will have other assignments during the season.

Other LMP2 teams testing will be class champion Interport Racing (Lola B05/40-AER) with Clint Field, Jon Field and Liz Halliday; B-K Motorsports with its Courage C65-Mazda featuring last year's Rookies of the Year Guy Cosmo and Jamie Bach; and 2004 class champion Miracle Motorsports, which sports a Courage C65-AER.

The GT classes are highlighted by the return of BMW and the introduction of Lexus to GT2. BMW will bring two M3s to the Test operated by BMW of North America's Team PTG. Lexus will not have a car at the Winter Test but is expected to have representatives on site in preparation for its debut at the 12-hour race in March. Both BMW and Lexus will compete for points in GT2; however, they will be entered as GT2S, a classification created to encourage racing for high performance luxury coupes and sedans.

Two Panoz Esperantes, one from Team LNT, will be among the several GT2 entries at the American Le Mans Series Winter Test.

Other GT2 race cars at the Winter Test include two Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs from Flying Lizard Motorsports and two Panoz Esperante GTLMs, one from Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz and the other from England's Team LNT. Multimatic Motorsports, long involved with the Panoz factory effort, was handed control of the Panoz effort during the offseason with the goal of improving upon last season's sole win at the Grand Prix of Atlanta.

Track hours for the Sebring Winter Test will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. American Le Mans Series cars will be on the track for three daily intervals – 9-10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; and 3-6 p.m.

The American Le Mans Series opens its season March 18 with the 54th running of America's greatest sports car race – the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The race will be telecast by SPEED Channel beginning at 10 a.m. and carried live in Europe by MotorsTV. Greenlight Television will distribute the race to more than 500 million households through three different weekly motorsports anthology programs.

BMW ANNOUNCES RETURN TO AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES WITH TEAM PTG

BMW is returning to the American Le Mans Series in 2006 and is the latest high-end manufacturer to enter the series.

Braselton, Ga. - Returning to the stage where it successfully battled for GT glory in the early days of the American Le Mans Series, BMW has confirmed its full factory re-entry into North America's premier sports car series for 2006. It is the latest manufacturer to enter the American Le Mans Series, which opens its season March 18 at the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

"Today we welcome The Ultimate Driving Machine back to the ultimate professional sports car racing series – and we could not be more pleased," said Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the American Le Mans Series. "This announcement fulfills one of the ‘predictions' that was referenced during my State of the Series address in September. This continues the string of positive announcements and builds upon the momentum that has been growing within the American Le Mans Series over the past year."

BMW represents a piece of the foundation on which the American Le Mans Series was built in 1999. An active member of the series both on and off the track, the marque has a rich history of GT racing with its M3 and M3 GTR, and also in prototype racing.

BMW will go down in series history as the winner of the first race in the history of the American Le Mans Series. JJ Lehto, Tom Kristensen and Jorg Muller piloted a BMW V12 LMR to victory in the 1999 Twelve Hours of Sebring. That same year, BMW became the first team from the American Le Mans Series to win the overall championship at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In all, BMW teams have won 15 times in the series – nine in GT2 and six in LMP1.

Some of the most recognizable names in sports car racing have driven for BMW: Lehto, Kristensen, Hans Stuck, Boris Said and Bill Auberlen, to name a few. Now five years after it last won in the American Le Mans Series, BMW is back.

"The American Le Mans Series represents authentic, world-class sports car racing that is a perfect fit for BMW's authentic, world-class road cars," Atherton said. "It has been a mutually frustrating separation, but with today's announcement we are all back together in the right place."

By returning to GT, BMW will renew its battle with fellow German manufacturer, Porsche, along with competing against the factory-supported Panoz Esperante effort of Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz and other teams to come. For the first three years of the American Le Mans Series, Porsche and BMW went head-to-head for class honors. BMW won the 2001 GT manufacturers' championship, and BMW teams captured two of the first three team championships in class.

Team PTG will field two factory-backed BMW M3s in the 2006 American Le Mans Series' new GT2S class for sedan-style cars.

For its return, Team PTG (Prototype Technology Group) will carry the BMW banner. Team PTG has a place in American Le Mans Series lore, having won the series' first GT team championship behind a stable of drivers including Stuck, Said, Johannes van Overbeek, Brian and Peter Cunningham, and Brian Simo.

"BMW of North America's racing operations, run by Tom Milner's Prototype Technology Group, is a textbook example of the type of program the American Le Mans Series is all about," Atherton said. "They represent the addition of another very professional team with manufacturer support behind them and top level drivers."

"In 2006, BMW fans will see more M3s racing in professional sports car championships than ever before," said Larry Koch, M Brand Manager for BMW of North America, LLC. "With BMW Team PTG ensuring that ‘the car is the star' in the American Le Mans Series … we are anticipating another stellar racing season."

Team PTG, BMW's primary U.S. motorsports research and development team for the manufacturer's M3 model, will go down in history again in 2006. The two-car effort will be the first of what is expected to be many entrants in the new GT2S class, a subcategory of GT2. Created by IMSA to encourage passenger car participation for sedan-style cars, all GT2S teams will compete for GT2 points and podium positions in the American Le Mans Series, but they will not be eligible for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

BMW and Team PTG will receive tire support from long-time partner Yokohama for the 2006 American Le Mans Series season.

"This is a historic occasion for everyone at the American Le Mans Series and IMSA," said Tim Mayer, IMSA's COO. "Expanding our grid and increasing the level of competition in our fields is one of our primary goals. It doesn't get much better than bringing back BMW and Team PTG to our series in this capacity."

As was the case in the early days of the series, Yokohama will be the tire supplier for BMW and Team PTG. It was a partnership that worked extremely well in the past.

"We are very excited to renew our motorsports relationship with BMW in the American Le Mans Series," said Robert Dole, Yokohama Product Promotions Manager. "Using the ADVAN race tire, we look forward to building on our past successes with BMW/Team PTG and once again giving the loyal BMW fans something to cheer about in ALMS competition."

All three will return as a team at the American Le Mans Series' Wheels Down Winter Test Days at Sebring International Raceway on Jan. 23-25.

"Along with their long-time partner, Yokohama, we are confident BMW will pick up where they left off with their cars challenging for the GT2 podium at all our events," Atherton said.

For the past two seasons, Team PTG has competed in the Rolex Series' GT class, reeling off 17 victories in 26 events and winning the 2004 manufacturer's championship. That series' decision to allow tube-framed GT chassis with a bolt-on body didn't meet the mindset of BMW to directly market its wares.

Instead, the marque opted for the American Le Mans Series, the only form of motorsport in the world that promotes diversity and imagination among its entries.

"Over the past few months we have announced new teams, new manufacturers, new sponsors, new events in important markets and the best overall television package in American Le Mans Series history," Atherton said. "BMW has recognized all of this and has again embraced the American Le Mans Series as the best fit for its business plan. BMW rejoins the host of other premium brands that have been actively benefiting from the unmatched ROI and genuine sports car competition the American Le Mans Series provides."

BMW's reach is a global one. Because it sells cars all over the world, it has developed one of the largest followings in the world from car owners. BMW will be one of many manufacturers to hold car corrals at American Le Mans Series events in 2006. Owners and fans were the most active group the series saw when BMW competed in the American Le Mans Series, and its return to the series will only strengthen that following.

"The biggest winners today are BMW fans. They have missed the American Le Mans Series and we have missed them," Atherton said. "We received more emails and letters from frustrated BMW fans than all other owners groups combined. But today we put everyone back where they have always wanted to be. We couldn't be happier about this news and I know BMW fans feel the same way."

LEXUS TO JOIN GROWING AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES

 

Lexus is the second premium automobile manufacturer in three days to announce its entry into the American Le Mans Series.

Braselton, Ga. - Culminating an unprecedented week of competitor growth, the American Le Mans Series announced today Lexus as the second of two elite manufacturers that in a three-day span have made commitments to field a two-car, factory-backed racing program for the 2006 season.

For its "Passionate Pursuit of Perfection," Lexus will compete with a pair of IS 350 sport sedans in the American Le Mans Series' GT2S class.

"Much like we hope the new IS will become, we view the American Le Mans Series as an aspirational series," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter. "It's an ideal fit for Lexus because it celebrates the technology and performance inherent in the best cars."

Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the American Le Mans Series, echoed those thoughts.

"The Lexus brand coming into the American Le Mans Series is as close to a natural fit as we could ever imagine," Atherton said. "When anyone mentions Lexus, many of the same attributes that are associated with the American Le Mans Series come to mind – words like luxury, high performance, leading-edge technology, style and quality describe both brands. On behalf of the series, and its manufacturers and competitors, we are proud and honored to welcome Lexus into our competitive ranks."

Lexus is the second premium manufacturer to announce its participation in the American Le Mans Series this week. Tuesday, BMW confirmed its plan to bring two factory-backed M3s to the series grid starting at the 54th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.

Lexus will join with its racing partner Team Lexus, which will build, develop and campaign the new cars with technical assistance and backing from Lexus. Work already has started on preparing the IS 350s for the 2006 American Le Mans Series, and driver lineups will be announced at a later date.

 

Lexus joins BMW as the second high-end marque to announce entry into GT2S for 2006.

Cars competing in GT2S are not eligible for the 24 Hours of Le Mans at this time. However, GT2S entries will be classified in the GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series and will be eligible to score championship points. Series officials are working closely with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) to evaluate the involvement of GT2S cars in the American Le Mans Series with the possibility of making them eligible for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the future.

 

Riley Technologies Looks to Build LeMans Prototype

Indianapolis, Ind. - The reputable American race car builder, Riley Technologies, has set its sights on building LeMans Prototypes for the P1 and P2 classes.

Bob Riley, who has been building race cars for over five decades, and his son, Bill Riley, who currently oversees the successful Grand American Riley chassis program, believe it is time for a quality American-made LeMans chassis effort.

"We have designed and built winning cars in the past, including the successful Riley Mk.III from the former IMSA race days and the current Mk.XI, which is experiencing huge success in Grand Am competition for the past two years," said the younger Riley. "Additionally, the new LeMans rules will be to our advantage because of the specified undertray and our history of optimizing new rules packages. We have proven numerous times that we can build a winning chassis. Now we want to do it with prototypes at LeMans."

"We currently have two parallel programs – one for an open cockpit car, and one for a closed cockpit," said Bob Riley, who has numerous wins in all arenas of motorsports. "The closed design features less drag, while the open car has a lower CG (center of gravity) and more ballast to shift, as required."

Features of the currently named Riley Mk.XII chassis include a carbon fiber tub, power steering and paddle shifting. The body is developed using CFD, full-scale wind tunnel and coast down testing.

Customer support will include an expanded parts department, similar to the service currently being provided in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series in the United States.

Riley Technologies already has a reputation for building winning cars at a reasonable cost. As interest in the program gears up, this will be a strong factor that car owners and engineers see as a viable strength. Riley Technologies is likely the only leading race car manufacturer in America to take on a program of this scope at this time.

MAASSEN EAGER FOR NEW YEAR, NEW SEASON IN PORSCHE RS SPYDER

Braselton, Ga. - As other drivers enjoy a few weeks between race seasons, Sascha Maassen is anxious to get back on track. The German Porsche factory driver, now living in Raeren, Belgium, spent 2005 testing the new Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 car in preparation for its victorious American Le Mans Series debut in October at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Now he's ready for more race action.

In 2006, Maassen will share the No. 6 Spyder with his long-time co-driver, Lucas Luhr of Monaco. The pair will compete in the American Le Mans Series with Penske Motorsports, which will field the car for Porsche Cars North America.

"I'm very happy to be back for a full season with Lucas, after this year testing together and only one race. This is the biggest program I've ever been involved with. The car is very nice to drive and we expect to be successful with it," Maassen said.

The team's first challenge of the season will be the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway on March 18.

"It's the toughest race of the year, so we are preparing the car and ourselves as much as possible during the winter," Maassen said. "After the 12 Hours of Sebring, you feel like someone who has been on a ship for a long time – you cannot walk straight!"

LMP2 vs. F3
Although 2006 will be Maassen's first full season of prototype racing, he is already at home in the LMP2 car. He noted the prototype is "completely different" from the GT2-class Porsches in which he won three championships, but it is similar to the Formula 3 cars he drove early in his career.

"I learned a lot in F3, where the car has a lot of grip but limited horsepower. This is a similar combination in the prototype. It's a very good car, with good grip, but the engine power is limited due to the series rules. So you need the same kind of driving style as in F3."