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 Porsche 911 RSR (#911), Porsche North America: Richard Lietz, Patrick Pilet, Nick Tandy |
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Tudor United SportsCar Championship, round 2: 12 Hours of Sebring, USA Porsche aims to repeat last year’s victory at Florida’s sports car classic Stuttgart. The Sebring 12 Hours is the oldest and toughest sports car race in the USA. Three Porsche 911 RSR will tackle the GTLM class at the 63rd running of the prestigious classic contested on the Sebring International Raceway on 21 March. For the Porsche North America works team and the Falken Tire customer squad, eight works drivers will do their utmost to repeat Porsche’s win from last year on the airfield circuit in the heart of Florida, which is notorious for its bumpy surface. With 18 overall victories and 67 class wins, Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in the history of the Sebring 12 hour race. The race Porsche drivers Last year’s winners Jörg Bergmeister (Germany) as well as Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Frédéric Makowiecki (France) share driving duties in the number 912 vehicle. Tackling the race for the Falken Tire customer outfit are the Porsche works drivers Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA), reinforced by Bryan Sellers (USA). Porsche Junior Connor de Phillippi (USA) contests the GTD class at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT America fielded by Muehlner Motorsports. 
The Porsche vehicles  Porsche 911 RSR (#912), Porsche North America: Jörg Bergmeister, Earl Bamber, Frédéric Makowiecki The Porsche 911 GT America, built specifically for the GTD class of the 2014-inaugurated Tudor United SportsCar Championship, features a four-litre, six-cylinder engine and also produces 470 hp. The vehicle is an improved version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, the most successful and widely-produced race car in the world. Porsche’s successes The schedule Comments before the race  Dr. Frank Walliser, Overall 918 Spyder Project Manager Patrick Pilet (#911): “Sebring is a very special race on a very special circuit. It’s always a hard fight for victory and the avid fans give the whole event a fantastic ambience.” 
Nick Tandy (#911): “It’s always a highlight to compete in Sebring, regardless in which series you compete for the rest of the year. On this storied track you truly breathe sports car history and that fascinates me.”  Porsche North America: Nick Tandy Richard Lietz (#911): “Sebring is a race that throws extremes at you. You can’t afford to make the slightest error – if you do you have no chance.” 
Earl Bamber (#912): “It didn’t go so well for us at Daytona, so now I’m hoping we can make up lost ground in the championship at Sebring.” 
Jörg Bergmeister (#912): “Sebring is a real classic. To drive at the limit on this bumpy track takes everything from a driver. But it’s always huge fun.” 
Frédéric Makowiecki (#912): “At Daytona we weren’t able to really underline the potential of the 911 RSR over the whole distance. Now I’m hoping we can do this in Sebring and fight for victory.”  Porsche North America: Frédéric Makowiecki Wolf Henzler (#17): “Last year Sebring was the first race with the 911 RSR for my Falken Tire team. Since then we’ve won Petit Le Mans and now I reckon our chances for victory in Sebring look good as well.”  Team Falken Tire: Wolf Henzler Patrick Long (#17): “Even though I’m concentrating on my WEC campaign with Patrick Dempsey, I’m looking forward to the chance of supporting Wolf and Bryan in Sebring.”  Team Falken Tire: PatrickLong This is the Tudor United SportsCar Championship The series was formed from the merger of the American Le Mans Series and the Grand-Am Series. Sports prototypes and sports cars start in four different classes: GTLM (GT Le Mans), GTD (GT Daytona), P (Prototype) and PC (Prototype Challenge). The Porsche 911 RSR runs in the GTLM class, with the Porsche 911 GT America contesting the GTD class. Source: |
Tag Archives: 12 Hours of Sebring
Porsche aims to repeat last year’s victory at Florida’s sports car classic, 12 Hours of Sebring, USA
RACE REPORT: Porsche pilots narrowly miss podium at season final ALMS rd 10 Braselton, USA
American Le Mans Series, round 10 in Braselton, USA
Porsche pilots narrowly miss podium at season final
Stuttgart. At the Petit Le Mans, the final round of the American Le Mans Series season on the storied Road Atlanta circuit, Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Patrick Long (USA) and Patrick Pilet (France) narrowly missed out on a podium placing after becoming faultlessly entangled in an accident.
But despite an additional stop-and-go penalty, they finished the 1,000 mile race on the challenging course in the U.S. state of Georgia fifth in the GT class at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports.
“I tried to overtake a Ferrari and was right up next to him when he suddenly turned in and forced me onto the grass,” said Joerg Bergmeister.“I don’t understand why it should have been my fault and why I was punished for it. But the race director decided it should be so and therefore ruined our race.”
“To lose the vice-championship in this manner is of course bitter,” said Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “The teams and drivers battled hard but it simply wasn’t enough.”
Patrick Pilet added, “We put in a super fight for the podium but toward the end the car became very difficult to drive.”
Patrick Long, who won in Lime Rock this season and came second at three races with Joerg Bergmeister, is now looking ahead to the next season.
“At the last six races we earned the most points of anyone. That makes me very optimistic for the future. We could easily have brought home a podium result today. The penalty handed to Joerg cost us the victory. The whole team then tried everything and used a great strategy to keep us in contention, but after the accident the car was no longer fast enough. Still, it was a good season for us.”
In the 911 GT3 RSR entry of Falken Tire, Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany)
and his teammates Bryan Sellers (USA)
and Martin Ragginger (Austria) scored sixth place.
“We can be pleased with this result today,” said Henzler. “Our pit stops were good, we came in at exactly the right time, but we just couldn’t hold the pace of the front-runner. Falken will now use the winter break to develop the tyres further and I’m certain that we will have made great strides forward at the season-opener in Sebring next year.”
Porsche works driver Marco Holzer (Germany), who drove the second Flying Lizard Porsche
with Seth Neiman (USA)
and Nick Tandy (Great Britain), took the flag in seventh and said,
“Our pace was good in the race, much better than in qualifying. After an off which cost us a lot of time we managed to fight our way up again. My first full season in the American Le Mans Series was a great experience, not least because of the pole position in Elkhart Lake.”
Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria) supported regular pilots Sascha Maassen (Germany) and Bryce Miller (USA) in the cockpit of Paul Miller Racing’s 911 GT3 RSR. He commented on the team’s tenth position,
“Several times we had to pit earlier to change the tyres and that cost us time. So for us it was all about getting the car to the finish line in one piece. The work with the team was a really interesting experience for me.”
At his debut in the American Le Mans Series, Kuba Giermaziak (Poland), who normally contests the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, clinched victory in the GTC class. He won withHenrique Cisneros (Mexico) and Mario Farnbacher (Germany) at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
The Petit Le Mans was also the season final of the European Le Mans Series.
In the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR run by the IMSA Performance Matmut squad, Frenchmen Nicolas Armindo, Raymond Narac and Anthony Pons won the GTE Am class and secured overall victory in the European counterpart to the American Le Mans Series.
Porsche’s Head of Motorsport Hartmut Kristen commented,
“To contest a ten hour race without making any mistakes in the fight for the title is no easy feat. You can only congratulate the team on this performance.”
Result
GT class
1. Sharp/van Overbeek/Vilander (USA/USA/SF), Ferrari F458 Italia, 375 laps
2. Magnussen/Garcia/Taylor (DK/E/USA), Chevrolet Corvette, 375
3. J. Müller/Auberlen/Summerton (D/USA/USA), BMW E92 M3, 374
4. D. Müller/Alzen/Summerton (D/D/USA), BMW E92 M3, 373
5. Bergmeister/Long/Pilet (D/USA/F), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 373
6. Henzler/Sellers/Ragginger (D/USA/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 372
7. Holzer/Neiman/Tandy (D/USA/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 369
10. Maassen/Miller/Lietz (D/USA/A), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 367
GTC class
1. Giermaziak/Farnbacher/Cisneros (PL/D/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 356
2. di Gulda/Pumpelly/Canache (VEN/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 351
3. Collard/Gutierrez/Hedlund (F/MEX/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 351
Points’ standings
GT class
Drivers
1. Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner, Chevrolet, 146 points
2. Scott Sharp, Johannes van Overbeek, Ferrari, 123
3. Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, Chevrolet, 121
4. Dirk Müller, BMW, 112
5. Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Porsche, 111
6. Bill Auberlen, Jörg Müller, BMW, 107
7. Joey Hand, BMW, 91
8. Wolf Henzler, Bryan Sellers, Porsche, 81
9. Sascha Maassen, Bryce Miller, Porsche, 55
10. Seth Neiman, Porsche, 53
12. Marco Holzer, Porsche, 46
Manufacturers
1. Chevrolet, 187 points
2. BMW, 155
3. Porsche, 153
4. Ferrari, 149
Teams
1. Corvette Racing, Chevrolet, 187 points
2. BMW Team RLL, BMW, 150
3. Extreme Speed Motorsports, Ferrari, 125
4. Flying Lizard Motorsports, Porsche, 122
5. Team Falken Tire, Porsche, 81
6. Paul Miller Racing, Porsche, 55
The 2013 ALMS calendar
The 2013 race calendar of the American Le Mans Series which was announced on Friday includes the following races:
16 March: Sebring/Florida
20 April: Long Beach/California
18 May: Laguna Seca/ California
06 July: Lime Rock/Connecticut
21 July: Bowmanville/Canada
11 August: Road America/Wisconsin
31 August: Baltimore/Maryland
21 September: Austin/Texas
05 October: Alton/Virginia
19 October: Road Atlanta/Georgia
This is the American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999 for sports prototypes and GT vehicles. The field is divided into five classes that start together but are classified separately:
GT class:
American Le Mans Series (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This most popular class among car manufacturers traditionally receives the most support: Slightly modified standard sports cars with 440 to 500 hp and a minimum weight of 1,245 kilograms (e.g. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR).
GTC class: This class is reserved for vehicles from one-make race series like the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 550 hp and a minimum weight of 900 kilograms.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with ca. 440 hp and a 900 kg minimum weight.
LMPC class: Prototype brand trophy series for the ORECA FLM 09.
SOURCE: American Le Mans Series Porsche AG Media Press Database
Communication Porsche AG
Motorsport Press
Porsche works driver Hans Herrmann inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame – Prestigious accolade
Hans Herrmann inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame
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VIDEOS: PORSCHE EXCELLENCE MAGAZINE PORSCHE 904 GTS PHOTO SHOOT AND STORY
From Porsche Excellence Magazine photo shoot Sept 2010 issue, feature story
” 904 Driver “.
1964 Carrera Chassis #0028 – 2.0 Porsche 904 GTS (Gerhard Koch) 7th (2nd in class) [chassis 904 028]
You will see some original sketches done in the early 70’s by the owner in the opening part of video one of the three part videos, along with the exhaust notes coming from the early six cylinder.
You will see Dave Conklin of Porsche Excellence as he goes through his photo shoot and sets up the 904 in different locations.
You will also see the 904 with racing history in motion with the great sounding exhaust note.
Some 904 photos taken during the Porsche Excellence Photo Shoot, in between the filming.
Photo Video Shoot 1 of 3
Photo Video Shoot 2 of 3
Photo Video Shoot 3 of 3
Source: Photos & videos by Nick Moskatow Carrera GTS Club
“904 Driver” Story
A cage-free 904 that’s been on the road since 1972.
Story and Photos by David Conklin
Wow, a 904! ….Is that one of those new kits?” asked the soccer dad leaning out of his “soccer van.” Alex Pollock stepped towards him and replied, “No, that’s the real thing.” “Really? I never thought I would see one of those in Detroit,” said the soccer dad, before dropping his van into gear and slowly pulling away, still glancing back at the diminutive silver racer.
For my part, I’m not sure what’s more out of the ordinary: a 904 in the heart of Detroit or a casual observer in Detroit recognizing it! Detroit is, after all, the home of the Big Three, muscle cars, and rust. While some designers at the domestic automakers indulged themselves with European exotica, “little foreign jobs” weren’t really looked upon kindly here. That was especially true in 1972, when Alex purchased his 904.
Alex’s love affair with Porsche’s first fiberglass flier had started several years earlier and hundreds of miles south of the Motor City — when he was a student at the University of Florida with a passion for sports-car racing. He went to Daytona and Sebring every chance he got. He watched George Follmer win the GT class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in a 904, and promptly fell in love with the car. Away from the track, he purchased a plastic model kit of a 904 and decided that, one day, he would own the real thing.
Once he had graduated from college and was making a good living as an engineer, Alex bought a used 1967 911. He couldn’t shake his hankering for a 904, but as things turned out, the path from plastic model to plastic Porsche was a relatively short one — albeit one punctuated by a move to Detroit and a wedding.
In time, Alex placed a want ad in Hemmings Motor News to see what might surface. Not long after, his phone rang. Uwe Buehl was on the other end, saying that on his lot in Pennsylvania was a 904, white with blue trim and equipped with a four-cam engine that would fit both expectation and budget. It was 904-028, and by 1972 it wasn’t much more than an old, used-up race car. In fact, Alex says he was young and impetuous, and that he should have looked the car over more carefully, calling its condition at the time “tortured.”
The 904 had earned its scars. Its first several years were spent on the racing circuits of Europe. First delivered to Gerhard Koch in Germany, 028 competed in and typically won the GT class in regional Flugplatzrennen (airfield races) in 1964. More noteworthy were a second-place finish in the 500 kilometers of Spa in May and a series of class wins at the Nürburgring, the GP de Paris, and the GP Angola.
With a works ride for 1965, Koch sold 904-028 to Rainer Ising of Munich. Ising and Bernd Degner piloted the car to a significant victory that year: the GT class win in the 84-hour Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring.
In 1966, the Porsche was brought into the U.S. by Uwe Buehl for yet another new owner, Roger Neuman in Pennsylvania. He kept 904-028 for only one year before selling it to fellow Pennsylvanian Dieter Oest, who campaigned it throughout the 1967 season before replacing it with another 904. Continue reading <<<here>>>
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