Pierre Kaffer back with Flying Lizards
As a continuation of the Rolex 24 at Daytona program earlier this year, Flying Lizard Motorsports will return to Sebring International Raceway with Krohn Racing.
Audi Sport ‘pool’ driver Pierre Kaffer will again join the team, bringing in a strong resume at this event having previously won the 12 Hour three times. In addition to two GT2 wins in 2009 and 2010, the German driver also won the event overall in 2004, in the Audi R8 LMP1.
“I’m happy to be back with the team this weekend,” said Kaffer. “I think we were unlucky in Daytona and I’m pretty sure we will have some more luck over here in Sebring. It’s one of my favorite tracks in United States and it`s nice to be back in an Audi after my win in 2004 overall.”
“We are looking forward to getting back to Sebring for the 12 Hour,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “It’s such a historic event and one of my favorites on our schedule. Flying Lizard has had some epic races there through the years, and have won this event before. Our Audi R8 LMS will be sure to have a competitive package heading into the event. We have a good driver lineup and hope to be back on the top step of the podium again.”
Alegra to Debut Riley BMW At Sebring
Alegra Motorsports #24 ex Starworks Riley BMW DP provides a very welcome additional Prototype entry for the 2016 12 Hours of Sebring.
Team owner and veteran driver Carlos de Quesada, will share the driving duties with three young stars: Canadian Daniel Morad, Floridian Cameron Lawrence, and Dominik Farnbacher.
The team’s car wasn’t ready for the season opener at Daytona but beginning with Saturday’s race at Sebring, Alegra plans to compete in the other three races that make up the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup (NAEC), In addition, the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is also on the team’s schedule.
At Sebring, NAEC points are awarded at the four-hour mark, the eight-hour mark and at the finish of the once-around-the-clock enduro on the bumpy, 3.74-mile, 17-turn road course. That will add another challenge to the strategy devised by the team’s respected manager, Andy Greene.
Lawrence was one of the winners of the NAEC last year in the GTD class. He and Farnbacher also had GTD class victories in the Rolex 24 last year. That was Farnbacher’s second Rolex 24 victory, as he also won the GT class at the 2005 Rolex 24. de Quesada joins them as a Rolex 24 class winner, as he was a GT class winner in 2007 in an Alegra Motorsports/Fiorano Racing Porsche GT3 Cup.
Morad doesn’t have a Rolex 24 victory yet but he was the American Formula BMW champion in 2007 before other open-wheel success in Atlantics, A1 Grand Prix and GP3. He and 16-year-old Michael de Quesada, Carlos’s son, are currently focusing on the tough Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada series, where Alegra and Porsche Centre Oakville Motorsport field multiple entries. Carlos de Quesada was that series’ Gold Cup champion in 2013, and Morad finished second in the top class, Platinum Cup, last year as a rookie.
Starworks Fields Different Driver Line-up
After a difficult few weeks, Starworks Motorsports will return to Sebring with a two car effort for the Twelve Hours of Sebring.
In late February, one of the team semi-tractor trailers was stolen from the Popano Beach race shop and was eventually found late that night, abandoned in the Everglades, thanks to a tip from a follower on twitter.
The team also had to send one of its ORECAs back to Europe when it reached its maximum time allowed in the United States. Once reimported, the car had a new motor installed, as well as a complete replacement of all electronics.
“Despite all the struggles of the last month and a half, I think we are ready to get our first win this season,” said Starworks Motorsports owner Peter Baron. “I believe we have the two strongest lineups in our class.”
The team won the event 2012 class with drivers Ryan Dalziel, Enzo Potolicchio and Stephane Sarrazin. Heading into the second race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Starworks will slightly modify its driver lineup from Round One at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Driving the #8 ORECA FLM0 will be full season drivers Alex Popow and Renger van der Zande. David Heinemeier Hansson will replace the Daytona lineup of Jack Hawksworth and Chris Cumming, for this event as well as Sebring. Between Popow, van der Zande and Heinemeier Hansson, the #8 car represents one Sebring win (Popow) and four podium finishes.
“I’m extremely happy to also have David Heinemeier Hansson in our cars for Sebring and the Petit,” said Baron. “There is no doubt David is one of the fastest silvers out there currently. He was second last year and he’s back to get the win.”
Three Sebring rookies will run in the #88 Popcorn Sutton ORECA, with Daytona drivers Sean Johnston and Maro Engel. Forced to withdraw due to a prior commitment, full season driver Mark Kvamme will be replaced by British racer Michael Lyons. Most recently, the 25 year old finished 2nd in the Blancpain Endurance Pro-Cup in 2015.
“It’s unfortunate that Mark Kvamme could not make it, he will be extremely missed,” said Baron. “We’re happy to introduce Michael Lyons to IMSA racing as he fills in for Mark. Michael comes to us with an exceptional record and a great deal experience in prototype cars.”
“I was thrilled when Peter called me with the opportunity to fill in for Kvamme,” said Lyons. “I’ve known of Starworks for a long time after seeing their success in Europe winning WEC and Le Mans in P2 back in 2012. I’m really looking forward to making my debut race in the United States at such an iconic event as the Twelve Hours of Sebring! With the strong teammates I have in Sean and Maro we should stand a good chance.”
“I believe we have the two strongest lineups in our class,” concluded Baron. “I believe if we can avoid any luck either good, or bad we have two cars that are serious threats for the win.”
The drivers and crew just completed a one day test at Sebring International Raceway in the #88
PR1/ Mathiasen Shuffle pack too
Defending Sebring PC winner Tom Kimber-Smith will have new co-drivers in the #52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA FLM09, joined by Robert Alon and Jose Gutierrez.
Prototype Challenge Class Upgrades Arrive
Core Autosports and JDC/ Miller trialled a range of upgrades to the now rather ‘senior’ PC class ORECAs at the recent IMSA Sebring test.
The upgraded cars featured a new electronics system and a larger engine for the class, which will see its competition debut this week.
“Certainly, we will match the traffic much better on cold tires and in the rain,” said Bennett, who joined Core driver Colin Braun in winning at Sebring in 2014. “In normal competition, the new enhancements will make the PC a bit faster and easier to drive quickly. How each team and driver adapts over the next few races will be interesting to watch.”
