Porsche Motorsport around the world – March update.
American Le Mans Series, USA
On March 21st, the American Le Mans Series takes off into the racing season with the 57th edition of the 12 Hours of Sebring. The 5.9 kilometre circuit in Florida is known for the extreme demands it places on man and machine. Five works drivers support two customer teams in the GT2 class for near-standard race cars. Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), his compatriot Marc Lieb and the American Patrick Long pilot a ca. 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by Flying Lizard Motorsports. Wolf Henzler (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) team up with Germany’s Dirk Werner to drive the GT3 RSR of Farnbacher Loles. With a total of five 911 GT3 RSR, Porsche customers represent the strongest contingent in the class amongst the 15 starters.
The 12 hour classic has opened the ALMS season since 1999. In the decade to 2008, Porsche customers have claimed eight class victories with various versions of the GT3 R. Two weeks after the marathon on the airfield circuit, the second round in St. Petersburg (4th April) provides competitors with a totally different challenge. The race on the short and twisty 2.8 kilometre track lasts only one hour and 55 minutes through the streets of St. Petersburg on the west coast of Florida.
Le Mans Series - Test festival in Paul Ricard, France
In front of sold-out grandstands, the Le Mans Series test days on the Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France on 8-9 March turned into real thriller. Works driver Emmanuel Collard (France) and Denmark’s Casper Elgaard convincingly topped the time sheets in the class two for Le Mans Prototypes on day one with the Porsche RS Spyder of the Danish Essex team.
The first of five 1,000 kilometre races of the LMS takes off on 5th April on the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. The 4.6 kilometre circuit, with its five left and eight right hand corners, is regarded as highly demanding on aerodynamics and suspension.
Campionato Italiano GT: Porsche represented in all classes
On 29th March in Vallelunga, the Campionato Italiano GT launches into the new season. Porsche customers are represented in all classes. In the top GT2 category, Francisco Cruz-Martin makes another attempt to snatch the title at the wheel of his Autorlando Sport 911 GT3 RSR.
Several teams are expected to contest the GT3 Championship with the 911 GT3 Cup S. In the Trofeo Nazionale CSAI GT Cup, Porsche customers are represented with their GT3 Cup racers.
Japanese Super GT Series: Taisan fastest of the Porsche teams
On March 22nd the Japanese Super GT Championship heads into the new season with a 300 kilometre race on the Okayama circuit. Of the 23 starters, five Porsche race cars line up to contest the GT300 class. At the official test day during the second weekend in March – also held in Okayama – the 911 GT3 RS of the UP Start Taisan team with Haruki Kurosawa and Tsubasa Abe posted the fastest time amongst Porsche. Kurosawa/Abe were only 0.8 seconds shy of the quickest time.
Grand-Am Koni Sportscar Challenge, USA: Strong 911 contingent
Seven Porsche 911s take up the challenge on 15th March on the Miami Homestead Speedway as part of a 28-strong field at the second of eleven Grand-Am Koni Sportscar Challenge rounds. After the first race, Billy Johnson and Tony Buffomante (Team Motorsport Technology Group) lead the Porsche contingent, ranking fourth in the drivers’ classification. Porsche sits third in the manufacturers’ classification. The race in Homestead runs over 200 miles or 2:30 hours.
SCCA Pro Racing Speed GT, USA: Inaugural GT3 Cup shootout
The American “Speed GT”, one of the most popular championships for near-standard race cars, roars into the 2009 season with a 50-minute sprint as part of the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend. Strong representation again from Porsche teams who won the drivers’ and the manufacturers’ classifications here in 2007 and 2008 for Porsche. Held for the first time in 2009 is the “GT3 Cup Shootout”, a new classification specifically for the 911 GT3 Cup. The top five results out of ten races in 2009 are counted.