Porsche at Sebring

56th Running of Sebring
As the 56th running of America’s longest-running sports car race, Sebring
history and Porsche racing history are very much parallel, with Porsche’s first
racing victory in Austria in 1948.  Porsche owns all the major manufacturer
records at Sebring, including 17 overall wins, but perhaps the most telling
statistic is that at least one Porsche has competed at Sebring every year since
1953 – 54 straight races (there was no race in 1974). No other manufacturer is
close to that record.
For 2008, Porsche competitors come into the American Le Mans Series – the
feature 12-hour race of the weekend - with ten cars in two classes, plus five
cars in the SPEED TV World Challenge and 32 identically-matched Porsches in the
newly-named IMSA Challenge by Michelin.
The American Le Mans Series, which starts its new season with Sebring 12 Hours
on the bumpy airfield circuit in central Florida, 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), defending LMP2 co-driving champion in the Penske Racing Porsche RS
Spyder prototype. “Those who are not optimally prepared have no chance.”
Also, a good finish at Sebring is important for the championship chase for the
rest of the season. Due to its race length, more points are allocated at Sebring
than at the majority of the other races, so success at the season-opener can
give an excellent boost in the race for the title.

“Our objective with the RS Spyders 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 optimized. We think we are excellently prepared
for Sebring and the challenges of this season.”  
Kristen pointed out that the Honda-powered Acura LMP2 cars have also improved
for 2008, and that they outlasted the RS Spyders at Sebring a year ago.
Porsche RS Spyder
In 2007, the Weissach-developed and built sports prototype set the benchmark in
the LMP2 class of 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 with Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas (France) but was
also undisputedly the most successful manufacturer.
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 six
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
number seven 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 program, 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 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on the 3.7-mile 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,” he said.
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

Porsche is also well represented in the GT2 class, having captured victories in
911-based cars 28 times. Three teams and five cars will represent Porsche in the
Sebring 12-hour event for 2008.
The most distinguishing feature of the new 911 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 optimized air ducting with newly-
designed side air outlets generates more down force 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.  
These improvements should make the Porsche very competitive against last year’s
champions, the Ferrari 430.  Although Porsche and Ferrari had classic battles,
and the cars were very close in 2007, the Italian marquee won both the driver
and manufacturers title.  Porsche had won those titles seven of the eight
previous years of the American Le Mans Series.
Flying Lizard Motorsports leads the Porsche customer contingent at Sebring with
three of the new, updated Porsche 911 GT3 RSR racers. Sharing driving duties in
the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche are Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), the 2006 champion
and second-place finisher last year, with his new team mate and fellow German
Wolf Henzler. Providing back-up is their Porsche factory driver colleague Marc
Lieb (Germany). Johannes van Overbeek (USA), current Porsche Cup champion and
the new Porsche works driver Patrick Pilet (France) drive the #46 Flying Lizard
Porsche, with factory driver team mate Richard Lietz (Austria) as the third
driver. In the #44 Flying Lizard
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Darren Law (USA), Seth Neiman (USA) and Alex Davison
(Australia) will share the driving duties.
Farnbacher Loles Racing, a veteran Porsche racing organization, will carry its
championship form to the American Le Mans Series for the first time this season,
combining forces with champion drivers Dirk Werner and Marc Basseng. Farnbacher
Loles and Werner won the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series GT team and driver
titles in 2007. Basseng adds a European championship. They hope to match that
success in the ALMS this year.
Werner, of Kissenbrück, Germany, and Basseng, of Leutenbach, Germany, will drive
the team's No. 87 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the 11-race series. A third driver will
join them for the longer endurance races, with their Sebring choice to be
announced in the next couple of days.
Both Werner and Basseng have excelled in international sports-car racing. In
addition to his Rolex Series title, Werner won three 24-hour races last year, in
Dubai, England and the United Arab Emirates. He also has a class win in the 24H-
Rennen Nürburgring and a class podium in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and won the
2006 Porsche Carrera Cup championship.  Basseng's results include an overall
podium in the Nürburgring 24-hour race, a class win in the Rolex 24 At Daytona
and the 2003 Renault Clio Speed Trophy title. He competes in several series, is
a contract test driver for Porsche and provides television commentary for
Porsche Carrera Cup and Porsche Supercup races.
The third Porsche team in GT2 is also a veteran Porsche organization, but also
new to the American Le Mans Series.  VICI Racing is a Miami, Florida-and Munich,
Germany-based racing team with more than 20 years of experience competing at the
topmost levels of international sports car racing, in both GT and prototype

categories, in Europe and the United States. VICI Racing is a wholly owned
subsidiary of the VICI Group, which comprises of technology-led companies. VICI
Racing roll call of wins includes GT victory in the Daytona 24 Hours. For more
information visit.
VICI has also purchased a 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, and hope to make an impact
with 1994 Porsche supercup champion Uwe Alzen, former Grand-Am champion and ALMS
Porsche veteran Craig Stanton, and 2006 IMSA GT Cup champion Nathan Swartzbaugh.
IMSA Challenge by Michelin
The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), Porsche Motorsport North
America (PMNA), and Michelin have taken the successful IMSA Challenge by
Michelin and expanded it again for 2008.  Beginning with the American Le Mans
Series’ Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend , the IMSA Challenge (renamed
from the IMSA GT3 Challenge) will run 14 races at seven venues and will expand
into two classes to attract even more participation.
The Platinum Cup championship will be contested by competitors who enter the new
2008 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers, with its increased horsepower to 420 bhp.  The
Gold Cup championship is for those racers who own 2005 – 2007 Porsche 911 GT3
Cup cars.
Although the two classes will run together n the track – similar to the American
Le Mans Series events, there will be two winners, two podium ceremonies, and two
sets of championship point standings.
The 2008 IMSA Challenge by Michelin continues to give top semi-professional and
gentlemen drivers from the United States and North America the opportunity to
compete with such prestigious organizations as the American Le Mans Series and
the Formula One in the world’s most successful GT car – the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
racer.  The latest purpose-built race cars, based on the 2008 Porsche 911 body
style, will have sealed engines and transmissions, providing for close racing
where the driver’s talents are exemplified. PMNA provides technical support for
the IMSA series with personnel, parts and expertise both away from and at the
track.
Perhaps the best way to measure the success of the series from the point of view
of young drivers trying move up the motorsports ladder is to see where some of
the series graduates have landed in the three years of the IMSA Challenge.
Lawson Aschenbach, the 2005 series champion, went on to win the SCCA SPEED World
Challenge series in 2006, and earned a Cadillac factory seat in that series in
2007, finishing third in the final points.  2006 series champion Nathan
Schwarzbaugh is a regular in the Rolex Grand-Am series, and 2007 front-runners
Charles Scardina and Bryce Miller were both seen at the recent Rolex 24 Hours at
Daytona in January with Porsche rides – with Miller securing a season-long
contract with the TRG Porsche team.  
As the series ran with the Formula 1 event at Indianapolis last year, the 2008
schedule includes two races with F-1’s only North American appearance at the
Montreal Grand Prix.
Returning drivers for 2008 include last year’s champion Bob Faieta, 2007 race
winners Dino Steiner and Tom Papadopoulos, and multiple podium-finisher Tom
Pank.  Familiar Porsche race car preparers Kelly-Moss, AASCO Motorsports, Alex
Job Racing, TRG, Orbit Racing, Farnbacher Loles, NGT Motorsports, Werks II/P7

Racing, and Kinetic Motorsports have all signed up for the ’08 season with
multiple entries.
SCCA SPEED World Challenge
The other Porsche racing event of the weekend, the 2008 edition of SCCA’s SPEED
World Challenge GT Championship Series,  begins in March at Sebring and is
scheduled for stops at Long Beach, Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, Watkins
Glen, Mid-Ohio, and Mosport.  The GT series will conclude the GT season with a
double header at the new Thunderbolt track in New Jersey and the season ending
race at Road Atlanta 7 days later.
Defending 2007 World Challenge GT Drivers’ Champion Randy Pobst, of Gainesville
Georgia, will return to action along with five-time World Challenge champion
Michael Galati of Olmstead Ohio, who was 4th in points in 2007, driving the K-
PAX/3R team Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars.
Dino Crescentini, in the Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3 Cup; team
owner James Sofronas in the team 911 GT3 Cup; Philip Martien in the At Speed
Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup; Tim Mckenzie in the TR Racing Porsche 911 GT3
Cup; Paul Brown in the 911 Design Porsche GT3 Cup; teammate Eric Olberz  in a
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup; Sean Allen in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup; and John Bourassa in
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup round out the Sebring Porsche World Challenge entries.
Facts and Figures
This is the 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 classes:  
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 constant action with many overtaking
opportunities. Points are only allocated for top ten finishers in each class who
complete 70 percent of the leader’s laps. Championship titles are awarded in the

LMP1 and LMP2 classes for drivers, chassis and engine manufacturers, teams and
tire 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).
PORSCHE SEBRING FACTS (updated March 9, 2008)
Overall Wins: 17 (13-Year Winning Streak – overall, 1976-1988)
1960 – Hans Hermann/Oliver Gendebien Porsche RS60
1968 – Hans Hermann/Jo Siffert – Porsche 907
1971 – Vic Elford/Gerald LaLarrousse – Porsche 917
1973 – Hurley Haywood/Peter Gregg/Dave Helmick – Porsche Carrera
1976 – Al Holbert/Michael Keyser – Porsche Carrera
1977 – George Dyer/Brad Frisselle – Porsche Carrera
1978 – Brian Redman/Charles Mendez/Bob Garretson – Porsche 935
1979 – Bob Akin/Roy Woods/Rob McFarlin – Porsche 935
1980 – Dick Barbour/John Fitzpatrick – Porsche 935 K3
1981 – Hurley Haywood/Al Holbert/Bruce Leven – Porsche 935
1982 – John Paul, Sr./John Paul, Jr. – Porsche 935
1983 – Kees Nierop/Wayne Baker/Jim Mullen –  Porsche 934
1984 – Stefan Johansson/Mauricio DeNarvaez/Hans Heyer – Porsche 935
1985 – A.J. Foyt/Bob Wollek – Porsche 962
1986 – Hans Stuck/Bob Akin/Jo Gartner – Porsche 962
1987 – Bobby Rahal/Jochen Mass – Porsche 962
1988 – Klaus Ludwig/Hans Stuck – Porsche 962
Most top ten overall finishes – 197
Class Wins: 63 (a manufacturer record)
Fastest race average speed: 115.82 mph (Akin/Stuck/Gartner in a Porsche 962 –
1986)
Fastest race lap: 130.707 mph (by Derek Bell in a Porsche 962 – 1986)
Porsche 911 Wins: 28 Overall and Class Victories
GT Class Wins: 25 (since 1979)
At least one Porsche has competed at Sebring every year since 1953 –
54 straight races (there was no race in 1974). No other manufacturer is close to
that record.

Tags: Porsche, ALMS