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Penske, Porsche Ends Sebring Drought

Audi Pulls Out Of ALMS For 2009

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: December 31, 2008

SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - Porsche fans rejoiced as they made the biggest splash in open-wheel racing in '08 when they finally returned to the winner's circle at the famed raceway back in March.

After a 20-year drought, the No. 7 Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder put together one for the ages, as Roger Penske, who finished third overall 40 years ago at Sebring, ended the eight-year run by the mighty Audi team and returned Porsche to the winner's circle for the overall win at the 56th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida.

Running a virtual problem-free race, the No. 7 Penske, driven by Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard, used an eight-second final pit stop to all but secure the race for the long-time owner, as the No. 15 Lowes Fernandez Acura ARX-01b driven by Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz could only hope for a little luck.

Audi wasn't finished making news in '08.

After winning its ninth LMP1 championship, Audi dropped a bombshell on the ALMS when it pulled out of the series for the foreseeable future due to economic conditions and their desire to concentrate on the European circuit.

"It wasn't a huge shock when I heard the news about Audi leaving ALMS," Sebring communications director Ken Breslauer said. "With the economy the way it is, it makes sense that they concentrate on the European circuit.

"Where it's going to hurt ALMS is all the tracks after Sebring won't have the dominant car."

Audi has announced that they will continue to enter two cars in the historic 12 Hours of Sebring, where it will see if they can return to the winner's circle, but this opens the door for other cars to make their mark on the ALMS circuit.

"I think this really paves the way for Acura to become the lead car in the LMP1 class," Breslauer said. "I know Acura would probably like to beat Audi head-to-head, but this is the stage that's set.

"The lineup at Sebring is going to just as strong as last year, with Audi returning and Peugeot entering two cars next year along with Acura. The 12 Hours is going to be as strong as ever."

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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