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Acura Continues Torrid Pace At SIR

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Acura's other P1 entry from Patron Highcroft Racing was the second quickest on Wednesday morning despite turning just eight laps. The car posted a time of 1:46.157 (125.475 mph) before electrical issues arose during the session.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: January 29, 2009

SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - Gil de Ferran was taken by surprise when he walked up in front of the media on Tuesday to talk about Acura and their new LMP1 making its debut at the American LeMans Series annual Winter Test.

de Ferran was given the news by ALMS vice president of media Bob Dickinson that the No. 66 Acura ARX-02a had posted the fastest time with a lap of 1:44.814 (127.082 miles per hour) during the morning session with driver Simon Pagenaud behind the wheel.

The time broke the qualifying record of 1:44.974 (126.889 miles per hour) set by Marco Werner in an Audi R10 TDI in 2007.

"I wasn't expecting to break any records on just our second day of testing the new car," said de Ferran, who will drive with Pagenaud and Scott Dixon during the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. "Audi and Peugeot are formidable competitors and we always wish we had a little more time, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development addressed the large number of worldwide media and tried to put into perspective what it'll be like going up against the powerful diesels.

"The concept of our car has become clear," Berkman said. "How do you fight against diesels with a petrol powered car? You have to do something different and that is out of the box.

"We've taken a pretty unique approach. You've seen our lap times this week and there is more. But right now the biggest question is if Sebring will bring us to our knees or will we be able to survive?"

With de Ferran and Patron Highcroft moving from LMP2 to P1 this season and Lowe's Fernandez Racing back for its third season in the LMP2 class, Acura is going to make a run at a double championship in the prototypes.

"Our expectations are to finish races and we proved last year that if you don't finish races then you don't get points," team owner Adrian Fernandez said, who'll be joined by Luis Diaz and Michel Jourdain Jr. at Sebring and Petit Le Mans. "It was a frustrating season last year in that respect. We passed the whole field at Laguna Seca, but came in for our last stop and the car wouldn't start. It was that kind of season."

The Lowe's Fernandez P2 finished eighth in the class championship with a second-place finish at Mosport being the highlight of '08.

Dyson Racing Aligns With Mazda

Chris Dyson said there's always been a question of when Dyson Racing and Mazda would hook up on the track.

The alliance was made official during Tuesday's press conference where Dyson Racing announced that it would enter the 2009 season running the Mazda-powered Lola 08/86 LMP2.

"We've been building a great friendship with Mazda since 2005," Dyson said. "There is a lot of commonalities and shared values with Dyson Racing and Mazda. We both have a common purpose - integrity."

Dyson Racing competed with the LMP2 Porsche RS Sypder last year and led the 12 Hours of Sebring four times during the race before earning a fourth place finish.

Marino Franchitti, who'll join Dryson and Ben Devilin in the Mazda for the '09 season, says that his memories of Mazda go all the way back to his teenage years.

"I worked in a Mazda garage cleaning the cars as my summer job," Franchitti said. "I know a lot about the cars, especially from the early '90's. It's going to be fun to finally get into the car and test it out on Sebring."

Devlin drove the Mazda Lola last season for BK Motorsports and has the most time in the car, which will be valuable to getting the other two drivers up to speed.

"What I learned last year with the engine and chassis I look forward to applying in 2009," Devlin said. "We saw great potential last year and I hope we can continue to move forward and bring home a championship."

Dyson understands that the team is behind the other teams including Acura, but hopes that the mighty manufacturer won't count him out.

"I hope they're not too confident," said Dyson. "Because we expect to be right there with them competing for the championship."

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team Debuts At SIR

BMW and Rahal Letterman Racing are seeing the fruits of their labor together at Sebring International Raceway.

The entire full-season contingent was on hand for the first time for the American Le Mans Series' annual Winter Test on Tuesday during a press conference to announce the alliance.

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team's new history begins in the newest-generation BMW M3, a car "trimmed for racing," and fully committed to the challenge and competitiveness of competing in GT2, the Series' deepest class.

"We are very proud to return to the American Le Mans Series," said Rahal Letterman Racing's Bobby Rahal. "And to have finally put this program together with BMW. For me, as a driver and team owner, I want to thank BMW for its commitment and providing us with a great driver lineup and car."

Martin Birkmann, Motorsports Manager for BMW North America, agreed that the relationship parallels in its brand values - technical skills, proficiencies and professionalism - and will no doubt present strong competition in the GT2 field. "Racing is engrained in our DNA at BMW," Birkmann said.

The drivers also had plenty to say Tuesday.

Bill Auberlen on his return to the BMW family: "I have driven all the generations of BMWs and it's a soul thing - the sound on the inside," said driver Bill Auberlen. "It makes me smile to be welcomed back by the M3."

Joey Hand discussed the tie-in between the M3 road car and race car.

"I am fortunate to drive this race car and have an M3 on the street with me at home," Hand said. "With BMW, it's all about balance, something I have never felt in any other car I've driven. Good front grip. Good on the corners. Good breaks."

Tommy Milner drove the Rahal-Letterman Porsche in ALMS competition and who began his racing career in Formula BMW, while Dirk Müller, who raced a Ferrari F430 for Tafel Racing in 2008, are the other additions to the team.

"Adding a pair of drivers with the skills and road-racing experience of Dirk and Tommy really increases the overall talent level of the BMW Rahal-Letter Racing Team," said Rahal. "We have worked with Tommy over the last two years in a number of different cars and he's a quick study and taken each of the cars straight to the front.

"Dirk has been a driver I've had my eye on for quite some time and is recognized as one of the top talents in road racing, and we think the addition of both drivers to our team gives us one of the best lineups in the ALMS GT2 class."

Auberlen drove a best time of 2:03.654 (107.720) during Tuesday's afternoon session around the historic track.

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

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