Containers and trucks have started arriving in Sebring, Florida. In it, are what will be the grid of the 60th 12 Hours of Sebring, on March 17th. Set to kick-off in Sebring at the same time as the ALMS, is the new-for-2012 World Endurance Championship (WEC).
"Sebring's 60th anniversary year will certainly be something special with the addition of the FIA World Endurance Championship," stated Sebring Raceway President and General Manager Tres Stephenson.
The fight between LMP1 giants Audi and Toyota will not materialize in Sebring, since Toyota is expected to make their WEC debut only at round 2, in Spa. Very much fighting for the championship, Audi brought three new R18 e-tron quattro: the No. 1 for Marcel Fässler, Andre Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer, the No. 2 for Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, and the No. 3 for Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Loïc Duval.
They will still have to fight the Lola, HPD and Pescarolo P1 prototypes of Muscle Milk Racing, Dyson Racing, Pescarolo Team, Strakka Racing and Oak Racing. Not forgetting Rebellion Racing, their two-car effort including the Nicolas Prost - Nick Heidfeld - Neel Jani entry.
Victory will also be highly contested in LMP2 class, between manufacturers Nissan, Lotus, Judd and HPD. After earning the runner-up spot at the Daytona 24 Hours, Starworks Motorsports are expected to fare well with their HPD ARX-03b at the once around the clock event. Expect Enzo Potolicchio, Ryan Dalziel and Peugeot refugee Stéphane Sarrazin to fight hard.
In the GT, the same manufacturer showdown can be expected: Aston Martin, Corvette, Ferrari and Porsche will all duke it out for the brand's glory. Fans will recognize the Giancarlo Fisichella, Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander AF Corse trio, as well as the usuals Corvette Racing, Flying Lizard and BMW Team RLL stars.
As far as Canada goes, Kyle Marcelli, who will drive the No. 8 Speed Merchant Services car with teammates Lucas Downs and Dean Sterling, is expected to have a shot in the LMPC class. So is Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, in the No. 022 Alex Job Racing Porsche.
All theses particpants add up to a total of over 60 entered cars, competing in this WEC return to Sebring - the first championship round held at the former WWII training base dating back to 1953.
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| 60 years of Sebring 12 Hours (Photo: Sebring International Raceway) |
"Sebring's 60th anniversary year will certainly be something special with the addition of the FIA World Endurance Championship," stated Sebring Raceway President and General Manager Tres Stephenson.
The fight between LMP1 giants Audi and Toyota will not materialize in Sebring, since Toyota is expected to make their WEC debut only at round 2, in Spa. Very much fighting for the championship, Audi brought three new R18 e-tron quattro: the No. 1 for Marcel Fässler, Andre Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer, the No. 2 for Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, and the No. 3 for Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Loïc Duval.
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| Audi's new R18 e-tron quattro (Photo: Audi Motorsport) |
They will still have to fight the Lola, HPD and Pescarolo P1 prototypes of Muscle Milk Racing, Dyson Racing, Pescarolo Team, Strakka Racing and Oak Racing. Not forgetting Rebellion Racing, their two-car effort including the Nicolas Prost - Nick Heidfeld - Neel Jani entry.
Victory will also be highly contested in LMP2 class, between manufacturers Nissan, Lotus, Judd and HPD. After earning the runner-up spot at the Daytona 24 Hours, Starworks Motorsports are expected to fare well with their HPD ARX-03b at the once around the clock event. Expect Enzo Potolicchio, Ryan Dalziel and Peugeot refugee Stéphane Sarrazin to fight hard.
In the GT, the same manufacturer showdown can be expected: Aston Martin, Corvette, Ferrari and Porsche will all duke it out for the brand's glory. Fans will recognize the Giancarlo Fisichella, Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander AF Corse trio, as well as the usuals Corvette Racing, Flying Lizard and BMW Team RLL stars.
 |
| BMW Team RLL are always in the mix in ALMS, but how will they fare against WEC teams? (Photo: ALMS.com) |
As far as Canada goes, Kyle Marcelli, who will drive the No. 8 Speed Merchant Services car with teammates Lucas Downs and Dean Sterling, is expected to have a shot in the LMPC class. So is Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, in the No. 022 Alex Job Racing Porsche.
All theses particpants add up to a total of over 60 entered cars, competing in this WEC return to Sebring - the first championship round held at the former WWII training base dating back to 1953.