Official '13 Racing Thread

[Swarley]

Figured us road racing fans could use an official thread for the 2013 season since the NASCAR guys usually do their own threads. This thread is for basically any racing outside of NASCAR. I follow ALMS, F1, IndyCar and Grand-Am very closely and try to follow DTM and Aussie V8s as much as I can when they are replayed on TV, but feel free to talk about other stuff like GP2, WEC, BTCC, WTCC, Porsche Cup, Continental Tire Series, or whatever you want. Post anything from racing news to live practice, qualifying and race discussions. Also, go ahead and post what series you like to closely follow and your favorite drivers.

Friday through Sunday on March 15-17 is going to be pretty damn awesome with the opening rounds of F1 and ALMS. Friday night (Saturday morning) we have qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix in F1, then all day Saturday is the 12 Hours of Sebring, then Saturday night (Sunday morning) is the Australian Grand Prix. My body is ready.


Schedules:

American Le Mans Series:

3/16 - 12 Hours of Sebring - 10:45am EST - (12 hours)
4/20 - Tequila Patron at Long Beach - 7:15pm EST - (2 hours)
5/11 - Monterey (Laguna Seca) - 6:15pm EST - (4 hours)
6/6 - Northeast Grand Prix (Lime Rock) - 2:45pm EST - (2 hours 45 minutes)
7/21 - Grand Prix of Mosport - 11:45am EST - (2 hours 45 minutes)
8/11 - Road Race Showcase (Road America) - 2:45pm EST - (2 hours 45 minutes)
8/31 - Grand Prix of Baltimore - 4:15pm EST - (2 hours 45 minutes)
9/21 - Circuit of the Americas - 3:45pm EST - (2 hours 45 minutes)
10/5 - VIR - 2:45pm EST - (2 hours 45 minutes)
10/19 - Petit Le Mans (Road America) - 11:30am EST - (10 hours of 1,000 miles)

Formula One:

3/17 - Australian Grand Prix (Albert Park) - 2:00am EST
3/24 - Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang International Circuit) - 5:00am EST
4/14 - Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai International Circuit) - 3:00am EST
4/21 - Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (Bahrain International Circuit) - 8:00am EST
5/12 - Grand Prix Of Spain (Circuit De Catalunya) - 8am EST
5/26 - Grand Prix Of Monaco (Circuit De Monaco) - 8:00am EST
6/9 - Grand Prix Of Canada (Gilles Villeneuve Circuit) - 2:00pm EST
6/30 - British Grand Prix (Silverstone Circuit) - 8:00am EST
7/7 - Grand Prix of Germany (Nürburgring Grand Prix Circuit) - 8:00am EST
7/21 - TBA
7/28 - Hungarian Grand Prix (Hungaroring) - 8:00am EST
8/25 - Belgian Grand Prix (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps) - 8:00am EST
9/8 - Italian Grand Prix (Autodromo Nazionale Di Monza) - 8:00am EST
9/22 - Singapore Grand Prix (Singapore Street Circuit) - 8:00am EST
10/6 - Korean Grand Prix (Korea International) - 2:00am EST
10/13 - Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka Circuit) - 2:00am EST
10/27 - Grand Prix of India (Buddh International Circuit) - 5:30am EST
11/3 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina Circuit) - 8:00am EST
11/17 - United States Grand Prix (Circuit of The Americas) - 2:00pm EST
11/24 - Grand Prix Of Brazil (Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace) - 11:00am EST

IZOD IndyCar Series:

3/24 - Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - 12:00pm EST
4/7 - Grand Prix of Alabama - 1:30pm EST
4/21 - Grand Prix of Long Beach - 4:00pm EST
5/5 - Sao Paulo Indy 300 - 11:00am EST
5/26 - Indianapolis 500 - 11:00am EST
6/1 - Dual in Detroit (Race 1) - 3:30pm EST
6/2 - Dual in Detroit (Race 2) - 3:30pm EST
6/8 - Firestone 550 - 8:30pm EST
6/15 - Milwaukee IndyFest - 4:00pm EST
6/23 - Iowa Corn Indy 250 - 2:30pm EST
7/7 - Pocono IndyCar 400 - 12:00pm EST
7/13 - Indy Toronto (Race 1) - 3:00pm EST
7/14 - Indy Toronto (Race 2) - 3:00pm EST
8/4 - Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio - 3:00pm EST
8/25 - Grand Prix of Sonoma - 4:00pm EST
9/1 - Grand Prix of Baltimore - 2:00pm EST
10/5 - Grand Prix of Houston (Race 1) - 3:00pm EST
10/6 - Grand Prix of Houston (Race 2) - 3:00pm EST
10/19 - MAVTV 500 - 8:00pm EST

Grand-Am Road Racing:

1/27 - Rolex 24 at Daytona
3/2 - Grand-Am of the Americas (Circuit of the Americas) - 5:30pm EST
4/6 - Barber Motorsports Park - 5:30pm EST
4/20 - Road Atlanta - 4:30pm EST
6/1 - Chevrolet Grand-Am Detroit 200 (Belle Isle Park) - 5:00pm EST
6/15 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - 4:30pm EST
6/30 - Six Hours of the Glen (Watkins Glen) - 11:00am EST
7/24 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway - 7:00pm EST
8/10 - Road America - 5:00pm EST
8/17 - Kansas Speedway - 8:00pm EST
9/8 - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - 4:30pm EST
9/28 - Lime Rock Park

 

[Swarley]

ALMS Sebring Winter Test Wrap-Up
By John Dagys

NEW SPEC TIRE SUPPLIER FOR PC, P2? — With only five weeks until the season-opening Twelve Hours of Sebring, there appears to be a shakeup in the works for the tire supply in the PC, and potentially even P2 ranks for this year.

Michelin, which has been the exclusive tire provider to the PC category since its inception in 2010, has not yet reached an agreement for this season. The French tire giant delivered tires to PC teams testing this week at Sebring as a courtesy, according to Silvia Mammone, Motorsports Manager for Michelin North America.

The draft version of the 2013 ALMS rulebook does not list a tire supplier for the PC class. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, defending class champions CORE autosport, which was scheduled to take part in the ALMS test with its Oreca FLM09, packed up and left early following its IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge test earlier in the week.

Multiple sources close to SPEED.com have indicated that a new tire manufacturer could be poised to enter the series with the supply of the PC class, while also potentially taking over as the control tire in the P2 category as well.

Continental, which serves as the exclusive tire partner in GRAND-AM, would seem to be a logical option, given the series' unification for 2014 and that a P2 car has already successfully tested on the company's DP rubber.

ALMS and IMSA COO Scot Elkins would not comment on the current PC tire situation but said they are evaluating their options for P2 at the moment, given Dunlop’s withdrawal from the series, which left a gap in the supply chain.

“It's a bit of a domino right now,” Elkins said. “We've got the Greaves entry for Sebring. Now that we've got [P2 entries], it's time to sort out what we're going to do on those tires. There are a couple of people that would be more than happy to step up and help us out.

"I think the smartest thing for us to do, for a class that's cost-capped and requires an amateur driver, I think it should be a spec tire class to help cut down on costs."

A Michelin spokesperson confirmed to SPEED.com that it has been approached by one or more P2 teams for Sebring and they have the capacity to supply cars for the entire ALMS season, if need be.

It’s unclear how many P2 cars will show up for Sebring. As of right now, only a single Zytek Z11SN Nissan for Greaves Motorsport is officially entered.

POSITIVE TEST FOR HPD ARX-03C — Despite being the only P1 car at this week’s test, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing’s newly upgraded HPD ARX-03c turned quite a few heads. While not surprisingly topping the overall time sheets, Klaus Graf’s best lap of 1:46.368 came within six-tenths of the pole-sitting Audi’s time from last year’s race, and was more than one second faster than the car’s quickest lap from 12 months ago.

One of the major improvements in the ARX-03c package has come with wider Michelin front tires, a philosophy pioneered by Wirth Research some four years go with its Acura ARX-02a prototype. Since then, it’s been adopted by the majority of the P1-class contenders, including entries from Audi, Toyota and Lola.

"The car drives differently, you have to get used to that," said Graf, who shared driving duties with season-long co-driver Lucas Luhr. "I think you need good, professional teams with good, professional drivers. Otherwise, I think you really can go backwards.

“It's not easy. The car gets more edgy to drive and the window gets smaller. We kind of knew that already talking to Romain [Dumas] and other drivers who were driving the big tires on the factory cars. You have to pay a lot of attention to the details.”

In addition to revised bodywork and new front suspension geometry, the car also has a new brushless power steering system in order to withstand the increased loads from the wider front tires.

RISI RETURNS, 2013-SPEC FERRARI BREAKS COVER — For Ferrari lovers, the Winter Test was a significant occasion as it not only marked the return of Risi Competizione after a one-year hiatus, but also the public debut of the 2013-spec Ferrari F458 Italia, which features a handful of upgrades over its WEC championship-winning predecessor.

The most noticeable change comes in the front-end, which now sees a cutout in the splitter. Other developments include new dive planes at the front and rear of the car, revised front louvers and relocated brake ducts.

"They did quite a bit of testing on it, aerodynamically and track testing,” Risi Competizione technical director Rick Mayer explained. “Gimmi Bruni, who did a lot of the testing, thought it was better. It's a positive thing.

"It's something we've been wanting to do since the [Ferrari] 360 days. The splitter had been the same for the most part, a big flat piece."

The changes seemed to make a positive impact, as Ferraris ended the test 1-2 in GT, led by the brand-new No. 62 machine of Olivier Beretta and Matteo Malucelli.

"We have tried to optimize the best we can on the experiences from last year,” said Beretta, who drove an AF Corse Ferrari F458 in the WEC last year. “The car will be competitive but everyone is working hard.”

Both Risi and pair of Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferraris were running to 2013 ACO specification at the test and are expected to continue in that configuration for the season.

NEWS & NOTES FROM THE PADDOCK

** The only major incident of the two-day test came on Friday morning, when Johannes van Overbeek slammed his No. 01 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari F458 Italia into the barriers in Turn 3. JvO was unhurt, although the car did not return to action, having sustained extensive damage.

** Ferrari factory driver Toni Vilander is expected to rejoin van Overbeek and Scott Sharp in the No. 01 ESM Ferrari for Sebring next month, with Anthony Lazzaro also slated to climb back behind the wheel of the No. 02 car with Guy Cosmo and Ed Brown for the ALMS season opener.

** Longtime Krohn Racing motorsports manager Jeff Hazell is no longer with the team, with the veteran F1 and sports car team seen exploring the Sebring paddock for new opportunities. The team, currently based in Braselton, Ga., appears to be a potential GT addition to the grid for Sebring prior to its return to the WEC in GTE-Am.

** Eric Bachelart was another familiar face in the Sebring paddock, with the Conquest Racing team owner hoping to put a last-minute deal together to field an ALMS entry this year, possibly either in the PC or GTC ranks. Bachelart was forced to send his P2 class-winning Morgan-Nissan back to OAK Racing late last month.

** A number of teams are expected to be at Sebring on Feb. 21 for an additional, non-series sanctioned test, including a surprise entrant that looks set to confirm its participation in the ALMS season-opener.

 

[Swarley]

ALMS Sebring Winter Test photos:

 

[Swarley]

IndyCar: Andretti Autosport signs E.J. Viso

Andretti Autosport will have a four-car lineup this season with E.J. Viso joining the IndyCar team.

Viso's addition, announced Thursday, is a joint effort between Andretti and HVM Racing. The partnership allows HVM Racing to continue its participation in IndyCar in a business role while anticipating a potential return to competition in 2014.

The Keith Wiggins-owned HVM team was not planning on racing in IndyCar this season, but holds one of the coveted series-subsidizing Leader's Circle bonuses.

"We are happy to welcome E.J. to the team and to again be running four cars," said team owner Michael Andretti. "He has shown speed in his early years as a driver which we view as very promising, and his personality will lend well to the overall chemistry of the drivers and crew. I'd like to thank Keith and HVM for their assistance in this project."

Viso joins a lineup that includes defending IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, and James Hinchcliffe and Mario Andretti. Viso will drive the No. 5 Team Venezuela PDVSA Chevrolet, bringing the Team Venezuela sponsorship with him that he's used throughout his career.

He is Team Venezuela's premiere racer, and the only Latino-born driver currently racing full-time in the IndyCar series.

"I have been following E.J.'s career for quite some time and was able to help him get his start in racing 22 years ago," said Team Venezuela founder Vicente Tralci. "It's an honor to be able to bring this opportunity to him and to pair with Andretti Autosport. It has always been our dream to be partnered with a team of such high reputation or results."

Viso, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, is entering his sixth season in IndyCar. He drove for KV Racing Technologies last season, and has 16 career top-10 finishes.

"I could not ask for more than to get the opportunity to drive for a championship team while representing my country," Viso said. "After five years in the series I believe I have found the right environment and look forward to having Ryan, James and Marco as teammates. I'm very proud to be able to move into the 2013 season with this new relationship; it's a dream come true."

Andretti Autosport went from four cars to three following the 2011 season, and the addition of Viso makes it the largest organization in IndyCar. Andretti plans to field five cars in the Indianapolis 500, two full-time Firestone Indy Lights entries, two full-time Pro Mazda Championship entries and entries in the USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda.

Andretti Autosport is the only team that fields cars at each level of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder.

http://espn.go.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/8926272/andretti-autosport-signs-ej-viso-drive-4th-car

 

[Swarley]

IndyCar: AJ Allmendinger to test an IndyCar for Penske

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Penske Racing supported AJ Allmendinger through his drug suspension from NASCAR and vowed to help the driver resurrect his career.

His opportunity appears to be in IndyCar.

Allmendinger will test an IndyCar for Penske at Sebring, Fla., on Feb. 19, with an eye on running the Indianapolis 500 for the storied organization. He was at Penske Racing on Thursday having a seat fit in an IndyCar.

"Roger is one of the most loyal owners you will ever know, and I think his loyalty has come into play in this case," Penske president Tim Cindric said. "AJ is obviously talented and when you look at the circumstances and how he handled the circumstances, well, he made a mistake. But he's a talented guy and someone who has shown what he can do in an IndyCar.

"We are in the racing business, and AJ has gone through the process required for him and as far as we are concerned the slate is wiped clean."

Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR hours before the July race at Daytona for failing a random drug test. He asked to have his backup "B" sample tested, and was released by Penske Racing on Aug. 1 when those results also came back positive for a banned substance.

Allmendinger completed NASCAR's "Road to Recovery" program and was reinstated in September. The Penske organization had already moved on without him in NASCAR, but is willing to give him a shot in IndyCar.

Allmendinger won five races in Champ Car in 2006, his final season in open-wheel cars before he moved to NASCAR. Cindric said he believes Allmendinger will adapt quickly to IndyCar's DW-12, which debuted last season.

"This IndyCar is relatively easy to drive -- it needs more power and less downforce, so his learning curve would be less than other IndyCars," Cindric said. "When he was driving the open wheel car, he was very competitive. When you gauge him next to Will Power -- it was the reason why he was able to make the step to NASCAR, because he was successful and a proven talent. Typically, guys don't forget what they know."

Penske, which has won 15 Indy 500s, is committed to running a third car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. The team owner in December dangled the seat to three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, who declined the opportunity.

But Cindric said it's still their intent to run the car, and Allmendinger is a viable option.

And in pursuing the opportunity, Allmendinger had to convince the organization he's interested in racing in the IndyCar Series. Allmendinger ran four NASCAR races after his reinstatement, has a handful of Sprint Cup races on his 2013 schedule, and was on Michael Shank Racing's third-place team at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona sports car race last month.

"When we look at the drivers out there, we've been looking at AJ and asked, `Is he someone who wants to do this longer-term if there was a possibility with us?" Cindric said. "For him to be a candidate to run at Indy, it would have to be something he'd be interested in doing beyond Indy. He's consistently told us, `Whatever is the best ride for me, I just want the best opportunity as a driver.' He's convinced us that should we want him to drive beyond Indy, we would be his first priority."

Cindric said the test in Florida is so far the only thing on Allmendinger's schedule with the Penske IndyCar. Ideally, Allmendinger would run at least one race with the organization before the Indy 500 and Cindric said the April event at Barber was a good fit because IndyCar has an open test at the Alabama track.

Allmendinger's only run one oval track in an IndyCar, at Milwaukee. He finished fifth, second and fourth in his three career starts.

"Because he's only driven one oval in an open-wheel car, we'd want to run him in at least one race before Indy to get used to the team, to pit stops and get comfortable," Cindric said. "We're hoping to try to make a decision about the Barber open test by the end of the month."

http://espn.go.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/8926737/aj-allmendinger-test-indycar-penske-racing

 

[Swarley]

ALMS and Grand-Am unified series/class names to be announced at Sebring:

2014 UNIFICATION UPDATES — ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton provided further details on the unification process this week, confirming that the new series name, branding and logo will be unveiled on March 14, during race week for the Twelve Hours of Sebring. Additionally, the names for each of the four, or potentially five, different car classes will also be announced at that time.

Another noteworthy piece of information to come out of Thursday’s “Media Day” press conference was confirmation that the 2014 schedule will feature between 10-12 races. There are currently 22 events at 17 different circuits when combining both present ALMS and GRAND-AM schedules. The condensed schedule will no doubt make next year’s series one of the most sought-after for track promoters.

 

[Swarley]

F1: Combined times following 4-day test in Jerez, Spain:

1. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:17.879, 227 laps
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:18.148, 123 laps
3. Jules Bianchi, Force India, 1:18.175, 56 laps
4. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:18.218, 149 laps
5. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:18.565, 198 laps
6. Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber, 1:18.669, 252 laps
7. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:18.760, 177 laps
8. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:18.766, 162 laps
9. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:18.861, 120 laps
10. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:18.905, 160 laps
11. Sergio Perez, McLaren, 1:18.944, 179 laps
12. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:19.003, 240 laps
13. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:19.134, 153 laps
14. James Rossiter, Force India, 1:19.303, 61 laps
15. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:19.338, 174 laps
16. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:19.502, 178 laps
17. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:19.851, 178 laps *
18. Pedro de la Rosa, Ferrari, 1:20.316, 51 laps
19. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:20.693, 155 laps (using 2012 car)
20. Charles Pic, Caterham, 1:21.105, 166 laps
21. Luiz Razia, Marussia, 1:21.226, 113 laps
22. Max Chilton, Marussia, 1:21.269, 107 laps
23. Giedo van der Garde, Caterham, 1:21.311, 152 laps

 

[Price]

12 Hours of Sebring. :dance:

 

[Swarley]

12 Hours of Sebring. :dance:

Do you have any idea how freaking awesome that weekend is going to be?

3/15 - 1:15pm EST - Sebring qualifying
3/16 - 2:00am EST - Australian Grand Prix qualifying
3/16 - 10:45am -10:45pm EST - 12 Hours of Sebring
3/17 - 2:00am EST - Australian Grand Prix

:cartoon:

 

[Swarley]

F1: Karthikeyan In Frame For Force India Seat
Narain Karthikeyan reportedly has a shot at the second Force India race seat...

Narain Karthikeyan has emerged as a surprise contender to fill the final spot on the 2013 grid.

Although the Indian driver and team boss Vijay Mallya have never been the best of friends, the Deccan Chronicle newspaper said Karthikeyan's sponsor Tata has opened the doors to the Silverstone-based team.

However, the Ferrari-linked Frenchman Jules Bianchi appears arguably the hotter favorite to be Paul di Resta's teammate this year, particularly after going second quickest in the brand new VJM06 car as the Jerez test wrapped up on Friday.

Bianchi told Autosport on Friday: "Even if the plan was to stay a third driver for two years, now the plan has changed and I'm ready."

A source, however, told the Deccan Chronicle newspaper that 2012 HRT driver Karthikeyan is now also a contender, thanks to a boost to his sponsorship coffers.

"As soon as Tata increased the budget for 2013, talks with Force India began," the source said.

"Unlike the past, the negotiation has been a lot more positive. If talks fail, he will probably go to America for (the) IndyCar Series."

 

[Swarley]

Nissan Motorsport Unveils Their Aussie V8s:

 

[Price]

:cantwait:

 

[Swarley]

Can't wait to watch those two beautiful Flying Lizard Porsches take the GTC field by storm at Sebring!!!

32 days - 9 hours - 46 minutes

 

[Swarley]

Rahal-Letterman-Lannigan Unveils the 2013 BMW Z4 GTE:

 

[Swarley]

GRAND-AM, ALMS ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF JOINT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2013) – GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón announced today the formation of a Joint Technical Committee. The group is focusing on key competition issues for the two organizations during this season, but also on the competitive landscape for the new unified sports car series debuting in 2014.

The committee, featuring competition department staff members from GRAND-AM and the ALMS plus outside technical consultants, will be co-chaired by International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Chief Operating Officer Scot Elkins and GRAND-AM Managing Director of Competition Richard Buck.

Initial key projects include race car homologations, balance of performance and the development of technical specifications for the unified series’ classes. Names of those new classes will be announced on March 14 at Sebring International Raceway.

“We have a solid group and an ‘all-for-one’ approach,” said Elkins. “We’re combining the best technical minds from both organizations.”

Added Buck: “This merger is all about putting our resources together for the greater good. That’s what we’re doing with this committee. In the process we’re meeting a challenging situation head-on, brining expertise and enthusiasm to the table.

“Scot is an immense resource, as is Paul Walter, now serving as race director for both the ALMS and GRAND-AM. We’ve assembled an all-star team with this committee.”

 

[Swarley]

Red Bull Racing Australia (formerly Vodafone team) unveils their new Holden VF Commodore:

 

[JimLeavy59]

I wish they sold the Commodore in the states.

 

[Swarley]

I wish they sold the Commodore in the states.

They basically did and will again. It's essentially what was the Pontiac G8 and what will be the Chevrolet SS.

 

[Swarley]

Big Shocker, Extreme Speed Motorsports Moving From GTE to LMP2 Category:

The P2 class in the American Le Mans Series is set to receive a massive and much-needed boost, as SPEED.com has learned that Extreme Speed Motorsports will make a shock move to the cost-capped prototype ranks for this year.

Following three seasons running Ferraris in the GT category, the Scott Sharp-owned squad has reversed its decision to continue in the production-based ranks for 2013 and is instead finalizing plans for a two-car HPD ARX-03b program.

“I’m very proud that ESM will move to the P2 class, effective immediately," Sharp said. “We enjoyed our three-year run in the GT class with Ferrari. If the GT class is a strong factory-supported class and you are not a full manufacturer entry, everything falls on the shoulders of the team.

"As a result, the independent teams are at a serious disadvantage compared to their factory-supported counterparts.

“Moving to P2 is a new chapter for us at ESM and a homecoming for Tequila Patrón. We feel we have a terrific opportunity to learn and develop the P2 car this year, and that will put us in an ideal position going into the merged season of 2014."

The first car, purchased from reigning FIA WEC P2 champion Enzo Potolicchio, turned laps Wednesday at Sebring International Raceway, in preparation for a planned debut in next month’s ALMS season opener.

It’s believed ESM has ordered a brand-new second chassis that is scheduled to be delivered in time for the first round of the season on March 16.

All four of its current pilots: Sharp, Johannes van Overbeek, Guy Cosmo and Ed Brown will continue with the re-focused effort.

Both Patron Spirits CEO Brown and Cosmo, a former ALMS Rookie of the Year, are Silver-rated drivers, which would satisfy the category’s Pro-Am enforcement of at least one Bronze/Silver driver per car.

It’s unclear the status of ESM’s entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the Florida-based team had entered a Ferrari in the GTE-Am category. Sharp said they will continue their relationship with Ferrari in the GRAND-AM GT class and Ferrari Challenge.

ESM had just completed a test at Sebring last week with its two Ferrari F458 Italias, upgraded to 2013-spec, making the late move to P2 even more surprising.

While the reasoning behind the switch is unclear at this point, it comes at an opportune time for the ALMS, which will merge with GRAND-AM to form a unified sports car championship in 2014.

The expected two-car ESM effort will become the first full-season entrants in P2, with others potentially soon to follow.

Two-time class champions Level 5 Motorsports, which withdrew its planned effort this year due to lack of entries, is prepared to re-evaluate its situation if competition arrives, according to team manager David Stone.

If Level 5 re-commits, it could result in a four-car HPD ARX-03b battle for this year’s P2 championship. Additional entries, including a Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN Nissan and potentially two others from Europe, could be on the grid for Sebring.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/exclusive-alms-esm-to-field-hpds-p2-class-revived/

 

[JimLeavy59]

They basically did and will again. It's essentially what was the Pontiac G8 and what will be the Chevrolet SS.

I will be sure to get one.