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Home , 2011 12 Hours of Sebring, Alex Job Racing, American Le Mans Series, Bill Auberlen, CORE Autosport, Dyson Racing

News From The - Lime Rock 2012

BATTLE GTGROUND

www.michelinalley.com 2 GT BATTLE

Getting

The hottest, most competitive Speed of and Le Mans provides many opportunities class in sportscar racing worldwide . for testing and development for the sees frequent lead changes and They led much of the first half of the remaining races. nose-to-tail full race fights for the top Long Beach race and claimed the final With top teams from , several spots, but something curious podium spot. The pair also notched a BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, , seems to happen when the race ends: fifth place finish at Monterey. Lotus, and, soon, SRT Viper and four Corvette Racing and BMW Team RLL Porsche has been conspicuously different tire makers, the 2012 GT are monopolizing the early season and surprisingly absent from the GT battles have actually just begun. podiums. podium through the first three races Want proof? In 2011, BMW Through the first three races of the as both the Flying Lizard and Falken dominated the early going, taking 2012 American Le Mans Series GT squads look to follow up their second- three consecutive wins, but Porsche, class competition, BMW and Corvette half 2011 wins in 2012. Corvette and Ferrari combined to win have scored eight of the nine podium The highest Porsche finish to date all of the remaining events. positions and 11 of the top 12 finishes. belongs to the Paul Miller Porsche Spicing the mix is the recent debut Corvette Racing’s driven by and Bryce of the Lotus Evora entry by the multi- and arrive at Lime Rock Miller. They scored a fifth at Sebring, time ALMS GT champion Alex Job Park after consecutive GT class wins at while the Flying Lizard Porsche of Racing squad. Meanwhile, a highly Long Beach and Monterey following former champions Joerg Bergmeister anticipated pair of factory SRT Viper a season-opening Sebring third-place and was sixth at entries from is finish. Monterey. being prepared to join the GT fray Defending ALMS GT champions Rule changes for 2012 have within the next few races. BMW Team RLL and drivers Joey produced new, wider cars and taller “The ALMS GT competition Hand and Dirk Mueller have a 2012 tires for teams that require has been tremendous. There are Sebring win followed by second and new race set ups. The early results are, so many great teams, drivers and fourth place runs. in part, reflective of adapting to the manufacturers and we are all working Meanwhile, Corvette’s Jan impact of those changes. hard because we all want to win,” Magnussen and Antonio Garcia While the early season results said Silvia Mammone, Michelin have a pair of seconds to sandwich for Corvette Racing and BMW are motorsports manager. their fourth place run at Long Beach. impressive, they are by no means an “The GT field keeps getting deeper BMW’s and Joerg Müller indicator of what to expect for the and deeper, but there are still just carry a third at Monterey and a fourth summer stretch of the ALMS season three spots on the podium, so at Sebring on their scorecard. that kicks back off here at LRP. competition can only get more fierce The only intruder on this seemingly A massive seven-week long break and securing a podium finish even private podium party is the Extreme for the recently contested 24 Hours of tougher.” Q&A 3 Chris DYSON Q&A

Q: The culture: it still has a huge pull, but this is a picture and we realize that pettiness A: “Above all else, we focus on the business and in the end and for all and competitive bickering off-track fundamentals and that means making practical concerns we had to return has no place in a healthy racing series. sure we always work on making our invitations. The ACO was very It really helps that Greg and my father the car faster. Everything else is gracious and understood the decision. Rob have both been in this sport for subservient to that goal. The culture We need the time now to make sure over 40 years together and as their within the team is very supportive, the car improves as we’ve always families and businesses have grown, as everyone shares the key agenda of said that winning another IMSA they have both adapted and excelled. winning races and championships. American Le Mans Series title is our This reflects in our shared record on We’ve had the benefit of longevity primary goal. We have a few tests the track and our organizations today. with our program and our staff and planned on and off-track during the On track, we race very hard against this means the team has a genuine break in the schedule. Normally, I get each other but it is always clean and family feel to it. We also try to extend grouchy when we’re not racing for fair. Culturally, our teams are both ourselves to keep the big picture in several weeks in May and June, but hugely family-oriented, too.” mind and help others in the series to this year we need every minute for succeed.” development. The next six weeks will Q: : define the rest of our season.” A: “I have so many Lime Rock Q: The first three memories that it is hard to pick one races of the 2012 that stands out. I started my car season: racing career there and all A: “Considering we my formative early race only took delivery of events happened there, our equipment twelve including my first Skip days before the season Barber School. But I and went into the season would say it’s a toss-up opener with literally no track testing, Q: Their between our debut IMSA I’m honestly thrilled that we are only friendship and rivalry with GTP win in 1985 and last year’s ALMS four points behind our competition Greg Pickett’s Muscle Milk win from pole. The happiness we all after three events. The car needs more team: felt in ’85 was unbelievable. I was tuning, but the reliability of our AER- A: “I think we have a huge amount just a little boy but I still remember a built MZR-R and the car itself of respect for each other and what it lot of it very clearly. The intensity of has been superb.” takes to turn up on the grid each and memory is so powerful sometimes. every week and to compete against And then, to go back 25 years later, Q: Declining their invitations each other in this series. We share the to qualify on pole and then win the to Le Mans: same passion and the same spirit of race – the same race that had so A: “Not going to Le Mans was what makes for healthy competition. enraptured me as a young boy – was absolutely the right call. Emotionally We both also concentrate on the big for me a dream come true.” 4 HIRED GUNS THE HIRED

They come from all over the Some guns are particularly good Scott Sharp started his own team world,GUNS gunslingers of various age, at sorting a car. Their ability to go fast (ESM) and snagged Johannes van shape and size, all possessing two and help find a set-up that their co- Overbeek as his co-driver. shared traits: They make their living driver can handle makes drivers like Longer races driving race cars, and they drive them (ESM), Mexico’s Luis Diaz like Sebring and very fast. (Level 5) and IndyCar’s Townsend see Like high- troubadours or Bell (AJR) particularly valuable. After many teams add minstrels, they travel from country-to- all, the better the co-driver is, the a star driver from country, from series-to-series, and ply greater the success for the hired gun. another series JOHANNES VAN OVERBEEK their trade race-by-race. For former IndyCar star Bruno to add speed or Their kit includes a helmet, a Junqueira of Brazil (RSR), NASCAR’s a veteran safe-pair of hands capable passport, a set of racing licenses-and of preserving a podium finish or a hefty insurance plan. (CORE) or bringing a wounded car home. Factory drivers are at the top of Christophe The role of the gunslinger is not the racing food chain. Sportsman Bouchut and easy. You need to keep your head drivers-owners are the opposite pole. ex- pilot on straight, perform in sometimes- Hired guns are the bridge connecting COLIN BRAUN difficult circumstances, and try to get the two. of France (Level on well with everyone, including your For some of these, like three-time 5), it is a primarily a matter of speed. co-driver, crew, and team owner’s ALMS GT champion Sascha Maassen In classes that pair a sportsman family. (Miller) and ALMS veteran Butch with a pro, the pro must out-duel the Hired Guns are also often on the Leitzinger (PR1 Mathiasen) - the rival pros. prowl, by necessity, looking for the challenge is to help coach up a To compete, you hire the biggest next ride, the next race, and the next younger driver or wealthy teammate. gun you can find, creating a global paycheck. Others are there simply to win races search for talent. Racing schools, media drives or gain podiums. (Netherlands) and corporate events provide With two Challenge classes and the and Tim Pappas have forged a strong opportunities to meet prospective P2 class in the ALMS pairing at least pairing at Black Swan, first in GTC team owners or coaching clients. one amateur driver with a pro - the and now competing in P2. If a top driver is injured, Corvette demand for hired guns is quite high. The fraternity of racing gunslingers Racing’s Doug Fehan says the phone Imagine a PGA touring pro playing has its own culture. Drivers are calls and texts from prospective every round of the season with the friends as well as current, former or replacements start piling up before same amateur partner. Increase that occasional teammates. Each knows the ambulance door closes. intensity by sharing the driver’s seat that today’s teammate is next week’s Chip Hanauer, 11-time Gold Cup of a race car for three, six, ten or even rival, or vice versa. unlimited hydroplane champion and twelve hours. Guy Smith of one of the hardest working drivers Chemistry England (Dyson) throughout his Hall of Fame career, is important. and once laughingly described race So is helping of Germany drivers as people “too lazy to work your partner to (Muscle Milk) and too chicken to steal.” improve and have built strong GUY SMITH The hired guns of the ALMS have avoid mistakes. A JOE FOSTER relationships with no choice but to work hard: Being sense of humor, their respective teams and been there without a ride or having to find a like Joe Foster (Dempsey Racing) through the team’s ups and downs. “real” job can be even more traumatic possesses helps. Former IndyCar and ALMS champion than losing a race. HIRED GUNS 5 THE HIRED GUNS 6 dijyano?

This is nuts! No track lights. Head lights s-ck. Driving through woods on a street road at 170mph while racing other cars with no spotters!

NASCAR driver Brian Vickers on the

Dijyano DID YOU KNOW Grand Plans for ‘13 The ALMS recently announced plans for a 2013 race at the , the new 3.427-mile F1 circuit outside of Austin, Texas, will host the U.S. Grand Prix this November. Meanwhile, former ALMS racer Leo Hindery leads a group promoting the Grand Prix of America along the Hudson River. Rocking the Rock At just 1.54-miles, Lime Rock Park is less than one-fifth the length of the famed Wins Fifteen current ALMS 8.46-mile Circuit de la Sarthe, the home drivers have claimed of last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. at least one Lime Rock The top P1 prototypes turned laps in 3 Park class victory in minutes 25 seconds at Le Mans, while the previous eight here at LRP; Chris Dyson won the 2011 races held on the P1 pole and set a track record at 45.708 Delta debut scenic seconds. They said it would never turn, it would never make track. Dyson Racing’s Lime Rock’s Grand Ambassador, Sam Po- it to the race - let alone complete a lap of Le Mans. Chris Dyson and Guy sey, was the first to break the one-minute “They” were very wrong. The DeltaWing was Smith will try to make barrier when he rocked a 58.6-second lap one of the stars of the show in France. The car quickly it back-to-back P1 here in 1967, more than 10 years before became a fan favorite and gathered enormous global wins at their home Chris was born. media exposure with its four inch wide Michelin® track while attempting front tires steering the machine that has half the to hold off past track weight, power and aerodynamic drag of a typical victors Klaus Graf REMEMBER ME prototype. Despite being forced out after a clash with Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Joerg and from a after six hours, the car still showcased what Bergmeister had five consecutive class Muscle Milk Pickett the future of sportscar racing could look like. wins at Lime Rock Park until BMW Team Racing. RLL prevailed last year. Bergmeister and co-driver, Patrick Long, who has three LRP class wins, look to kick-start their 2012 American Le Man Series season here A Hybrid first as they look for their first podium of the season. The 80th running of the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans saw write history once again. Audi scored Alley Live its 11th win (and Michelin’s 15th www.michelinalley.com in a row) in the world’s toughest Follow a live Michelin endurance race with a convincing Blog with features, one-two finish by its two hybrid- race insights, powered R18 e-tron quattro race cars, interviews, videos, a first at Le Mans. So complete was photos and highlights Audi’s domination that it’s R18 Ultra from all 2012 ALMS non-hybrid race cars also finished events. third and fifth after 24 hours. news 7

The American Le Mans Series and ABC/ESPN continues its broadcast and digital package for the 2012 ALMS season which involves televising the world’s premier sports car series over several ESPN programming and media platforms, including ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. All ALMS races and qualifying sessions will be broadcast live and in their entirety on ESPN3 and for viewers outside the U.S., via ALMS.com. Live streamed coverage of the ALMS at Lime Rock Park can be viewed on ESPN3. com with live television coverage on ESPN2, Saturday, July 7 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm (ET). The full broadcast will be available on demand on ESPN3.com for three weeks and on AmericanLeMans. com after that.

LimeSEBRING Rock SCHEDULE Schedule Friday, July 6, 2012 Catch 10:00 am - 10:30 am Practice - ALMS (GT/GTC) 10:30 am - 11:30 am Practice - ALMS (All Classes) the 11:30 am - 12:00 pm Practice - ALMS (P1/P2/PC) 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm Exhibition - URC ACTION 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Practice #2 - ALMS (All Classes) 3:10 pm - 3:25 pm Qualifying - ALMS (GTC) 3:25 pm - 3:40 pm Qualifying - ALMS (GT) 3:45 pm - 4:00 pm Qualifying - ALMS (PC) 4:00 pm - 4:15 pm Qualifying - ALMS (P1/P2) 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Exhibition - URC

Saturday, July 7, 2012 10:00 am - 10:30 am Warm Up - ALMS (All Classes) 10:45 am - 11:15 am Exhibition - URC 11:30 am - 12:30 pm ALMS Autograph Session 12:45 pm - 1:15 pm Exhibition - URC 3:05 pm - 5:50 pm Race - The American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix for ALMS - Round (4) - 2 hours 45 minutes

2012 ALMS Schedule ALMS TV and Broadband Schedule 17 March Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sebring, FL Fri. July 6 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying 14 April Long Beach Grand Prix, CA (3:10 – 4:15 pm Eastern) Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA 12 May Sat. July 7 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage 7 July Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, CT (3:00 – 6:00 pm Eastern) 22 July Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Canada Sat. July 7 ESPN2 Live Televised Race Coverage 4 August Mid- Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH (4:00 - 6:00 pm Eastern) 18 August , Elkhart Lake, WI 1 September Grand Prix, Baltimore, MD 15 September Virginia International Raceway, Danville, VA 20 October Petit Le Mans, , GA Fan Favorites HPD/HONDA LOLA / MAZDA

Graf/Luhr Dyson/Smith 6 Michelin 16 Marsal/Lux Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Dunlop HPD ARX-03a 20 Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 & Lola B11/66

LOLA PORSCHE

Sharp/van Overbeek 27 Dempsey/Foster 44 Neiman/Holzer 01 Brown/Cosmo Michelin Bergmeister/Long Michelin Dempsey Racing Michelin Extreme Speed Motorsports Lola B12/87 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports 02 Italia GT3 RSR Click below to view get behind-the- scenes as the Extreme Speed team create LOTUS BMW its 2012 responsible consumption of alcohol advertisement

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Sweedler/Bell Auberlen/J. Müller 23 Yokohama 55 Hand/D. Mueller Lotus / Dunlop LMP1 CLASS Lotus Evora 56 BMW Team RLL BMW E92 M3 LMP2 CLASS LMPC CLASS CORVETTE GT CLASS

Michelin North America, Inc • One Parkway South, • Greenville, SC 29615 • TEL: 1-800-458-5000 www.michelin.com • Printed in USA, July 4, 2012 • Volume 6, Issue 4 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2012 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Magnussen/Garcia Bennett/Braun 3 Gavin/Milner 05 Popow/Dalziel Michelin Michelin Printed on recycled paper • 10% Total Recovered Fiber 4 Corvette Racing 06 CORE autosport All Post-Consumed Fiber Corvette C6 ZR1 Oreca FLM09