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Home , 12 Hours of Sebring, 2000 24 Hours of Daytona, 2011 12 Hours of Sebring, 2011 24 Hours of Daytona, 2014 12 Hours of Sebring, 2014 24 Hours of Daytona

michelinalley.com Finally racing Finally Sebring journey Sebring all together together all Daytona to PRUETT & LUHR NOW MEET ON TRACK ON MEET NOW LUHR & PRUETT

News From the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship - Sebring 2014 hen the checkered experience for the two-car SRT Bottom line, though: Team SRT had flag fell on the Rolex Motorsports Viper GTS-R team. run well, and both cars survived the 2 24 at Daytona on And with a solid third-place finish race relatively intact. On to Sebring, January 26, Team for one car, the race had to be judged right? SRT – that stands for a success. But given the fact that both Well, not exactly. Even with two WStreet and Racing Technology – had Vipers led for much of the 24 hours, it intact, operable cars, much work was much to celebrate, much to lament. simply primed the pump for Sebring. left to do before returning to Florida for The last time the Viper team At Daytona, the number 91 Viper was the grueling 12-hour race on Sebring’s was at Daytona, in 2000, it was driven to the podium finish by Dominik ancient, bumpy pavement – a perfect branded , instead of SRT. And Farnbacher, and Ryan warm-up and shake-down for the 24 unexpectedly, the car won overall, Hunter-Reay. Hours of Le Mans. beating all the exotic, faster Prototype The team car, number 93, finished So what happened in the 48 days entries that either broke or crashed, this sixth in class with drivers Rob Bell, between Daytona and Sebring? being quite early in the Prototype era. and , “Basically,” said Russ Ruedisueli, The , which each one leading at least a lap in the head of SRT and Motorsports is where the SRT Vipers have been race. Engineering, “we completely rebuilt racing, merged with the GRAND-AM But just short of halfway, that car was both cars, from the ground up.” Series, and beginning at the Rolex 24 forced into the wall coming out of the For the number 91, that rebuild was at Daytona, the combined field raced pits and required a lengthy run of pit- delayed a bit – the car was transported, under the auspices of the TUDOR side repairs to fix the front end. in its exact race-finishing condition, grit United SportsCar Championship. Even the number 91 wasn’t immune and grime intact – to the Chicago Auto With a combined schedule, too, from problems – a power steering hose Show, where it was displayed next to this meant that the Viper would be ruptured, requiring a 15-minute repair its street-going counterpart, one sure racing again at Daytona, followed that likely cost the car a win, dropping way to demonstrate the “technology up by the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of it 12 laps behind the leader. At the end, transfer” that keeps manufacturers Sebring. Daytona, then, was a learning they had made up all but four laps. deep into sports-car racing. Door to Door From Daytona to Sebring with SRT Viper Like the new Corvette the engine is replaced by one that is Those changes had to be incorporated C7.R, the Viper’s arch rival, the racing either new or rebuilt – on shorter races, into the rebuilds for Sebring. versions are considered test beds for an engine can run three events between The suspension is also rebuilt or 3 new technology, and a way to gauge replacement. replaced, a critical factor for this race. reliability under the most trying “We changed radiators, hoses, all One of the few things the tight rules conditions. electronics – we look at the data we allow is different shock absorbers and Meanwhile number 93 was shipped gather during the race to see if there springs, tailored to each track, and at back to Sebring for a two-day test, using were any issues, and we maintain a Sebring, that’s important. part of the Daytona package, including checklist at the track of items we need to “We’ve raised the ride height, because the same engine. improve.” the track is so darn bumpy,” said A complete rebuild is necessary for The transmission and differential are Ruedisueli. two reasons – Daytona is the longest rebuilt, and the carbon bodies needed “At Sebring, grip is everything.” race on the SRT Viper’s schedule, and repainting. SRT, like every other GT-Le Mans Sebring is the most demanding. “There is so much sand at Daytona, competitor at Daytona, chose “Sebring is the toughest track on a that it just sandblasts the paint during as the tire partner; in the only TUDOR car,” said Bill Riley, vice-president and the race,” Ruedisueli said. Championship class that allows racers chief engineer of , Rules-wise, IMSA, the sanctioning to choose whatever brand of tire they SRT’s partner in building and racing the body, tries to maintain a “balance of prefer. Viper. Per hour, it’s the toughest place performance,” in the Viper’s GT-Le The Twelve Hours of Sebring will have on a car without a doubt. As far as sports Mans class, with the Corvette C7.R, an enormous field of 66 cars – including car racecar tracks – this is the toughest. 911, BMW Z4, 458 and the two GT-Le Mans Vipers. “We’ll be “Sebring will prove your car. Le Mans Vantage. ready,” Ruedisueli said. will prove your engine. Daytona is After Daytona, IMSA put a smaller air “If you think we have something to between the two.” restrictor on the Viper’s V-10 engine, prove after Daytona, well, you’re right!” The cars are completely dismantled, added some mandatory weight to the Ruedisueli said. After a 24-hour race, car, and reduced the size of its fuel cell. he decade plus split in North American meant that two of the most successful sports car racers in North America rarely met on a race track in 4 direct competition, until now. That all changes in 2014 as and face-off in the Prototype Tclass in the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Luhr was the all-time series leader in the American Le Mans Series with 50 race wins and six championships. Pruett, the poster boy of the GRAND-AM has 41 race wins including five Rolex 24 at Daytona race wins to his credit and is a five-time Series champion. It is no surprise that the two drivers now tread separate paths in the TUDOR Championship. Pruett, now in his 11th year with Racing, is aboard a based Riley chassis, now powered by Ford EcoBoost. After winning the 2012 and 2013 ALMS P1 championships, Luhr is now in a new Prototype chassis (P2 from a P1 HPD) and engine ( from ), along with a switch from Michelin to the TUDOR Championship Prototype class tire provider. A native Californian and Ford factory Trans-Am champion, Pruett and his wife, Judy, have authored four children’s books and currently live at the Pruett Vineyards winery in Auburn, California with their three children. A former Porsche and factory driver, the German, Luhr, now lives in Switzerland with his wife Claudia and their two children. Luhr, 34, captured the European Karting Championship at age 14 and was signed as a Porsche Junior driver at 18. His success brought him to the ALMS where he claimed two GT class championships before moving to the Porsche RS Spyder team where he earned a P2 class title. He then joined Audi where he won the LMP1 class championship and has since taken the 2012 and 2013 ALMS titles with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, co-driving with . Along the way, Luhr has racked up five class victories here at Sebring and two wins at the . His career scorecard also includes wins at Daytona (GT), the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, and . Each is part of a strong and experienced team. Ganassi and Pickett are themselves both former drivers. “We’re going through a renaissance now with sports car racing going back to what we saw in the mid to late 80s,” Pruett said. A tale of two champions “The governing body is working hard to try to find parity between the different types of cars and I think it adds another element for the fans – there is a lot to see, a lot of great cars and a lot of great drivers.” 5 “I’m looking forward to Sebring immensely but we know we have our hands full. Ganassi has never been there and I haven’t been there since the late 80s. We have a lot to learn but it is always exciting going back for me and it is a new track for our team. “The biggest thing for me personally is we finally have one united ground of road racers. There is no more confusion for fans, sponsors or manufactuers - there is one united series and the future couldn’t be brighter.” The Pickett Racing driver Luhr knows the level of competition has significantly improved. “It will be very challenging,” said Luhr. “Just winning a race in the TUDOR Championship will not be easy because the competition is so tough. “I had great years in the ALMS and I can only hope to continue to do so in the TUDOR Championship as well. It was never easy to win a championship but it always was, and will always be my goal. “As for winning races, I’m just looking forward to getting a first win in 2014 and then, many, many more, I hope!” Pruett and Luhr are not alone. Rolex 24 at Daytona-winning with Joao Barbosa, and Sebastien Bourdais, runners-up Racing with Jordan and and and Racing with , Oswaldo Negri and Justin Wilson are all powerful contenders. Other top Prototype entries include: Extreme Speed Motorsports Honda, OAK Racing Nissan, Michael Shank Racing Ford, SpeedSource , Starworks Motorsports Honda, Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet and the distinctive DeltaWing. Beyond competing together, the merger also means drivers from each side will now compete at events not on their prior schedules. For the GRAND-AM teams that means Sebring and the season ending Petit Le Mans at . For the former American Le Mans Series teams it means new challenges at Daytona, Watkins Glen and Indianapolis. A tale of two champions 6 FAST FACTS Are you ready to watch? The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring can be seen from flag to flag on multiple platforms including the FOX Network. will screen the opening three hours of the race with the remainder streamed live on IMSA. com and through the FOX Sports Go mobile app. The IMSA.com stream will feature the FOX Sports broadcast team and be available globally.

Saturday, March 15 Highlights 10am-1pm: Sunday, March 16 On your marque’ FOX Sports 1 8:30am-11:30am: With Ford, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Chevrolet battling 1-10:30 pm: IMSA.com FOX Sports 1 it out in Prototypes and BMW, , Ferrari, Porsche, and SRT Viper in the GT Le Mans class, race fans have plenty of options to cheer for. The GT Daytona class also includes Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, SRT Viper and Porsche. That makes 11 different manufacturers all in one race. Kind of makes the TUDOR Championship the envy of some other series and the antithesis of one make racing.

2014 Schedule

January 25-26 Rolex 24 at Daytona March 15 Twelve Hours of Sebring April 12 Long Beach (P and GTLM only) May 4 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Cha-Ching! May 31 The Raceway At Belle Isle Park (P, PC & GTD only) June 7 (PC only) Continuing its long support of increased efficiency, June 29 Six Hours of The Glen performance and the environment, Michelin recently announced a Michelin Total Performance prize of €1 million July 13 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park ($1.2 million) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a car that wins July 25 Indianapolis Motor Speedway the overall 2014 race, sets the fastest race lap, uses 15 percent August 10 less fuel than last year’s P1 average and uses nine sets of tires August 24 VIR (GTLM/GTD race; PC race) or less in the race. Audi won the 2011 race using just nine sets of MICHELIN® tires. Audi, and Porsche have all September 20 uncorked new hybrid Prototypes to meet the new energy October 4 Petit Le Mans efficient 2014 race regulations. “Sebring: bit rough around edges but cool place to race nonetheless, Come prepared, T1 will make you want your 7 FAST mummy” FACTS @ALEXBRUNDLE ON TWITTER TALKS ABOUT RUNNING AT SEBRING FOR THE FIRST TIME Looking good Now in its fifth season, www.michelinalley.com Thursday, March 13, 2014 unveils a major redesign here 8:00 am - 8:30 am Qualifying - at Sebring to make it easier 8:45 am - 9:05 am Qualifying - GT3 Cup to follow the stories, photos, 9:20 am - 9:40 am Qualifying - IMSA Lites videos and tweets on your 9:55 am -10:55 am Practice - TUDOR (All Classes) computer, tablet or mobile during the race and all season 11:10 am - 11:55 am Race #1 - MX-5 long. The Michelin Alley 12:55 pm - 1:10 pm Qualifying - CTSC ST team is on site throughout the 1:20 pm - 1:35 pm Qualifying - CTSC GS entire TUDOR Championship 1:50 pm - 2:40 pm Race #1 - Lamborghini to keep fans up to date with the latest news. 3:05 pm - 3:50 pm Race #1 - GT3 Cup 4:05 pm - 5:05 pm Practice - TUDOR (All Classes) 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Race #1 - IMSA Lites 6:15 pm - 7:00 pm Races - HSR Gator v. Roo 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm Night Practice - TUDOR (All Classes) The recent 12 Hours of Bathurst produced a great Friday, March 14, 2014 race at Australia’s Mount Panorama circuit but the 7:45 am - 8:30 am Race #2 - MX-5 race ended early for one team after it had an on-track encounter with a kangaroo. No ‘roos are expected here at 8:55 am - 9:40 am Race #2 - GT3 Cup Sebring International Raceway, but track historian Ken 9:55 am - 10:55 am Practice #4 - TUDOR (All Classes) Breslauer reports that an alligator appeared at the gate two 11:15 am - 12:00 pm TUDOR Autograph Session years ago. We suspect that it didn’t have a ticket. 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Race #2 - IMSA Lites 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Race - CTSC 4:10 pm - 4:25 pm Qualifying - TUDOR (GTD) Patrick is packing 4:30 pm - 4:45 pm Qualifying - TUDOR (GTLM) 4:55 pm - 5:10 pm Qualifying - TUDOR (PC) After a tantalizing fourth place GTE- 5:15 pm - 5:30 pm Qualifying - TUDOR (P) Am class finish at the 24 Hours of Le 5:45 pm - 6:35 pm Race #2 - Lamborghini Mans in 2013, and co- 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm Races - HSR driver Joe Foster have a prized invitation in hand and are deep into the details Saturday, March 15, 2014 for their return to Le Mans this June in 8:00 am - 8:25 am Warm Up - TUDOR (All Classes) a new 991 based GT3 RSR 10:15 am - 10:15 pm Race - 62nd Annual Mobil 1 Twelve entered by Dempsey Racing-Proton. Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Here at Sebring, Dempsey and Foster Florida for the TUDOR United SportsCar will be aboard the #27 Porsche GTD Championship (Round 2) - 12 Hours class entry with Andrew Davis. FANFAVORITES

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