News From The American Series - Sebring 2013

AUDI’S FINAL SEBRING POSTCARD

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Well this could be the last time. This could be the last time. May be the last time. I don’t know. Oh no. Oh no. M. Jagger, K. Richards

As the powerful field of Prototypes and GT cars A trio of top competitors will take on the in what assembles for the 61st running of the Mobil 1 Twelve may prove to be the final LMP1 battle at Sebring. Hours of Sebring, the air is tinged with the sweet smell The 2012 ALMS P1 champion Muscle Milk Pickett of orange blossoms and the uncertainty of change and Racing and the 2011 ALMS P1 champion Dyson transition. Racing Lola look forward to matching up against the Le For the 10-time Sebring winners from , one of the Mans champions. most successful teams in endurance racing history, this Joining them at Sebring and for the full 2013 ALMS could be the final Sebring race as they focus on defending season will be the 2012 -winning Rebellion their new FIA World Endurance Championship crown. -shod team. Audi arrives at Sebring with a pair of exotic, will again be part of the story as the Muscle e-tron quattro prototypes, which feature a turbocharged Milk squad makes the move from traditionally sized diesel/flywheel hybrid with electric wheel motors MICHELIN® tires to the latest MICHELIN “wide front” tires mounted on the front axle. already raced with great success by the Audi, Toyota and The Audi driver squad will be led by “Mr. Le Mans”, Tom Rebellion P1 teams. Kristensen, an eight-time winner of the 24-hour classic. Meanwhile, the Dyson squad makes the switch from He joins Allan McNish and in the #2 car. Dunlop wide-front tires to Michelin for 2013. The defending Le Mans and WEC champions Marcel Tires are an important factor for Audi as well, as the Fassler and Benoit Treluyer are joined here by Oliver continued development of tires for the electric wheel Jarvis, to wheel the #1 Audi. motors mounted on the Audi front provide yet another “We’re in for a very emotional race weekend on which technical challenge for Michelin, which has won Sebring we’ll be taking the fans along on a journey into our past,” for the past 14 consecutive years and Le Mans for fifteen. said Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. In addition to the R18 e-tron quattros, Audi is expected “Sebring is where Audi’s sports car era that has been so to feature four other race cars and several drivers who successful began. We expect that with two current hybrid made Sebring history with Audi. models we’ll be battling for overall victory at the 12-hour Fans will savor the sights and the sounds of the Audis at race for the last time this year.” Sebring as a special era ends and a new future awaits. The merger of the American Le announcement of the proposed 2014 series will remain separate with 3 Mans Series and GRAND-AM sets classes. the ALMS GT Challenge class cars up an exciting new chapter in North The class structure in many ways joining the GRAND-AM GTs. American sports car and endurance defines the on-track product, team The new era of is racing. Each series maintains its budgets and life spans for existing expected to kick-off with an exciting respective schedule and rules for cars. one-two punch, opening with the 2013, as preparations continue for Balancing the performance of 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona in January the combined series in 2014. the ALMS P2 and GRAND-AM DP and followed by the Twelve Hours of Leaders of the combined series are prototypes and defining the costs Sebring in March. working closely with manufacturers, and levels of technology are among Follow:www.michelinalley.com teams and promoters to create a the most sensitive pieces of the for details as they emerge. “best of the best” package for a big, new puzzle and are yet to be powerful series featuring a well finalized. promoted schedule of major events The PC Challenge class from ALMS featuring full fields of top cars, will continue to run as a separate manufacturers, teams and drivers in class, while the GT classes in each close competition. One of the first and most important steps in the process is the THE ROAD AHEAD

YOUR TECHNICAL BRIDGE The Michelin Turn 17 Bridge critical to success at Sebring and the summer UHP tires – with an all-season leading onto the front straightaway , so Michelin . is the symbolic link from the Sebring engineers and developers wanted the “Our MICHELIN Pilot Sport family International Raceway pit lane new MICHELIN® Pilot® Sport A/S 3TM of Ultra High Performance tires are and paddock to the infield, where tire to exceed the performance of the born from endurance racing with thousands of fans are gathered for the current offering and the competition technologies and innovations we have opening race of the 2013 American Le by significant margins. developed in open competition at Mans Series. They targeted excellent braking Sebring and Le Mans,” said Don Byrd, For Michelin, the link reflects both in both wet and dry conditions, vice-president, marketing, Michelin the success of Michelin technical exceptional handling and overall Americas Small Tires (MAST). partner teams from BMW, Audi, performance. “The fans at Sebring know and and who have As a result, the MICHELIN Pilot appreciate total performance and that claimed 14 consecutive overall Sport A/S 3 tire designed for the street is exactly what the new MICHELIN victories at Sebring and its latest vehicles driven by many sports car Pilot Sport A/S 3 tire delivers for consumer offering. and performance enthusiasts even enthusiasts and their own vehicles. Delivering exceptional performance meet or exceed the best dry handling Enjoy the bridge.” in a wide range of conditions is performance of top competitors’ 4

Top Manufacturers, Drivers, Teams Make GT Shine! Keep the Change

Transition is the word for the in preparation for a championship 2013 season as American Le attack in 2013 with a driver line-up Mans Series manufacturers and featuring , teams prepare for the merger of , and the ALMS and GRAND-AM series . and unified classes and events for One the most successful teams 2014. in international sports car One group expected to remain competition returns for the 2013 virtually untouched is the current season. GT class of ALMS, where top The manufacturers, teams and drivers with former Viper and Corvette have delivered some of the best ace and Matteo competition in the world. If it is Malucelli is back after a one-year not broken, why fix it? hiatus. Risi once again teams with Still, change is the one constant Michelin as it seeks its fourth in racing and the GT field gathered Sebring GT victory since 2007. here at Sebring reflects change as Shock waves rolled through well. the blogosphere last month when The defending ALMS GT the 2012 ALMS GT runner-up and champions from Corvette Racing Petit Le Mans winning Extreme will rely on the proven Corvette Speed Motorsports Ferrari team C6.R-Michelin combination for announced an immediate switch champions and to the P2 class beginning here at and teammates Jan Sebring with a pair of HPD-Honda Magnussen and Antonio Garcia in prototypes. 2013, while Corvette develops the But the Ferrari banner has exciting new seventh-generation been seized by Corvette Stingray-based race car as the ultra-successful team joins for 2014 competition. with West Racing, Yokohama and Taking a different route, the drivers and Bill equipe’ and expects to enter the defending Sebring GT champions Sweedler. ALMS GT fray at Monterey with from BMW Team RLL, present a Another big surprise saw the , Tom Kimber-Smith spanking new pair of V8 powered Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche and Michelin. BMW Z4 GTEs and a switch to team step down to GTC class Adding to the GT field will be two MICHELIN® tires for 2013. competition, but Porsche loyalists factory Aston Martins with Stefan Joining and Dirk fear not as the Derrick Walker- Mucke, , Bruno Müller will be , led Falken Porsche, with Bryan Senna aboard the #97 and Dane John Edwards and . Sellers and factory man Wolf Cameron, and A highly anticipated change for Henzler, continues an aggressive Billy Johnson in the #007. Aston Sebring fans arrives in the form of development program and Paul Martin Racing last won at Sebring a potent pair of cars from the SRT Miller Racing moves to Michelin in 2005 and won the pole last year Motorsports Viper factory team with joining Bryce at Raceway Laguna Seca. returning to Sebring after a 12- Miller aboard. The GT field here at Sebring is year hiatus. Meanwhile, the double- due to include eight top teams The Riley-prepared Vipers defending PC champion CORE from six different manufacturers entered four ALMS rounds in 2012 autosport team picks up the FLM and three tire makers. 5

Top Manufacturers, Drivers, Teams Make GT Shine! Keep the Change

That includes factory pairs of Corvettes, SRT Vipers, new BMW Z4 GTEs and Vantage GTEs to take on top independent from Risi and AJR and from Walker and aggressive R&D and testing, and an Miller. uncompromising approach to an Race fans and industry insiders important and highly prestigious recognize that factory and top race. independent teams come to Is it any wonder that media, race Sebring with the fullest possible fans and manufacturers consider array of resources. That means this the best racing on the planet? top drivers and the best technical That is one thing not about to boffins, strategists and crews; change. 6 Dijyano DID YOU KNOW

“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.”

Extreme Speed Motorsport driver/owner on his team’s move to P2 for 2013 HALL OF FAME It isn’t often that a race driver earns Motor Sport UK Hall of Fame honors while still active, but Audi’s Danish star isn’t just any driver. “Mr. Le Mans” has stood on the top step at the Le Women Rule Mans 24 Hour race podium eight times! Women are increasingly taking key roles in sports car racing Level 5 has quite a driver lineup and delivering success. Leena for Sebring. Joining Scott Tucker Gade (pictured above) is the race aboard the pair of Level 5 P2 class engineer for the Audi #1 car while prototypes are 2012 Indy Car All Lauren Elkins is the assistant champ Ryan Hunter-Reay; rookie engineer for Muscle Milk. Silvia of the year and former ALMS P1 Mammone is in her seventh ALMS champ (pictured right); former factory shoe Ryan Stars season as motorsports marketing manager for Michelin, while Ashley Briscoe and . Shoum is the Michelin race tire Wow! Not bad for a pro-am class. engineer with , New P2 rivals Extreme Speed where she is assisted by newcomer counter with their own stars: Michelle Phillips. Scott Sharp with and David plus with Patron’s FAST BUT and Anthony Lazzaro FRAGILE Only 10 times in the first 60 editions Roll out the of the 12 Hour race has the car setting the fastest lap actually won blue carpet the race. The track record for a lap Continental’s debut as the spec tire provider of the 3.74-mile (5.95 km) circuit for the 2013 ALMS PC class and the expected is 1:43.274 (128.977mph) set by arrival of aboard the group Peugeot’s Sebastian Bourdais in DeltaWing puts six different tire companies in 2009…and, no, they did not win. competition in the . Michelin North America motorsports director Chris Baker says, “Michelin likes competition-in fact, we Alley Live thrive on it-and we are glad Conti has arrived. www.michelinalley.com About We want to roll out the Michelin blue carpet.” Keep up to date with the Michelin has won the 12 Hours of Sebring for the latest in the American Le time! past 14 consecutive years. Mans Series with Michelin BMW Team RLL Alley online - featuring principal on race insights, interviews, BMW’s announcement of videos, photos and the switch to MICHELIN® highlights from all 2013 tires for the new Z4 ALMS events. GTEs: “Finally!” 7

Weekend Schedule Friday, March 15, 2013 8:00 am - 8:15 am Warm Up - USF2000 8:35 am - 9:05 am Race #2 - Challenge Club Racing 9:20 am - 10:20 am Practice #4 - ALMS (All Classes) 10:40 am - 11:10 am Race #2 - USF2000 - 30 Minutes 11:15 am - 12:15 pm ALMS Autograph Session 11:30 am - 12:15 pm Race #2 - Prototype Lites 1:15 pm - 1:30 pm Qualifying - ALMS (GTC) 1:35 pm - 1:50 pm Qualifying - ALMS (GT) 2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Qualifying - ALMS (PC) 2:20 pm - 2:35 pm Qualifying - ALMS (P1/P2) 2:55 pm - 3:40 pm Race #2 - GT3 Cup 4:30 pm - 5:15 pm Race #2 - MX-5 Cup/Skip Barber 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Races - SVRA Saturday, March 16, 2013 8:00 am - 8:25 am Warm Up - ALMS (All Classes) 10:30 am - 10:30 pm Race - 61st Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida (Round 1)

2013 ALMS Schedule

16 March Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sebring, FL 20 April Long Beach Grand Prix, CA 11 May Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA 6 July , Lakeville, CT Catch 21 July Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Canada 11 August , Elkhart Lake, WI the 31 August Grand Prix, Baltimore, MD 21 September , Austin, TX ACTION 5 October Virginia International Raceway, Danville, VA 19 October Petit Le Mans, , GA Live streamed coverage of the Twelve Hours of Sebring and qualifying at Sebring International Michelin store for Sebring Raceway can be viewed on ESPN3.com with live TV coverage on SPEED/FOX Sports Media, Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 am (ET). The full broadcast will be available on demand on ESPN3.com for three weeks and on ALMS.com after that.

ALMS TV and Online Schedule Fri. March 15 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying (1:15 – 2:35 pm Eastern) The Michelin Traveling Store is coming to Sat. March 16 ESPN3.com Live Streamed Race Sebring! Here you can find Michelin-branded Coverage t-shirts, hats, stickers, Vintage Michelin signs, children’s (10:30 am – 10:30 pm) clothing and toys, key chains and many other novelty Sat. March 16 SPEED Live Televised Race Coverage items. Be sure to check it out – it will be located below (10:30 am – 10:30 pm) the Pit Box Suites across from the Pit Entrance #49. 8 Fan Favorites BMW Auberlen/Martin/J.Müller D.Müller/Hand/Edwards 55 Michelin BMW Team RLL 56 BMW Z4 GTE Smartphone scan code here

Check out the launch of the new BMW Z4 GTE by scanning the code above AUDI 1 LOLA 12 SRT 91 2 13 93

Fassler/Treluyer/Jarvis Michelin Prost/Heidfeld/Jani Michelin Goosens/Farnbacher/Dalziel di Grassi/Kristensen/McNish Beche/Cheng/Belicchi Wittmer/Bomarito/Kendall Michelin Audi Sport Team Joest • Audi R18 e-tron Rebellion Racing • Lola B12/60 Toyota SRT Motorsports • SRT Viper GTS-R HPD 01 MAZDA 16 PORSCHE 48 02

Sharp/Cosmo/Brabham Michelin Dyson/Smith/Leitzinger Michelin Miller/Holzer/Lietz Michelin van Overbeek/Brown/Lazzaro • Lola B12/60 Mazda Paul Miller Racing • GT3 RSR Extreme Speed Motorsports • HPD ARX-03b HPD 6 CORVETTE 3 FERRARI 62 4

Graf/Luhr/Dumas Michelin Magnussen/Garcia/Taylor Bruni/Beretta/ Malucelli Michelin Muscle Milk Pickett Racing • HPD ARX-03c Gavin/Milner/Westbrook Michelin Risi Competizione • Ferrari F458 Italia Corvette Racing • C6 ZR1 P1 CLASS P2 CLASS GTE CLASS

Michelin North America, Inc • One Parkway South, • Greenville, SC 29615 • TEL: 1-800-458-5000 Printed on recycled paper www.michelin.com • Printed in USA, March 12, 2013 • Volume 7, Issue 1 10% Total Recovered Fiber No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. All Post-Consumed Fiber Copyright © 2013 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.