ALMS – Muscle Milk and Risi warming up

Just like the F1, the ALMS organized its traditional winter tests last Thursday and Friday on the Sebring circuit. In LM P1, only Muscle Milk Pickett Racing was present with its new HPD ARX-03c, a 2012 model fitted with wide front tires and a revised front end. Outgoing champions, Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf filed down the tarmac (227 laps), well aware that overcoming Rebellion Racing and its duo Nick Heidfeld-Neel Jani this season will be a complex mission. Graf set the best time in 1'46"368, 1"168 better than during qualifying for the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 2012. “These were very productive tests, He says. We have made many changes and reviewed a significant program. Many kilometers have been covered, and the car has proven to be very reliable. These tests were very important to us, allowing us to verify that all new elements were reliable and working well. Conditions are so changeable here that it's hard to predict how things will play out during race week. (12 Hours of Sebring, starting on March 16. Editor’s note). It depends on so many factors. »

In GT, Risi Competizione did not miss its return, the Ferrari n°62 of Olivier Beretta-Matteo Malucelli completing a lap of the Florida track in 1'59"862. It was the first release of the 458 Italia GTE 2013, which is notably distinguished from its predecessor (visually) by new louvers, a new splitter, and a significantly redesigned rear. Beretta is in any case delighted to return to a championship having won it five times. “It’s great to see Risi back and another Ferrari in this championship” admits the Monegasque.

Finally, in LM PC and GTC, the best times are respectively to the credit of Kyle Marcelli on the No. 09 BAR 9 Motorsports Oreca 1 FLM (1'54" 803) and Spencer Pumpelly (2'06" 061) on the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup n°44 from Flying Lizard Motorsports.