Sebring: Peugeot – Aston Martin duel

If the GT2 category will be the largest with 14 cars, the LMP1s, queens of endurance, will be the center of all attention. However, the 12 Hours of Sebring will not offer the same duel as in 2009. Last year, the all-new Audi R15 TDI took its first steps in competition, while Peugeot approached his third endurance season with new motivation, for a final victory for Audi. This year, no Audi point across the Atlantic: the first Audi-Peugeot duel of the year will take place in Europe, during the 1000 kilometers of Spa-Francorchamps.

It?s this time Aston Martin which will be located on the Route des Lionnes. Following the reassessment of the petrol-diesel equivalences, the Lola of Chris Buncombe, Harold Primat and Adrian Fernandez could enter the fight for victory alongside the 908 HDi FAP. The recent “Winter Tests” at Sebring showed that Aston Martin could set very good times on this track, while at Peugeot, they are displaying their distrust of Gaydon's prototype. The French manufacturer will, however, have the advantage of having two 908s, which is twice as likely to win.

Peugeot will also be able to test the trio of drivers who will take the wheel of the 908 n°1 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans : Anthony Davidson, newcomer, and the winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2009, Alex Wurz and Marc Gené. Their former teammate, David Brabham, will race in LMP2, at the wheel of the HPD ARX-01c, widely favorite in its category. The Australian will team up with Marino Franchitti and simon pagenaud. The latter, starting driver for Peugeot at the 24 2010 Hours of Le Mans, will race at Sebring against his future teammates, Sébastien Bourdais and Pedro Lamy, associated with Nicolas Minassian on the second 908 for this 12 Hour race.

GT2 is certainly the most exciting category, due to the larger number of cars entered, 14. In addition, there are many favorites for final victory. We're headed for a duel again Ferrari-Porsche, les 430 GT et 911 GT3 RSR étant les plus représentées, avec quatre modèle par marque. Le Risi Competizione (Ferrzari) sera notamment à surveiller, et plus particulièrement la voiture n°62, pilotée par Jaime Melo, Gianmaria Bruni et Pierre Kaffer.

Beyond Porsche and Ferrari, the C6Rs of Corvette Racing could play spoilsport, with two homogeneous crews: Jan Magnussen, Johnny O'Connel and Antonio Garcia on No. 3; Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Emmanuel Collard on #4. The BMW Rahal Letterman will also be at the Sebring meeting and, with two BMW E92 M3s, could win against the big names in the discipline.

In addition, the 12 Hours of Sebring will be an opportunity to see Formula Le Mans arrive, with five cars in the running. In the GTC category, six Porsche 911 GT3 Cups are also announced.