Sixty days before the classic, Murphy looks at the prospects for Sebring. As is always the case with rumors, nothing is certain. Uncertainty isn’t restricted to rumors, of course. If you don’t believe that, check out Planet Le Mans’ list of “confirmed” ALMS entries posted just this week. When the Bear applies his “confidence scale” of “on the grid,” probable, possible, questionable, and doubtful, he comes up with 22 certainly “on the grid,” seven probable, and nine listed with less confidence. Murphy polled his friends in the paddock, and the lack of unanimity was striking. The following is the synthesis of that range of opinion.
Big Prototypes
Count two Audis on the grid. de Ferran Motorsports will come through with a P1 Acura, as will Patrón Highcroft; Autocon will be there – count ‘em all. ECO says “We’ll be there with two.” Lots of silence since then, isn’t there? The Bear makes one to be possible, the second doubtful. Peugeot delayed its announcement into February. Still count both as probable, perhaps even “probable plus.”
Intersport is a team without visible means of support with the departure of the Colorado car collector. Hope springs eternal, though, and the real team principal said they’ll “be there.” Murphy thinks the Dublin team remains questionable. Corsa’s a conundrum. It’s been “definite” that Corsa was “out,” then definite they’re “in,” then out, then in. The most recent information is leads the Bear to believe that Corsa is probable for Sebring.
P1 summary is five on the grid, plus three probable, one possible, one questionable and one doubtful. Murphy’s bottom line? Eight will start.
Little Prototypes
The Bear’s favorite Mexican racing team will be on the grid with an Acura P2. (Ok, they’re the only Mexican racing team he knows.) Old faithful (that descriptor is getting rare, isn’t it?) Dyson Racing will grid two Mazolas and retain its 2008 drivers. The Bear stayed quiet while many foolishly – but with odd certainty – took Marino Franchitti off the team, but that’s the difference between internet rumors (which were rife) and paddock rumors (which were sparse). Besides, Marino’s been a favorite of Murphy’s since some eye-opening Panoz drives way back when.
Murphy wrote on December 10 that there could be a fourth Acura, now he hears an Andretti Green Racing Acura LMP2 is possible – unless gears make good coffee table sculptures. Bemusement in other knowledgeable domains restrains the Bear’s enthusiasm. van der Steur would like to do five races. Then again, the proprietors are in the automotive coatings business, making a Sebring start doubtful, whatever the good intentions.
For P2 there are three “on the grid,” one possible, and one questionable. The Bear’s best guess is that three P2’s will start.
Big GTs
Corvette Racing will field two in the first of its two-race North American GT1 farewell. No one else will show. Count two on the GT1 grid.
Little GTs
The Lord and the Kid will return to the Sebring grid with an Aston Martin, but this time it will be a real GT2. Primetime Group is said to be bringing the Viper back; the Bear counts them as probable. VICI has dreams of three, one will be on the grid, a second is probable, the third is doubtful. “ptgboss” says they’ll be on the grid, so we’ll count them “present.” Robertson, likewise, seems intent on the Sebring grid. The Lizards are grid material for two. We’ve heard precious little from or about Black Swan outside of one interview with a Euro website. That makes the team no better than questionable.
The Porsche brigade could be bigger yet, with one very probable European team, and another from the continent is a possible. A third Flying Lizard is questionable – Murphy’s been told it’s more likely than that third VICI (which isn’t saying much, of course). Farnbacher Loles will put one Porsche on the grid.
The Bear thinks two Texas Ferraris will be on the grid (somewhat surprisingly, that’s not unanimously agreed), along with another from Team Seattle (with AF Corse). A Nameless Team (literally) Ferrari just possibly could make four.
We make Lou to be a probable, but Murphy rates it doubtful he’ll have tires he likes. The Falken Tire Porsche has yet to be leveraged by any marketing, which even a stuffed animal would think is at the core of such a program, so Murphy’s dropped this one from ‘grid’ to probable.
Finally, the Bear is sure he’ll see two BMW’s on the grid. If the Cats show up in 2009, it will be long after Sebring. In summary, he’s rated 12 as “on the grid,” and there are four probable, two possible, two questionable, and one doubtful. Some of the Bear’s correspondents think there could be as few as 14 GT2 starters. Murphy thinks with a bit of luck 17 GT2 entries will start the 12 Hours of Sebring.
When the flag flies at Sebring on March 21, 30 entries will thunder into the old airbase’s Turn 1. It’s a different mix, but nearly the same number (31) Murphy gave you on December 10. If Sebring starts the Bear’s 30, it will have done well, indeed, in tough times for racing, losing only 10% from last year’s 33. We can only hope to do as well in the rest of the 2009 American Le Mans Series season. Murphy will be back soon with his assessment of that field.
So far pretty acurate on the Peugeots. It looks like 7-10 will make the grid. That guess of 8 looks pretty good right about now.