Luhr and Graf triumph after Lime Rock comeback

Pickett Racing’s German duo Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf staged a remarkable comeback in Saturday's ALMS event at Lime Park as the Muscle Milk-backed squad overcame technical gremlins to charge to victory.

After leading early on the team's HPD-Honda lost significant time to gear woes, plunging them down the order and leaving LMP1 class rivals Chris Dyson and Guy Smith (Dyson Lola-Mazda) on course for the win.

But Luhr would put in a sterling effort once back aboard the HPD and, with the help of some well-timed caution periods, was able to get back on level terms with the Dyson machine. With Graf now behind the wheel the Pickett squad quickly assumed the lead and took the chequered flag for a hard-earned win.

LMP2 glory went to the Level 5 squad, with Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker resisting late pressure from the Conquest-run Morgan-Nissan of Martin Plowman and David Heinemeier Hansson. Meanwhile the Core FLM squad took an LMPC class one-two with Colin Braun and Jon Bennett beating the sister Oreca-Chevrolet of Alex Popow and Tom Kimber-Smith.

As ever the GT class was the biggest contributor to the ALMS grid and once again provided the closest racing on-track. Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister narrowly claimed the spoils aboard their Porsche to give Flying Lizard their first victory of 2012. They came home just ahead of the factory Corvette entries, with Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia beating Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner to the second step of the rostrum.

Luhr and Graf now top the LMP1 standings with a four-point advantage over Dyson and Smith. Meanwhile Bouchut and Tucker head the P2 classification, Popow is out alone atop LMPC and the Milner/Gavin combo heads the GT championship. The series’ next event is a trip to Canadian venue Mosport on July 22.

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James Weeks