Audi R15

To win at Sebring is to lay down an early marker for the season ahead which is why Audi, the 21st century kings of endurance racing, haven’t missed one since their very first entry in 1999. They head to Florida this year an unknown quantity however with their new car designed to meet a simple brief; win at all costs.

The R15’s development has been a closely guarded secret with only a handful of spyshots of the car testing at Vallelunga to show for the project. Due to be publically unveiled at Sebring, the new car, which Ingolstadt bosses boast will carry a smaller and more efficient diesel engine than its predecessor, will need to prove more of a match for the 908 than the R10 did. What that car lacked in outright pace was superbly compensated for by driver and team management however, factors often more important than the machinery itself in endurance racing. That Audi retained its Le Mans and ALMS crowns whilst also wresting the LMS title back from Peugeot in 2008 is testament to that. They’ll need to demonstrate that same tenacity again if they’re to notch up a ninth overall victory this time around.


Peugeot 908

It won’t come as a massive surprise to seasoned onlookers that Peugeot have made few alterations to the fastest car on the grid. Only those changes that have been enforced under new, more restrictive regulations have been carried out, save for a slightly different livery. The manufacturer launches a two car attack on the race this year after their single entry proved fast but ultimately unreliable in 2008 as the Lion looks to roar again after its humiliating humbling at the hands of Audi last season saw heads roll back at HQ. Rest assured then that there will unlikely be room for complacency or excuses this time around with their chief rivals both bringing all-new cars to the piece. Expect it to be the most reliable of the triumvirate and probably still the fastest.


Acura ARX-02a

Honda’s luxury brand steps up from P2 this year with an all-new car to boot. That both Highcroft and de Ferran squads proved competitive with the old P2 machines can only bode well for the new Acura which made its public debut at the Sebring test in January. Aesthetically incorporating elements of both the outgoing R10 and current 908, the team are making positive noises about their hopes for the ARX-02a. After all, what with Acura not competing at Le Mans this year, Sebring represents their only chance to test their resolve against the two benchmark P1 entries. It’s unlikely they’ll be taking that challenge lightly.


Key man: Allan McNish

Both Audis competing at Sebring will feature identical line-ups as in 2008 and although that continuity will be a valuable asset in its own right, the performance of McNish could be the difference between success and failure. When he was on it last year, the R10 usually found an extra gear. Magnificent at Le Mans, he then made up for an early error at Petit to turn a two lap deficit into victory, breaking Peugeot hearts on both occasions.


Best of the rest

With Acura graduating to the top class, only one of its ARX-01bs remain in P2. Fernandez Racing are charged with keeping it atop the admittedly diminished heap which, although lacking any Porsche interest this year, does now contain a pair of Dyson-run Lola coupes.

Corvette meanwhile continue to race themselves in GT1 with one eye on a last hurrah at Le Mans this June before switching their attention to GT2. Indeed, it’s that class which potentially promises the best battle throughout the grid with no less than eight manufacturers - Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Ferrari, Panoz and Porsche – all capable of making the podium.

Those three latter marques have all won this class during the last three seasons at Sebring, races that included some of the closest finishes in Series’ history. Most interesting of all however will be the performance of BMW and the new Rahal Letterman-run M3 Coupes, making their Series debut in Florida.