Porsche walks Audi in 12 Hours of Sebring

The American LeMans Series has finally kicked off. The season opener took place with a 12 hour race on a beat up airfield in Florida–the historic 12 Hours of Sebring.

The underclassed LMP2 cars are starting the season off strong with a first and second place overall finish, triumphing over the higher classed LMP1 Audi R10. The number 7 RS Spyder, piloted by Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard took first in class and first overall.

This was also a great showing for the private team, Dyson Racing finished second in class and second overall–their highest finish since they began running RS Spyders last season.

In the GT1 class a Corvette locked up first place, while Porsche again pulled through with the 911 GT3 RSR and took first place in the GT2 class.

More info, results and season schedule

ALMS season schedule

Race result
1. Bernhard/Dumas/Collard (D/F/F), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 351 laps
2. Leitzinger/Franchitti/Lally (USA/GB/USA), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 351
3. Capello/McNish/Kristensen (I/GB/DK), Audi R10 (LMP1), 351
4. Dyson/Smith (USA/GB), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 350
5. Brabham/Sharp/Johansson (AUS/USA/S), Acura ARX-01B (LMP2), 349
6. Luhr/Werner/Rockenfeller (D/D/D), Audi R10 (LMP1), 333
7. Lienhard/Lammers/Theys (CH/NL/B), Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2), 333
8. O'Connell/Magnussen/Fellows (USA/DK/CAN), Chevrolet Corvette (GT1), 328
9. Field/Field/Berry (USA/USA/USA), Lola B06/10 (LMP1), 327
10. Beretta/Gavin/Papis (MC/GB/I), Chevrolet Corvette (GT1), 320

Results LMP2 class
1. Bernhard/Dumas/Collard (D/F/F), Porsche RS Spyder, 351 laps
2. Leitzinger/Franchitti/Lally (USA/GB/USA), Porsche RS Spyder, 351
3. Dyson/Smith (USA/GB), Porsche RS Spyder, 350
4. Brabham/Sharp/Johansson (AUS/USA/S), Acura ARX-01B, 349
5. Lienhard/Lammers/Theys (CH/NL/B), Porsche RS Spyder, 333
6. Herta/Fittipaldi/Andretti (USA/BRA/USA), Acura ARX-01B, 287

Further class winners
LMP1: McNish/Capello/Kristensen (GB/I/DK), Audi R10
GT1: O'Connell/Magnussen/Fellows (USA/DK/CAN), Chevrolet Corvette
GT2: Bergmeister/Henzler/Lieb (D/D/D), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) was created in 1999. The regulations are based on the rules of the Le Mans 24 hour race. This season twelve rounds will be contested in the USA and Canada. The traditional highlights of the year are the Sebring 12 hour race and the 1,000 mile "Petit Le Mans" race in Road Atlanta. Most races run over 2.45 hours. The ALMS is the American counterpart to the European-based Le Mans Series (LMS).

The starting field consists of two different sports vehicle categories: Sports prototypes and standard sports cars. They are divided into four classes:

LMP1 class: Sports prototypes with up to 750 hp and a minimum weight of 925 kilograms (in the LMS: 750 hp/900 kilograms). Power-to-weight ratio: appr. 1.2 kg/hp.
LMP2 class: Sports prototypes with around 475 hp and an 800 kilogram minimum weight (in the LMS: 475 hp/825 kg). Power-to-weight ratio: appr. 1.7 kg/hp. The Porsche RS Spyder competes in this class.
GT1 class: Heavily modified standard sports cars with up to 650 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (in the LMS: 650 hp/1,125 – 1,325 kilograms).
GT2 class: Slightly modified standard sports cars with between 450 hp to 470 hp and a minimum weight of 1,125 – 1,325 kilograms (in the LMS: 450 to 470 hp/1,125 – 1,325 kilograms). The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR competes in this class.

via Porsche