Fernandez Racing Prepares For The Winter Test

By Anthony Fontanelle

For those looking forward to another season of the American Le Mans Series, the waiting is almost over. This weekend, Lowe’s Fernandez Racing will drive at Sebring International Raceway to go through the second phase of the American Le Mans Series. Armed with a new chassis, the team is entertaining positive aspirations as it prepares for the fourth annual Winter Test at Sebring.

The three LMP2 entries, powered by Acura, are part of a strong protype contingent entered for the Winter Test.

Aside from the shift in chassis of the team sponsored by the maker of Acura catalytic converters, highlights of the Winter Test also include Peugeot's North American launch with its diesel-powered factory prototype as well as first public running of the modified Ferrari F430 GT.

Fifteen teams that represent eight manufacturers will compete for the three-day test. The manufacturers include Acura, Audi, Ferrari, Lola, Mazda, Panoz, Peugeot and Porsche.

Fernandez Racing has shifted to the next generation ARX- 01b chassis with the hope of improving the already striking race performance. The said engine will be showcased as the Acura team prepares for its second appearance in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The efforts will continue Monday through Wednesday at the ALMS' Winter Test.

"We took delivery on December 28th," said Tom Anderson, co-owner with Adrian Fernandez. "We are quite excited about the changes that have been made between last year's 01a-specification ARX versus the 01b which we received. The computer numbers look very impressive and hopefully this will translate to the quicker estimated lap times that the computer shows. We are really looking forward to getting to Sebring and our first on-track adventure with it."

"What Acura accomplished in their first season is remarkable," Fernandez said. "They were strong out of the box with not only a brand-new engine but the chassis as well. Expectations are even higher for next year."

It can be recalled that last year at Sebring, Fernandez and Luis Diaz finished second in LMP2 and third overall in the team's Acura-powered Lola. Lowe's Fernandez served as the engine development team for Acura last year, and the 3.4- liter V8 never suffered from a reliability standpoint, according to Motorsport.com.

ALMS Corvettes Goes Green In 2008

By Evander Klum

The American Le Mans Series is now greener than ever. As regards Corvette Racing, the green factor will be triggered by the use of E85 - a high-octane, renewable alternative fuel.

As part of the 2008 “green racing” espoused by the endurance series, Corvettes entertained the use of a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petrol. The decision was made after the team won its seventh consecutive GT1 manufacturers and team championships last year having E10 as fuel. E10 is only composed of ten percent ethanol.

On Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, ALMS announced its partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and SAE International to incorporate "green racing" principles into its 2008 season, according to USA Today.

"The auto manufacturers competing in the American Le Mans Series have made it very clear that this is a direction and an overall initiative that is important to them," said ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton.

"The opportunity to formally align with the EPA, Department of Energy and SAE International makes our platform very special and unique - to auto manufacturers and ultimately to consumers," Atherton added. "At a time when nearly all of motor sports have lost its relevance regarding progressive technology or any connection from the racetrack to the showroom floor, the American Le Mans Series stands alone in providing a platform of solutions to our nation's automotive, transportation and energy needs."

Anita Lienert of Edmunds.com has this to say: "This creative partnership promotes the use of alt fuels and new technologies that may find their way into your next car or truck."

This season, all race cars in ALMS will compete on alternative fuels. But it can be noted that Audi has already started the use of its revolutionary diesel fuel.

"There's evidence (that) series like the American Le Mans Series influences automakers, as well as everyday drivers: Audi, which has raced a diesel car in the American Le Mans Series for the last two years... unveiled a diesel-powered R8 concept road car at the Detroit show," said Jennifer Kho of greentechmedia.com

Aside from Audi and Corvette, other manufacturers which will also comply with the new requirement of running on green fuel include Acura, Aston Martin, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Mazda, Panoz, Porsche and Saleen.

The maker of the Acura CV boot as well as other automakers in the ALMS is expected to perform well using the green technology.

Lowe's Fernandez Racing Abandons Old Chassis

By Evander Klum

What is underneath that Acura car cover? Perhaps, a race car with a brand new chassis…

Fernandez Racing officially announced that it will abandon its present Lola chassis in favor of Acura's ARX-01b chassis in the American Le Mans Series' LMP2 class. The shift will start next year.

According to reports, Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz will drive the No. 15 Acura ARX-01b. The drivers recorded three podiums and six top-five results this season. The Acura ARX is HPD's first effort in race car design and development.

"What Acura has accomplished in their first season of the American Le Mans Series is remarkable," said Fernandez. "They were strong out of the box with not only a brand new engine but the chassis as well. Expectations are even higher for next year with the amount of development work planned for the off-season. To become a full Acura effort is something that everyone at Lowe's Fernandez Racing is really excited about because this will definitely help to take our program up to the next level."

Acura's chassis is the most recent version of the ARX-01a. The chassis was developed by Honda Performance Development through a technical partnership with Wirth Research in England. This year, the ARX-01a was touted by Andretti Green Racing and Highcroft Racing, with the two teams combining for one win and seven podiums, as well as an additional three top-five finishes in 12 events, reported the Auto Week. All three Acura teams used the Acura LM V8, a 3.4-liter, normally-aspirated engine designed and developed by HPD.

“The opportunity to run an ARX chassis next season greatly adds to our resource base,” noted Tom Anderson, the team co-owner and managing director. “Not only will we benefit from the substantial development work by HPD, Wirth and the AGR and Highcroft teams to date, we will be able to contribute to that database as we begin to operate as part of a three-car effort on all fronts. ”

The chassis made its debut in a 12-hour simulation run at Sebring International Raceway in February of this year.

“We are very pleased to have Lowe’s Fernandez Racing compete with our latest version of the Acura P2 chassis, the ARX-01b, in 2008,” said Robert Clarke, President of HPD. “As the assigned engine development team within Acura’s ALMS program, the Lowe’s Fernandez team worked well with our HPD engineers and contributed significantly to the development of the Acura LM V8 engine, our win in the Twelve Hours of Sebring and our perfect reliability record in our inaugural season in the series.”

Clarke added: “Now, with our on-going Acura chassis development program with Wirth Research and the HPD staff, the Lowe’s Fernandez team will have the opportunity to work together with our other Acura teams on the new chassis as we prepare for a very competitive 2008 ALMS road racing campaign. We believe the combined communication and cooperation of all of our Acura teams will assist us in our quest for race victories and the 2008 P2 class championship. ”

Lowe’s Fernandez Racing will start testing the #15 Lowe’s Acura ARX-01b in January, said Auto Racing Daily. The 2008 ALMS season opens March 15 with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Audi Out For Glory

By Anthony Fontanelle

The introduction of a diesel car last year at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race was a sign of better things to come from Audi in motorsport. This year, they returned to the said endurance race, Audi once again proved the supremacy of their diesel powered race car. Their dominance is also showing at the American Le Mans Series as they have swept all eight races in their class. But they have been beaten by lighter LM P2 cars in the past six races and the team will be looking to break that unlucky streak.

The next race of the season will be held at the Road Atlanta where Audi is known to excel in the past. But going into the said race, Audi is facing a major challenge from LM P2 cars. Although Audi has called for changes in the rules to make the sport fair for the heavier LM P1 cars, the ruling body of the sport has not done anything to change the rules. As a result, Audi's motorsport chief Wolfgang Ulrich said that they will be having a tough challenge going into the next race.

"The race at Road Atlanta is, along with Sebring and Le Mans, one of the most important sportscar races of the year," said Ulrich. The Road Atlanta race will have drivers competing in a grueling 1o-hour endurance race. "For this reason, we are particularly proud to have been unbeaten at Petit Le Mans to date. The LM P2 cars will make life difficult for us once again and the regulations are unchanged since the previous race. Even so, we aim to continue our impressive winning streak at Petit Le Mans."

The race is scheduled for October 6 and Audi and the other teams are now busy preparing for the 1000-mile race. Rinaldo Capello who will be driving the Number 1 Audi Sport North America R10 agreed with Ulrich that the next race is one of the most important events in the American Le Mans calendar. "Petit Le Mans is the most important race in the American Le Mans Series alongside the 12-hour race at Sebring, and is, at the same time, the penultimate race of the season." With two races to go, Capello and co-driver Allan McNish can clinch the championship at the Road Atlanta race on their Audi performance chip-equipped R10 TDI.

"This means that, at the same time as keeping one eye on the championship, it is important to score a good result so that we have a good points cushion heading into the finale at Laguna Seca. It would be even better for me if we could wrap up the drivers title in the penultimate round at Road Atlanta. I'm quite certain that our Audi R10 TDI will show its full potential in this race. It's clear that we are aiming for overall honors," added Capello.

But 24 Hours of Le Mans three-time winner Marco Werner is also looking to win at the said race to get closer to the championship. "We should be quick at Road Atlanta – and we know that the R10 TDI is reliable. I hope that ‘lady luck', which you need it in such a race, is also on our side," said the German driver.

Audi Failed To Beat LM P2 Cars

By Anthony Fontanelle

At the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi once again proved that diesel engines have what it takes to beat gasoline-engined racecars. At the American Le Mans Series, Audi proved that their car’s performance at the prestigious endurance race is not a one-off showing. The team’s LM P1 car is still yet to be beaten in its class but the last six races has seen them being beaten by LM P2 cars. The current aim now for the team is to break the winning streak of LM P2 cars.

Although no additional points are given to an overall winner, Audi is still keen on taking the overall victory in the series’ next event. The reason for this is that the team is looking to pave the way for their diesel initiative in the United States. European automakers are in the forefront in developing a new generation of diesel engines and Audi is one of the apparent leaders in the development of clean diesel engines.

The latest race of the season was held at the “Road America” in Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin. The track is considered as the best suited track for high speed cars. With the Audi R10 designed for high speed racing, the team is confident that they will break the winning streak of LM P2 cars at Road America. The team looked for a good performance from defending champions Dindo Capello and Allan McNish on board their R10 units with racing parts as reliable as Audi A6 parts.
The pair though failed to break the winning streak of LM P2 cars as they finished in the second place overall although they have won the battle in their class. McNish and Capello finished just a couple of seconds behind the overall winner - a Porsche. This is the first time in five years that Audi has not won on this high-speed track.

McNish is apparently disappointed with the result of the event. “It's disappointing to have started from pole-position and ultimately finish second by less than two seconds having led much of the race despite two tire issues when I was leading,” he claims.

“I should be satisfied for winning the LM P1 class for the sixth time this season but as a racing driver, I’m never content to finish a race in second place overall,” he said. “There was a very good possibility of us winning this race but it slipped away from us.”

Meanwhile, Audi’s motorsports chief, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, is bemoaning the weight difference between LM P2 and LM P1 cars. The LM P2 cars are lighter than LM P1 cars thus the former has a distinct advantage over the latter.

“Once again the Audi R10 TDI was the dominating LM P1 car and remains undefeated in its class,” said Dr. Ullrich. “That we were not able to get the overall victory even on the fastest track of the American Le Mans Series shows once more that the weight difference between the LM P1 and the LM P2 cars is simply too big. On top of that comes the smaller fuel tank we must use compared to our opposition.”