28.01.2009 vici racing wrap up successful test session at Sebring
 

VICI Racing wrapped up two day’s of testing at the Sebring International Raceway today (Wednesday), having joined a string of other American Le Mans Series (ALMS) teams for the traditional late January officially sanctioned test, this test coming up as we build towards our second consecutive season in the premier sports car series. 

The team utilised three drivers for this week’s test on the 3.7-mile, 17-turn historic road course: Marc Basseng, Nicky Pastorelli and Richard Westbrook. Nicky and Marc continuing into the new year an association that saw the pair teamed up together to drive for VICI Racing in the ALMS last year, with the team very satisfied with the pair's performances in the RSR. Nicky, who first drove for the team in 2007 during the Daytona 24 Hours, has smoothly made the switch to sports cars with VICI Racing after a rewarding single seater career that saw the young Dutchman crowned European F3000 Champion and become Official F1 Test Driver for the Jordan and Midland teams before going on to make his mark stateside in Champcar. He has always impressed our staff with his smooth, consistently fast pace and ability to provide precise feedback.

Marc joined the team mid season last year and immediately caught everyone in the Miami, Florida-based team’s attention with his naturally ability and smooth style. The highly experienced German driver has a long winning background in sports cars, is synonymous with the Porsche brand and even shakes down the new cars as they leave the Weissach factory. As well as countless race successes in Europe, and particularly on the daunting Nürburgring Nordschleife, he can number GT victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona amongst his many achievements. Richard Westbrook was a new face in the VICI Racing paddock this week and he comes with a big reputation to go with his tall frame. A multiple title winner in the Porsche Carrera Cup and Porsche Supercup in Europe, the Briton has an enviable winning record in sports cars, and he can count on ALMS experience after a contesting a handful of races in the series last year.

The key focus of our short test was to give the drivers adequate cockpit time and continue our test programme in the build up to the new season, running with one of the team’s 2008-specification Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs, a final outing ahead of the imminent arrival of the new 2009 cars. With 42 laps completed on the bumpy and technically demanding former WWII airfield course on Tuesday afternoon without any issues arising, the team was pleased with the performance of the three drivers, who lapped very consistently and posted similar times. Without any hitches occurring they all had a roughly equal split of cockpit time during the 2 hours and 10 minutes long session. The team was also delighted with the new tires we were using.

The best lap time from the #5 VICI Racing machine was a 2:02.892 (108.388 mph) set by Richard on lap 40 of the 42 that the three drivers combined ran during that session. This was the third fastest time to be posted by an RSR, and the quickest from a 2008-specification car.
 

In fact the Englishman’s best lap, on what was an unfamiliar track, and which is one of the most technically challenging in sports car racing and no playground for a novice, was more than a second faster than the next similar year RSR. It was also a time that was just three tenths off the fastest RSR in the GT2 class, with the other runners having the extra benefit of the four previous sessions that took place before the Tuesday afternoon session commenced.

Roland Wall, Technical Director VICI Racing: “I’m satisfied with how the test went, although we only ran a short programme we got through plenty of time in the car for the drivers. We ran our key session on Tuesday afternoon and all three drivers were very consistent and put in good times. The drivers were quick instantly which pleased me. Marc and Nicky I know well, they did a good job last year and will do so this year certainly, Richard I know well from when he was in [Porsche] Carrera Cup a couple of seasons ago. I was engineering Uwe [Alzen] and Richard was our big rival all season, in the end the pair of them finished the season first and second, with us winning the title. It has been good to get him in the car. We turned in the times I expected and we are where we wanted to be this week.”

Nicky Pastorelli (Netherlands): “I’m pleased to have been on the track here. I have some testing experience here [at Sebring] already, I did some ChampCar testing on the short track and I drove in our test with the RSR here last year on the long track. I like the track for sure, it’s very hard work to be quick and consistent on it which I find challenging. The car felt good, the team did well, I’m very happy with the tires, they are excellent, and the RSR felt good and balanced on them, we are going the right way for sure, making steps over winter. We had a good first outing and I’m looking forward to the next test in the programme next month in the build up to the new season.” 

VICI Racing will contest the 2009 American Le Mans Series with the new 2009-specification Porsche 911 GT3 RSR sports car starting at the 58th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring on March 18-22.

ALMS Winter Test, Sebring - Session 5:

1. #66 de Ferran Motorsports, Acura ARX 02a (LMP1), 1:45.962 (125.705 mph)
2. #9 Patrón Highcroft Racing, Acura ARX 02a (LMP1), 1:46.824 (124.691 mph)
3. #15 Lowe’s Fernandez Racing, Acura ARX 01b (LMP2), 1:47.882 (123.468 mph)
4. #21 Panoz Team PTG, Panoz Esperante (LMGT2), 2:02.470 (108.761 mph)
5. #46 Flying Lizard Motorsport, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (LMGT2), 2:02.590 (108.655 mph)
6. #87 Farnbacher Loles Racing, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (LMGT2), 2:02.875 (108.403 mph)
7. #5 VICI Racing, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (LMGT2), 2:02.892 (108.388 mph)
8. #45 Flying Lizard Motorsport, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (LMGT2), 2:04.061 (107.367 mph)
9. #44 Flying Lizard Motorsport, Porsche 997 GT3 RSR (LMGT2), 2:04.065 (107.363 mph)
10. #40 Robertson Racing, Doran Ford GT-R (LMGT2), 2:04.132 (107.305 mph)
11. #92 BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team, BMW E92 M3 (LMGT2), 2:04.499 (106.989 mph)
12. #28 LG Motorsports, Chevrolet Riley Corvette C6 (LMGT2), 2:04.796 (106.734 mph)
13. #11 Primetime Race Group, Dodge Viper GT2 (LMGT2), 2:08.412 (103.729 mph)