3-11-05
-- For Immediate Release
Alex Job Racing Going for Fifth Consecutive
Sebring Victory
Tavares, Florida - Alex Job Racing is preparing
to make a record setting run at their fifth Mobil
1 Sebring Twelve Hour GT2 class victory in a row. With
six wins at this historic event, the Florida based
team is ready to set a new mark at their home track.
The team will return with their new look number 23/mail2web.com/Hyatt/Alex
Job Racing/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and number 24/Bell Microproducts/ProVest/Alex
Job Racing/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The new look will be debuted at Sebring
with reigning 2004 American Le Mans Series GT driver's champion Timo Bernhard
and new for '05 teammate Romain Dumas. Joining Bernhard and Dumas in
the 23 car will be the driver holding the current record for wins in the ALMS
Sascha Maassen.
Maassen is also going for his fifth consecutive Sebring victory. "It
is easy for a driver to say to get the fifth win we just have to finish first. The
team has been preparing all winter for this race and Alex and the guys are
always on top of every detail for Sebring. With Timo, Romain and myself
we have a lot of long distance driving experience. We will need to take
care in traffic and be very mindful of the lead car not to go down a lap."
Defending ALMS GT driver's champion Timo Bernhard realizes the challenges
of Sebring. "Sebring is always the race with the largest entry. That
means more LMP cars that are fast and can really mess up the running order
once a yellow comes out. You have to run your own race against the GT2
competitors, but you have to always have an eye on the overall leader not to
go down a lap. Of course the car has to be reliable and the drivers have
to stay away from contact on the track."
"It has been a long winter," said Romain Dumas. "I had the opportunity
to test the car last month and we were really fast. I am not sure if it
was the perfect weather, but I am hopeful that the speed will carry over to the
race weekend. The team is always well prepared for Sebring and they really
know the strategy for the race. I am looking to log my first Sebring 12-hour
victory next weekend."
In the 24 car road racing veteran Randy Pobst returns to AJR and is teamed
with rookie Ian Baas (pronounced Boss). Joining the duo for Sebring and
Petit Le Mans will be Brian Cunningham. "Sebring is one of my favorite tracks,
I used to live real close in Melbourne and have a lot of track time there," said
Pobst. "I am looking forward to driving the RSR; I have a lot of miles
in the 911, but have yet to turn laps in the new model. We have our own
melting pot of drivers in the 24 car with Ian, Brian and I, but I am confident
we can run at the front. It will be good to renew my relationship with
Alex and work with Kerry Foote again."
"I am eager to get back behind the wheel and work with the team," said Ian Baas. "This
will be my second race at Sebring; I did a double race weekend in Formula Ford
last year. This will also be my first endurance event and I am anxious
to learn the pit stop etiquette, driver changes and all that goes with a long
race. Driving in the dark is going to be great! The Porsche will
be a different driving experience through the fast turns like one and 17."
"I have run the 12-hour five times before, my best finish was in 1996 with Oldsmobile
when we were second in class," said Brian Cunningham. "I am cautiously
optimistic. It is easy to go in thinking you have the best car, best team
and great drivers only to be let down by a ten-cent part. Twelve hours
is a long time and so much can happen. It is hard not to be excited when
you are driving a proven car and the confidence I have in Alex Job Racing to
prepare the best possible entry. Our biggest competition will be our other
team car and the rest of the Sebring variables."
"We are looking forward to running at Sebring and getting back to victory lane," said
Alex Job, owner Alex Job Racing. "It has been a long winter of preparation
and everyone is anxious to get back to the track and race. We showed some
good speed in practice here in February and look to build on that for the race
weekend. We have always run well Sebring and we are hoping to make it five
consecutive victories at Sebring."
#23 Alex Job Racing/ mail2web.com/Hyatt/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR:
Timo Bernhard
Romain Dumas
Sascha Maassen - Sebring and Petit
#24 Alex Job Racing/Bell Microproducts/ProVest/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR:
Randy Pobst
Ian Baas
Brian Cunningham - Sebring and Petit
Alex Job Racing will take to the 3.7-mile 17-turn Sebring International Raceway
for the 12-hour event starting at 10:45 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 19th. The
race will be broadcast on Speed Channel.
AJR thanks team sponsors mail2web.com, Hyatt, Bell Microproducts, ProVest and
partners Mobil 1, Michelin, Puma and ZF Sachs.
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