ALMS, The Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park - Race Preview 
We’re Back!
 
I hate to sound like a broken record, but I love the ALMS race at Lime Rock. 

It’s always been the race after the long spring break for that race over in France, you know, Le Mans.  Besides being the ‘restart’ to the ALMS season, it’s just a great old school track.  There are no grandstands, so bring a chair, but there are plenty of green grassy hills for great viewing.  It’s the shortest track on the series, but it’s easy to get around and there are great vantage points so you can really enjoy the whole circuit.  There are no vast gravel traps or wide run-off areas.  You are close to the cars and the action, and there will be plenty of action.  This tight and fast little track leads to a lot of contact.  Last year one incident early in the race took out both Corvettes and one of the BMW’s.  Contact is expected, keeping it to a minimum and racing smart is what it takes to get a good finish at Lime Rock.
 
This race is more than just fourth on the calendar.  It’s a chance to right all the wrongs that befell you and your team in the first few races.  The teams have had time to review, test and implement changes they think will make them better. 
Fewer teams than in previous years from the ALMS are making the trip to Le Mans.  Most have done extensive testing during the break, some at the ALMS organized test at VIR and others privately at tracks like Mid Ohio and Road Atlanta as well as private sessions at VIR. 

There’s excitement about this race as teams are optimistic and anxious to show their progress.  There’s also a lot of pressure.  The break is over.  There’s a race every other weekend through Baltimore now which is the penultimate race before the season ending Petit Le Mans.  If you’re not set and ready to go now, you might have to start thinking about next year, because it’s game on from here on in.
 
The P1 field looks a lot like last year; Dyson with two and Muscle Milk with one. 

The battle up front again will be the duos of Dyson/ Smith vs. Graf/ Luhr.  So far this season the new Lola/Mazda of Dyson has not been a match for the HPD ARX of Muscle Milk.  The Dyson team loves this track that's so close to their hometown.  So like last year this could be the race they make good.  The number two Dyson entry will carry Michael Marsal and Eric Lux.
 
Great news in the P2 class, we actually have a race this year. After last year’s no-show we have four solid entries.  Level 5 with it’s two HPD’s and year of experience comes in as the favorites for race day, but Conquest has been surprisingly good for a brand new to the series operation.  Dempsey Racing certainly should be improved after spending some quality time with their new Lola during the break, but they’re probably not quite ready to contend just yet. 

The bad news for this class is the loss of Black Swan Racing.  It’s unfortunate that the woes at Lola put them in a tough situation, as I know they wanted to race at their home track.
 
PC has been great racing this season.  Although Jon Bennett’s CORE Autosport has scored the victory in all three races; one for Bennett & Braun and two for Popow & company, each race has been hotly contested.  After six hours at Laguna Seca the three podium positions were separated by less than two seconds. 

We’ve lost the Muscle Milk challenge car for the time being but Marcelli in the Merchant Services entry and Leitzinger in the PR1 Mathiasen entry are super fast here and could easily take the win.
 
The brawl of the race, especially at this track, as always will be in GT.   Muller and Hand drove a nearly perfect race last year to win here, and the BMW M3 was very strong.  BMW took the class win at Sebring this year but Corvette has been able to reel off two in a row since then.  Gavin and Milner have been hot and would love a hat trick this weekend. 

It’s been a BMW-Corvette show so far in GT.  Only the ESM Ferrari, with a 3rd place at Long Beach, has been able to break into the BMW-Corvette podium party. 

Shocker stat of the season so far?  The highest placed Porsche finish is Paul Miller Racing’s fourth place at Sebring!  Long and Bergmeister are currently tied for 17th, (no that not a typo) in the championship points. The Flying Lizard lead car finished second here last year and one’s got to believe they will be back at the front of the field again soon. 

Although Miller and Falken Racing have been testing like mad during the break, the Lizards were busy at Le Mans - maybe one of these two will get the 911 RSR it’s first podium of the year? 

We’ll miss the Aston Martin of Fernandez & Turner, but the ESM Ferraris should be good at this track.  Sharp and van Overbeek have looked good at both of the previous races but failed to get a finish representative of their pace. Rounding out GT is the Lotus of AJR.  They have an uphill battle getting the new entry up to speed in this ultra-competitive class, but Alex Job is good and if the car has any potential, aided and abetted by the latest performance breaks, I’m sure they will find it.
 
In GTC it could be any of these three; Alex Job Racing, Green Hornet, and TRG.  It’s really a toss up as all have won this year and could easily be a favorite to win again. TRG was very strong last year and finished 1-2, Piera in first and Pumpelly in second.  These two are teamed together this year in the #66 Kevin Buckler car.  Regardless, put your money on a Porsche GT3 to win.  
 
There’s quite a heat wave through the eastern portion of the U.S. right now, and it doesn’t look like there's any significant relief coming for the race weekend.  It’s going to be hot!  Hot in the pits, hot in the cars and really hot on the track.  Keeping your cool, literally and figuratively, will be the key to having a successful race.  Bring your sunscreen and a cold drink, and enjoy the race.

Russell Wittenberg