Sebring

MAR. 19, 2005 — Fuel, tires, and driver change: 35 seconds; replace radiator, 28 minutes; master cylinder, 66 minutes; turbo, 81 minutes. The first is normal for an endurance race, the others are not. Even with these mechanical travails, Dyson Racing prevailed at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, finishing on the podium with their #16 AER powered Thetford/Norcold Lola. Driven by Butch Leitzinger, Andy Wallace, and James Weaver, the Dyson Racing entry placed third even with loosing 18 laps installing a new radiator. “For the championship it is a good result,” commented Rob Dyson. We hung in there like we always do. It is a long race to the championship and we have nine races to go.”

Except for the externally inflicted radiator problem, the #16 ran without problems for 341 laps. Unfortunately the same could not be said for the #20 car driven by Chris Dyson and Guy Smith. Its race started with a tire puncture on the first lap, included two more flats, a blown turbo and clutch master cylinder failure. But Dyson Racing persistence brought it home fourth in P1. “Today was a difficult day. The team battled back time after time. It hurts you when you have a car this good and the team is executing so well. But we will go into Atlanta and build from there.”

Sebring is the classic contest that defines endurance racing. It is the one major North American race yet to be won by Dyson Racing. James Weaver, tongue firmly in check, said recently, “In some ways, we hope we do not win one of these, because I am sure when we do win it, Rob will go “Thank god for that, now you are all fired!”

The second race of the 2005 American Le Mans Series will be held April 17 at Road Atlanta and will be televised on CBS.