| March 17, 2015 (Los Angeles, Calif.) – The Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia challenged for GT-Daytona victory throughout the season-opening 24 Hours of Daytona, and is aiming to do the same at this Saturday’s Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. Looking to keep the same speed that the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia had in Daytona, season-long drivers Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell will be joined again by Anthony Lazzaro for this weekend’s race. Qualifying for the 12 Hours of Sebring will be held on Friday, March 20 with the race taking place on Saturday, March 21. Sweedler and Bell teamed to finish second at last year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring in a Ferrari 458 Italia, and will look to do one better this year. The duo have won at Sebring before, winning the American Le Mans Series’s GT-C class in 2012. Sweedler and Bell, and Scuderia Corsa, are currently second in the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup. “Sebring is a special place for me, as it was where I won my first major race,” said Sweedler. “Last year, Townsend and I came very close to getting another victory but we came up just a little bit short. We know just how tough it is to win at Sebring, but considering the pace that we had at Daytona I am feeling confident in our team and our Scuderia Corsa Ferrari. Anthony was a key part of our effort at Daytona so I am glad he is able to join us for Sebring and we are able to retain the chemistry that we had during that race.” “We had an outstanding race at Daytona, but something out of our control slowed us at the end,” said Bell. “We battled for the lead and led so much of the race so we feel we have some unfinished business for Sebring. We have a good understanding of Sebring- that is, we understand just how difficult it is going to be to win there. We know we have the speed, and if we keep our noses clean and get a little bit of luck, we should have another shot at a win.” Lazzaro has numerous starts at the 12 Hours of Sebring in Ferraris as well as prototype vehicles, and is happy to rejoin Scuderia Corsa for this weekend’s race. “I was thrilled to get the call to be back with the Scuderia Corsa guys for Sebring,” said Lazzaro. “The team did a great job in Daytona and we definitely had a car to win. I felt right at home driving alongside Bill and Townsend. They are clearly going to be contending for the GT-Daytona championship again this year and I’m happy to get the opportunity to help them and hopefully get a win at Sebring.” The famous 3.7-mile circuit at the former Hendricks Army Airfield provides a huge challenge for teams during the 12 Hour contest, according to Scuderia Corsa engineer Joe La Joie. “Sebring is another iconic event and track,” said LaJoie. “When someone mentions Sebring, the first thing that pops into your head is “bumps”. In fact many teams specifically visit Sebring to complete endurance tests on their cars. Because this is an endurance race, the racecar handling sometimes takes a backseat to other aspects. We have three drivers and about four hours of practice – if it stays green. Logistically, each driver needs enough time to be comfortable, which a real challenge at Sebring, and meet on track requirements. “There are 17 turns and almost each is unique, and there are surface changes from old airport cement to asphalt. Turns one, 11, and 14 all require a good high speed balance. Turns three-thru-5, 11, 15, and 16 all require adequate support for good change of direction while maintaining enough compliance to handle the bumps in turns one, seven, 10, 13, and 17. Turns seven, 10 and 17 are the best places to pass under braking. Turns seven and 17 are very bumpy and require excellent modulation |
