Thursday Feb 10 - Day 2 of the Winter Test
5:00 - We are done for the 2-Day test. The No. 44 was 8th fastest in the afternoon session. The No. 45 ended up P2. We will pack up and head back to Sonoma to finish up preparations for the race. We'll be back with you the week of March 14 - see you then - Jennifer!
4:12 - Joerg is much happier with the car. He's now P1. 2:02.273. Darren also radioed in that the car is "the best it's been all day." He is currently P8. The No. 45 is done for the day - they will head back to the paddock and do a set down. The No. 44 will finish out the session - Seth is now in the car.
3:23 - Things are definitely improving over this morning. Both cars on track, Joerg is currently P3 in the session with a 2:03.487. They are now working on incremental improvements using the post-lunch setup as baseline.
2:45 - The No. 45 is back on track. Joerg is much happier with the car after the numerous changes that they made over the lunch hour. The No. 44 is also back out - Seth is in the car. Hopefully they'll also report progress. We had some heavy rain around noon and the track is still a bit wet but drying out quickly. Looks like we might get a bit more rain in a bit. Just over 2 hours left in the test.
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11:45 - The No. 44 is heading back to the paddock too. We'll be back for the afternoon session after lunch - 1 pm ET.
11:15 - Seth's in the No. 44 for his first stint of the day. No. 45 still in the paddock.
10:37 - Red flag, Darren is back in the pits.
10:30 - Patrick hopped in the No. 45 and agreed with Joerg's assessment - they are not where they want to be right now - the car is heading back to the paddock for another change. Things should be sorted by lunchtime so hopefully they'll be back to making progress in the afternoon session.
Here's Joerg giving feedback to (l to r) Chief Engineer Craig Watkins, Roland Kussmaul, and Chief Strategist Thomas Blam.
10:00 - No. 45 is back on track after the latest setup changes - Joerg still in the car. No rain yet! 2 hours left to go in the morning session.
9:25 - Red flag - debris in Turn 11. Rain has held off, thankfully. No. 45 is back in the paddock for a front and rear camber change.
9:01 - Rain expected shortly. It should be fairly short in duration. Both No. 44 and No. 45 are reporting similar challenges this morning - neither Darren nor Joerg are happy with the cars this morning.
8:23 am - Good morning - it's Day 2 of the ALMS Winter test. It's much more humid today and low cloud cover - am hearing about 40% chance of rain today, but it's still clear although moist. Joerg is in the No. 45 - his main challenge this morning is low grip and strong oversteer. There's a lot of moisture on the track and it is cooler than yesterday which is definitely contributing to the problem. We hope to get as much green running time as possible today -it's our last chance before Sebring race week to understand the new aero and suspension components of the 2011 spec 911 GT3 RSRs. We are testing it on the No. 45 this week - both cars will run in 2011 spec for the season.
4:55 - The No. 44 is done for the day - they are heading back to the paddock. No. 45 is back in the pits and the crew will use the opportunity to do some pit stop practice. We'll be back with you tomorrow at 8 am ET.
4:50 -Seth is in the No. 44, just under 10 mins left. Joerg is in the pits for another change. Joerg will run out the session and we'll be back with you for the second day of the 2-day ALMS Winter Test.
4:45 - Car stopped drivers right turn 1. Still green. Joerg is currently P6 in the session in the No. 45. 15 minutes left in the session.
4:15 - Joerg reports less rear grip due to the last chassis change. 45 minutes left in the session. They'll soften the rear springs, and see how that change progresses. Sounds like No. 44 is chasing the same problem. Rain forecast for tomorrow afernoon so it's possible we may have only the morning session to work with.
4:00 - The No. 45 is back in pit lane from the paddock. Joerg is still in the car. 1 hour left in the session. Darren is still in the No. 44.
3:37 - Red flag - a car is pulled off going into Turn 1 with a fire. Rescue units are responding. We don't have TV so I can't tell how significant it is.
3:20 - Green flag. The No. 45 is going back to the garage for a setup change, Darren is back on tracki n the No. 44. We aren't trying for lap times at the moment in either car, but are P6 in the session with the No. 45.
3:14 - Red flag -car off drivers left turn 5. So far we've had few red flags.
3:06 -Seth is in the pits for driver change to Darren for his first stint of the afternoon in the No. 44.
2:40 pm ET - We are back on track for the afternoon session of the first day of the 2 day test. So far, both cars have been rapidly moving through setup changes. It's our first chance to fully test some of the changes for the 2011 spec cars. On the No. 45 Porsche, Craig Watkins has progressed through multiple spring changes, ride height adjustments, tire pressure changes and more. It's also the first chance for Patrick and Joerg to work with the new paddle shift system which replaces the prior sequential shift. We are also working with a new exhaust/mufflers, for compliance with the 2011 sound limit requirements.
11:30 am ET - Checkered flag on the morning session. We'll be back with you this afternoon for the second session of the day - 1:30 to 5:00 pm
10 am - Just under one hour left in the session. Chief engineer Craig Watkins has cycled through setup changes this morning in the No. 45. Patrick has driven all morning but Joerg will take over now to finish out the session. Some fans are already in place here at the track across from our pits.
Good morning from the first day of the ALMS Winter Test. We are back in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs after our DP run at Daytona. Both Porsches are on track right now for the morning session, which lasts from 8 to 11 am. The No. 45 is all black for this test - it will be back in its full silver and red livery by race week.
Both Porsches will run the 2011 season in full 2011 spec.
Here's Patrick at the start of the session.
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