ALMS Winter test to set stage for 2008

For those looking for a preview of the 2008 American Le Mans Series, the waiting is nearly over. The fourth-annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway starts Monday and will set the stage for the 10th season of the American Le Mans Series, one that promises to be the most competitive since its founding in 1999.

Tickets for the test are $10 per day. Access to the paddock and camping are not allowed during the Winter Test.

Fifteen teams representing eight different manufacturers are entered for the three-day test – Acura, Audi, Ferrari, Lola, Mazda, Panoz, Peugeot and Porsche. It will serve as a warm-up for the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, the opening race of the 2008 season.

Among the highlights of the Winter Test include Peugeot’s North American debut with its diesel-powered factory prototype, the introduction of Acura’s second generation ARX-01b chassis and the first public running of the updated Ferrari F430 GT.

Updated news, timing information, photos, audio and video from the Winter Test will be available at americanlemans.com throughout the week.

The 2008 season opens with the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 15. The race will start at 10 a.m. ET and will be broadcast live by SPEED, which will begin its coverage at 9:30 a.m. American Le Mans Radio and IMSA’s Live Timing & Scoring will be available at americanlemans.com.