IMSA – Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Pleased With Progress Of Nissan-Powered Prototype

Muscle Milk Pickett Racing enjoyed a dream season in 2013. Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr won eight of the 10 races in the No. 6 HPD ARX-03c, winning their second consecutive P1 class championship by 100 points. In addition to the two titles, the team won 21 races, 14 poles and 39 podium finishes in 46 career P1 races. Now, it’s back to square one for the California-based team owned by 1978 Trans-Am champion and Muscle Milk creator Greg Pickett. With the demise of the P1 category, the team will roll out a brand-new car for 2014, partnering with the global Nissan NISMO effort. The new No. 6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing ORECA/Nissan turned its first laps during a PR photo shoot at Daytona International Speedway. The car then participated in the three-day Roar Before the Rolex 24 test, where it was 13th driven by Graf, Luhr and Nissan World Endurance Championship regular Alex Brundle.

“For us, this was not a real test – it was a shakedown, because it was the first time we ran the car,” said Luhr, the ALMS all-time leader with 49 victories. “There are always a few bugs at a shakedown, but we are learning and making progress. We gathered a lot of information and data for the Rolex 24 and the rest of the season. It’s very important that you can run continuously, and that’s what we did here. We ran without any mechanical issues, and that’s the most important part. If you keep running, you can make it quick.”

Luhr has experienced both highs and lows at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. He won the GT class in 2001 – finishing second overall in a Porsche GT3 RS. He won the pole for the 2006 in a Chevrolet/Crawford for Alex Job Racing in 2006. Joined by Patrick Long and Mike Rockenfeller, the team dominated the race, only to finish third – sidelined twice for long stops to repair failed axle boots.

“I think this year at the Rolex 24 – more than ever – the key will be to stay out of trouble with so much traffic,” Luhr said.

Graf had his first opportunity to drive the Daytona road course under the lights during the Roar.

“Driving at night at Daytona isn’t really driving at night,” Graf said. “The whole place is lit up so it’s not really a problem. It is such a special atmosphere when the night comes in and the lights go on. It changes a bit, the sound is different, it feels different in the cockpit too. I can only imagine what it is like to race here in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in July where they race under the lights.”

The Rolex 24 will be the first race at Daytona for both Graf and Brundle, who finished second in the 2013 FIA WEC P2 championship for OAK Racing. Alex is the son of former Formula One driver Martin Brundle, who won the 1988 Rolex 24 for TWR and finished fourth overall in 2011, driving a Ford/Riley DP fielded by Michael Shank Racing and United Autosports.

Fonte: www.Imsa.com