Sascha Maassen - 2006 preview

Spyder success

 

As other drivers enjoy a few weeks between race seasons, Sascha Maassen is
anxious to get back on track. The German Porsche factory driver, now living
in Raeren, Belgium, spent 2005 testing the new Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 car in
preparation for its victorious race debut in October.  Now he's ready for
more race action.

                        

In 2006, Maassen will share the No. 6 Spyder with his long-time co-driver,
Lucas Luhr of Monaco. The pair will compete in the American Le Mans Series
with Penske Motorsports, which will field the car for Porsche Cars North
America.

 

"I'm very happy to be back for a full season with Lucas, after this year
testing together and only one race. This is the biggest program I've ever
been involved with. The car is very nice to drive and we expect to be
successful with it," Maassen said.

 

The team's first challenge of the season will be the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of
Sebring at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway on March 18.

 

"It's the toughest race of the year, so we are preparing the car and
ourselves as much as possible during the winter," Maassen said. "After the
12 Hours of Sebring, you feel like someone who has been on a ship for a long
time – you cannot walk straight!"

 

F3 and LMP2

 

Although 2006 will be Maassen's first full season of prototype racing, he is
already at home in the LMP2 car. He noted the prototype is "completely
different" from the GT2-class Porsches in which he won three championships,
but it is similar to the Formula Three cars he drove early in his career:

 

"I learned a lot in F3, where the car has a lot of grip but limited
horsepower. This is a similar combination in the prototype. It's a very good
car, with good grip, but the engine power is limited due to the series
rules. So you need the same kind of driving style as in F3."

 

24-hour start

 

Maassen will start his 2006 season driving the No. 58 Brumos Racing
Porsche-powered Fabcar in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, scheduled for Jan. 28 and
29 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. A recent Hoosier
tire test showed the results of the team's off-season development work.

 

"Our testing went very well. We were able to produce competitive times, and
we were not far away from the leader. Even in comparison to the race times
last year, we were a lot quicker. We improved the car quite a lot," Maassen
said. 

 

"This year, we should be more competitive, but there is also more
competition, so it will be interesting – with the 35 to 40 prototypes they
expect – to see where we are. We are optimistic, but we have to be aware
that the competition will be very, very hard. It will be a quantitatively
and qualitatively high field."

 

Christmas greetings

 

Maassen will enjoy Christmas with his family in the Austrian Alps. He sends
best wishes to his friends, fans and race colleagues for a very merry
Christmas and a happy new year.