Sebring - MSB race

2002 12 Hours of Sebring
Sebring International Raceway
race, March 16  

early exit

The No. 33 Ferrari 360 Modena GT had a solid start to the 12 Hours of Sebring 
race, but engine woes put it out of the race after 30 minutes.  Ralf 
Kelleners of Germany started the MSB Motorsport car 10th on the GT grid and 
moved up one position in the first laps.  But a high oil-temperature reading 
signaled the end for the new team.
 
John McLoughlin, MSB's technical director, explained:  "The temperature 
started rising rapidly, which meant probably a head gasket or a piston was 
gone.  From there on, the oil temperature went sky-high.  The engine didn't 
lose performance until the very end.  Eventually, Ralf felt it wasn't working 
well and there was a vibration, so he switched it off and that was the end."

Kelleners was at a loss for words.  "The engine blew.  What can I say?" he 
commented.  He noted the intense heat in the closed car.  "It was extremely 
hot.  With these high temperatures, it is a real challenge for the driver to 
last 12 hours.  You have to be very fit."

Kelleners' co-driver, Marino Franchitti of Scotland, did not drive.

"I'm very disappointed not being able to get into the race," he said.  "I 
expected the car to last longer than that, but that's motorsport.  You've got 
to take the good with the bad.  So I'll just go home and watch the end of the 
race on tv."

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945