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Richard Lietz Returns To Paul Miller Racing For 2013 American Le Mans Series Endurance Races In No 48 Chopard/Total Porsche 911 GT3 RSR On Michelin
Paul Miller Racing will see Porsche works driver Richard Lietz return to the team’s Michelin®-shod No. 48 Chopard/TOTAL Porsche 911 GT3 RSR for the longer endurance races on the 2013 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón schedule where he will co-drive with full-season teammates Bryce Miller and Marco Holzer.
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Lietz debuted with Paul Miller Racing in the 2012 Petit Le Mans and will make his second consecutive start with the team alongside Miller and fellow works driver Holzer in two weeks in the season-opening 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by “Fresh from Florida,” March 13 – 16, at Sebring International Raceway.
“I am very happy because Petit Le Mans was the first race together with Paul Miller Racing for me and it was very family and a lot of fun but also a strong and competitive team,” Lietz said. “A 12-hour race is always a ‘last-man standing’ scenario, who survives the best, and I think the car, the 997, is a proven car that should be technically fine. It is a very solid car, and if we are able to stay on the lead lap we can fight at the end. Normally, if you survive good, you can finish on the podium. I think this is the goal that we have and, especially with our new partner Michelin, I think it is possible.”
Bryce Miller, entering his third consecutive full season of ALMS competition, is looking forward to running the Sebring opener and the year’s other long distance races with his pair of works Porsche driver teammates.
“I have driven with Richard before, I have driven with Marco before, they are both world-class drivers and it is just a real privilege to be in their company,” Bryce Miller said. “To have a support base like that around you is obviously very important but they are also both really great guys, easy to work with, easy to get along with, and that may be every bit as important. It keeps the chemistry in the team good, positive and confident.”
Paul Miller Racing recently completed a productive two-day test in its No. 48 Chopard/TOTAL Porsche along with about a dozen other ALMS competitors last week at the legendary Sebring circuit. Miller and Holzer co-drove the Porsche over the two days.
“We tried some changes and found time in the car in nearly every set of changes that we explored,” Miller said. “We have made some gains and are learning more about the car so it is very exciting. Our level of opportunity is entirely different this year. I am really excited about the momentum that we have going in our team. It really synchronizes well with the timing of this opportunity and I think the team is ready to take the step with the Michelin. I have really been enjoying the tire from a driver’s standpoint.”
Noteworthy
- Lietz also participated in the Sebring test but spent his time at the wheel of a 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR that was making its North American debut. Lietz, co-driving with Patrick Pilet, put in two full days driving the new “991” but still managed to keep a watchful eye on his Paul Miller Racing teammates. “The change of the tire partner to Michelin prior to the Sebring race will be good and I heard the test went very well,” Lietz said. “Marco was very happy, I know Marco from being a factory driver and in previous races, and I also spoke with Bryce. He was quite happy with the car and I can’t wait to drive it.”
- A late incident in the final hours of testing last Friday didn’t deter from an otherwise productive test for Paul Miller Racing. Bryce Miller was at the wheel of the No. 48 when the car suffered a stuck throttle heading through Sebring’s fast final turn leading on to the front straight. Despite heavy left front contact with the safety barrier, Miller escaped uninjured and the team’s Porsche amazingly suffered no apparent major damage. “From what we can tell it looked like a set of washers came loose and got stuck in the throttle assembly,” team owner Paul Miller said. “That is a fast corner to go off but we were really impressed with how the safety system worked. Bryce was uninjured and the only damaged parts on the car can be replaced. We didn’t detect and major structural damage at all and we will be fine for the race.”
PaddockTalk Perspective
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