PK Sport At Sebring – Preview
It’s Going To Be Tough
Team Owner Mike Pickup can look back over the two months or so of 2003 and reflect on the fact that his PK Sport are winners already – of the Interlagos 1000 Miles, in January.

The Brazilian-owned chassis that should have been running in that event was damaged in an indiscretion beforehand, by one of the local drivers, so the “Le Mans chassis” (from 2002) was flown out as a replacement, leaving Mike Pickup’s three drivers for Sebring to use the car that ran in Florida last year as #61.

Besides last year’s #61, now running as #60, for Robin Liddell / Piers Masarati / David Warnock, PK Sport are also behind the #61 entry for Sebah drivers Bart Hayden / Gregor Fisken / Ian Donaldson. This one was always was down to race in the classic 12 Hours at Sebring, but a little hiccup somewhere in the administrative process saw it actually appear on the IMSA entry list only a couple of weeks before the race.

As this is written, the team are all safely in the USA, and settling in ready for testing to commence on Monday and Tuesday, prior to the start of the meeting proper on Wednesday.

So how do the likes of Mike Pickup, Robin Liddell (left, above), David Warnock (right) and Piers Masarati (centre) view the approaching 12 Hours?

Mike Pickup: “I just look at the entry and think how fortunate I am to be competing at this level. Then I think back to last year, and that amazing result – third and fifth in the GT class. That whole meeting couldn’t really have gone better than that, and I can’t wait for this year’s to start. Of course, it’s a great help to carry on with Robin, Piers and David, the same three we ran at Le Mans last year (photo, just before the start). That gives us the continuity that is important. I just hope it’s not as hot this year.

“We learned a lot from that first trip to the USA, so we’re aiming to use that experience, and we’ll be giving it everything we’ve got. The Pirellis will be excellent whatever the weather, all the drivers know the circuit, they’re all very experienced now. Let’s get on with it!”

Robin Liddell: “I’m really up for this. I was fortunate to partner Fabio Babini last year – what a team-mate – but having the experience of a podium already, plus the pace we showed at Le Mans, I’m desperate for it all to start. I hope it’s not as hot as last year, but if it is, I’ll cope. I’ll do as much driving as Mike wants me to. I’ve never been as fit as this.”

David Warnock: “I know Mike’s put lot of time and effort into developing the car, I know what the team has achieved in the past at Sebring, and I’ve raced there before – in 1997, in the Saleen Mustang. We took a good finish then, I think it was fifth, and realistically we’re aiming for the top six this time.

“I’m still not sure what events I’ll be doing this year, other than Sebring and Le Mans with PK Sport. But it looks as though I’ll be concentrating on the major ones, rather than enter a whole series.”

Piers Masarati: “Being all signed up with Mike for Sebring and Le Mans is a great start to the year. Sebring last year was magic (left), and I’m hoping for at least as good a finish next week. Have you seen the GT entry though?”

It genuinely is the best GT class entry anywhere in the world, and PK Sport are out to make their mark, with both cars.

First report from the track late on Wednesday, March 12.

Here they all are the last time they gathered in the USA, at the Petit Le Mans last autumn.