Strakka Racing’s brand new Honda Performance Development ARX-03a will start tomorrow’s 12 Hours of Sebring in 7th position overall (out of a field of 64 cars) and 3rd in the FIA World Endurance Championship privateers’ category, after an excellent performance in qualifying today. Danny Watts had the pleasure of giving the Michelin-shod 3.4-litre normally aspirated V8 engined P1 prototype its first qualifying experience around the unforgivingly bumpy American circuit, setting a fastest time of 1:48.590.

Danny’s first flying lap out of the pits had to be aborted due to traffic, but he then managed two full clear runs – the last of which producing his best time. It was a great performance from the 32-year old Buckingham driver, considering he’s never raced at Sebring before and has spent all week (along with team-mate Nick Leventis) learning the 3.74 mile (6.02km) tight and twisty circuit. 

The HPD ARX-03a has performed brilliantly through all testing and practice sessions in the soaring Florida temperatures, especially considering that prior to its arrival at Sebring it had only run at cold a Snetterton circuit and not in full anger. All three Strakka Racing team drivers Danny, Nick and Jonny Kane, have been pleased with the progress made during pre-race preparations and feel satisfied that they have a good race-ready car heading into the gruelling 12-hour marathon.

Danny Watts: “Warming my tyres up didn’t take long due to the high ambient track temperatures and I knew that I had only three shots at qualifying. My first flying lap had to be aborted due to traffic but I had two further clear runs and gave it everything. It’s been a long hard week but we’ve made good progress in terms of making the car drivable for the race. In the whole scheme of things qualifying is such a small part of a twelve-hour race and anything can happen. The car feels good as a race package, so it all bodes well for tomorrow.”

Source : Strakka Racing