The 2012 American Le Mans Series season will get under way with the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on March 17, but teams will have an opportunity to get their equipment sorted at the series' official Winter Test, held Feb. 8-9, at the Florida road course.
Posted today, the entry list reveals 23 cars, including two each from defending GT champion BMW Motorsport, defending LMP Challenge Champion CORE autosport and defending LMP2 champion Level 5 Motorsports. While there are still several drivers to be determined for those teams, CORE autosport will welcome new driver Colin Braun to test the No. 05 ORECA FLM09 alongside team owner/driver Jon Bennett. Corvette Racing also welcomes a new face in young Jordan Taylor.
Another new name on the roster is that of Dempsey Racing, which will make its official ALMS debut with an LMPC entry piloted by Henri Richard and Duncan Ende.
New cars are a big component of the 2012 ALMS lineup and the Winter Test will provide a glimpse of several. After campaigning a Lola-Aston Martin in the LMP1 category last season, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will take the covers off its new HPD ARX-03a. In the GT category, expect to see three new Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs; two from Flying Lizard Motorsports and another from Team Falken Tire.
A handful of teams from the World Endurance Championship are opting to take advantage of the Winter Test, including Pecom Racing with an LMP2 ORECA-Nissan, Krohn Racing and its Ferrari F458 GT, and Labre Competition with a Corvette C6.R.
General admission tickets to the Winter Test are $10 per day with no paddock admission or overnight camping.