Sebring, Florida, USA. Saturday, 15th March, 2008.

Top Podium Finish at 12 Hours of Sebring

Marino, together with his team mates, Butch Leitzinger and Andy Lally,
secured 2nd place overall, and 2nd in LMP2 class at the 56th running of the
Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring here today.

At the wheel of their Dyson Racing LMP2 No. 20 Porsche RS Spyder, they
were never out of the top 10, but a failure on their fuel rig caused problems
and loss of time in the early pitstops. However, they still managed to run
consistently at the top of the leaderboard, and in the closing stages of Marino’s
second stint, and nearly 10 hours into the race Marino was leading the field.

Realising any time lost at his second stop could lose his team their top placing,
Marino drove a storming in-lap, sliding the car sideways at the entrance to the
pits, a move that Speed TV adjudged was sufficient to present Marino with the
‘Acura Award for the Move of the Race’. “I had no idea I was leading the race
at that point” said a somewhat overawed Marino as he exited the car, “I just
kept pushing, the car felt great and it was important I got the car into the pit as
quickly as I could so that we could get out and hold track position. The team
have done such an incredible job all week, and their strategy and hard work
throughout the race has just been amazing.”

There were anxious moments in the closing stages for Butch Leitzinger who
suffered a power steering failure preventing him from capitalising on a
strategic pit stop which should have put him ahead of the pack when the final
splash-and-dash pitstops were taking place. “It was really close at the end
with 4 cars still on the lead lap, but it was a fantastic result for my race debut
with the team, and for that I can’t begin to express enough thanks to Rob,
Chris, all my team mates at Dyson and Porsche for giving me this opportunity”
said Marino. “It’s a home from home here with this team and I can’t wait to
come back for St. Pete.”

Despite Marino finishing 3rd on the road, a technical failure discovered by
IMSA officials after the race on the 2nd placed Lowe’s Acura, disqualified the
Acura and promoted Marino, Butch and Andy to 2nd overall and 2nd in class.

ENDS
Press enquiries: Kaye Wilson, Tel: +44 1753 842 322; Mob: +44 7785 227 772

Note to Editors: Marino Franchitti, 29 yrs, began racing karts in Scotland aged eight. He went on to drive single seaters with some success, but in 2001 took up sportscar racing. The same year he won the British GTO Championship driving a Porsche GT3RS taking 8 wins and 3 second places. In 2002 be began racing in the USA and in his first year had 6 top 5 placings and 1 podium. In his first prototype race in 2003 he set a new track record, took pole position, had the fastest race lap and finished 1st. In the 2007 ALMS with Andretti Green Racing he drove the
LMP2 Acura taking podiums in Houston and Mosport. In 2008 he drives the No. 20 Dyson Racing Porsche RS Spyder in the ALMS Series and he will contest the complete championship with team mate Butch Leitzinger.

Print