Sebring: MSB race report

Sebring - MSB race

The No. 33 Ferrari 360 Modena GT had a solid start to the 12 Hours of Sebring race, but engine woes put it out of the race after 30 minutes. Ralf Kelleners of Germany started the MSB Motorsport car 10th on the GT grid and moved up one position in the first laps. But a high oil-temperature reading signaled the end for the new team.

John McLoughlin, MSB's technical director, explained: "The temperature started rising rapidly, which meant probably a head gasket or a piston was gone. From there on, the oil temperature went sky-high. The engine didn't lose performance until the very end. Eventually, Ralf felt it wasn't working well and there was a vibration, so he switched it off and that was the end."

Kelleners was at a loss for words.  "The engine blew.  What can I say?" he
commented.  He noted the intense heat in the closed car.  "It was extremely
hot.  With these high temperatures, it is a real challenge for the driver to
last 12 hours.  You have to be very fit."

Kelleners' co-driver, Marino Franchitti of Scotland, did not drive.

"I'm very disappointed not being able to get into the race," he said. "I expected the car to last longer than that, but that's motorsport. You've got to take the good with the bad. So I'll just go home and watch the end of the race on tv."

-mbs-