American Le Mans Series

ACEMCO Motorsports Johnny Mowlem takes a fast lap of Sebring

ACEMCO Motorsports driver Johnny Mowlem takes us on a fast lap of the 17-turn, 3.7-mile Sebring circuit behind the wheel of the number 63 ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7-R GT1 racer.

© Sebring Raceway

Johnny: “I cross the start finish line in sixth gear down the front stretch moving over to the right to get setup for turn one. Braking point is right around the bridge and you begin your turn in. There is a nice bump about half-way through which marks the apex and you exit and full throttle down to turn two.”

“Coming into turn two in fifth gear you go down to second, one of the slowest corners on the circuit. At the exit there is quick blast of full throttle before the left and then go through the gears to sixth on the way down to the hairpin, turn seven.”

“Braking at the three-and-a-half marker for seven, I turn in gently being careful not to get too much wheel spin and go to fifth flat through the chicane running up to turn ten. I brake carefully again, down to third gear for the right hander and get to the middle of the road up to fourth gear, taking the two lefts flat to turn thirteen.”

“The entry to thirteen is tricky as your braking across the track diagonally. There is a hole at the apex and the turn has positive camber so it kind of catches you. The run across the airport is flat working up to sixth gear.”

“I carry as much speed as possible up the esses, down to fourth through there being conscious that the straight that follows is the fastest portion of the track.”

“The run down the seventeen sees us get the ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen up to top speed around 165 mph. This is a good opportunity to pass a lot of GT2 traffic also being mindful of faster prototypes passing as well. At the end of the back straight I brake at the end of the wall and turn in using the right side of the bridge as an apex marker. This is the roughest part of the circuit; the bumps can turn the car and cause wheel spin so you really rely on the strength and durability of the Michelin tires. At the bridge I am flat for the run down the front straight.”