In a few days, the same as every year, the 59th 12 Hours of Sebring will mark the start of the endurance racing season.

Same as every year? Almost, because in 2011 this event is even more special than ever for fans, teams and drivers, as it is also the start of the season of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. What is the recipe for winning this classic of endurance racing? Why is this race so special? After winter testing in the American Le Mans Series in Florida, French driver Romain Dumas, the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2010 in an Audi R15 +, and also the surprise winner of the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring driving an LMP2, gave his thoughts.

"The peculiarity of the race comes from a multitude of factors," according to Romain. "Firstly, Sebring is the first race of the season, which makes it really different. This is the first time that we see the paddock regulars after several months break and some teams come in with their new racing car on which they base their hopes for the new season. This is the opportunity to discover what's new in the new year! The atmosphere is very special with all the fans in the paddock among the cars, a bit like Road Atlanta, with one side more "crazy": exquisite structures on pick-ups that come from all over the country in the middle paddock. Fans remain around until the end of the race because the format often leads to very tight victories. Also, it's nice and warm while in Europe it is still winter, which does not spoil anything! Finally, the circuit also provides a touch of originality with lots of bumps: If a car passes the test at the Sebring 12 Hours, it will take anything anywhere, including 24 hours at Le Mans! "

The Sebring track is indeed one of the oldest American road circuits. It served as a training base for B17 bombers during the Second World War and consists largely of concrete slabs laid end to end. The coating used primarily bumpy concrete, combined with ambient heat, it puts a strain on new machines, but also the 'mature' prototypes as Romain Dumas has experience in the Porsche RS Spyder in 2007: "We had problems with the alternator and at each stop, we had to change the battery. There was a stock of batteries in the rear of the cargo truck but we were instructed to save the maximum energy while driving, so we had no light on the dashboard, including night . We were in complete darkness inside the car! "

After the disappointment of the 2007 edition, there was the climax of 2008! Despite several entries with his employer Porsche in LM GT2, Romain Dumas had never won the victory in the category nor of course overall. One thing is certain, the prototype's Weissach constructor was not favourite for overall victory, facing the armada of Peugeot and Audi. The strategy and experience of racing in America of Roger Penske and his team, but also the impeccable driving of Timo Bernhard and Emmanuel Collard paid off, against the LM P1 diesels with incredible torque, as the Romain Dumas explains.

"We always stayed in the lead lap. Admittedly, we were not the fastest on the track, but our strategy has paid off and we were fortunate that the safety car was so timely. I had fractured a knee during the week of preparation of Porsche drivers in early 2008 and I had only to do a dozen laps with the Spyder to score points for the title, my knee was not 100%. In the end I spent 2 hours 30 behind the wheel and I cut the finish line to win! For me, it's still a great moment in my career and one of my best wins because it was unexpected. We were in the "small" category against Audi and Peugeot and we climb on the top step of the podium, the win was even more rewarding than that of Le Mans this year! "

What does it take to win at Sebring? "A reliable car, fast as the race is a sprint from beginning to end, and above all, an excellent strategy! "

If Romain Dumas knows the recipe for victory at Sebring, he must use it this year with an Audi R15 changed to reflect the regulations of 2011, pending the all-new Audi R18. Once again, he does not seem favourite on paper but he can beat the odds, as at Le Mans last June or during the 24 Hours of Spa in 2003 when he won outright with a Porsche in the "small" GT class.

Interview by Cécile Bonardel 

Photo : SEBRING (FLORIDA USA)  SEBRING 12 HOURS, TUESDAY 15th MARCH 2011. Romain Dumas, Porsche driver 'on loan' to Audi, pays a friendly visit to Peugeot drivers Stéphane Sarrazin and (with his back to the camera) Franck Montagny!