ALMS: Sharp, ESM Looking To The Future

John Dagys catches up with Scott Sharp for more details on Extreme Speed Motorsports' surprise switch to P2 and long-term outlook...

John Dagys | Posted February 14, 2013 Chicago, IL

Extreme Speed Motorsports team owner Scott Sharp, left, has made a surprise decision to go P2 racing for 2013 with a pair of HPD ARX-03b's. (Photo: LAT)

For many, if not most involved in the sports car racing scene, the news of Extreme Speed Motorsports' switch to the American Le Mans Series P2 category came as a surprise and also a bold move with less than five weeks until the season-opening Twelve Hours of Sebring.

First revealed in a SPEED.com exclusive on Wednesday, the Scott Sharp-owned squad has confirmed plans to field a pair of HPD ARX-03b's in the cost-capped category, leaving behind its successful Ferrari GT program that delivered two class victories in 2012.

"Obviously quite a lot changed in a hurry," Sharp told SPEED.com. "It's something we had been discussing and we're thinking more towards the future and P2 would have been a logical move for us. It was just a variety of events, a variety of conversations and a variety of opportunities that all came together at once."

ESM's departure from running Ferraris in the ALMS perhaps comes as the biggest shocker, especially after both of its F458 Italias were recently upgraded to 2013-spec and took part in last week's Winter Test at Sebring.

"At the end of the day, the GT class is an incredible class," Sharp said. "We had a lot of fun there for three years and had some of the best racing in the world.

"But I think week in and week out, to be as competitive as we want to be, you have to be on an even playing field with the other top cars. That requires serious factory support and in some regards, like Corvette, entire factory support. And [it's difficult] for you, as a team, to try to make up for that on your own.

"I thought our guys did an unbelievable job last year to catch up. But it's a tall task to be consistently doing."

Sharp, however, said he did not feel threatened by the return of Risi Competizione, considered the long-standing factory blessed Ferrari team, which will mount a season-long effort with factory driver Olivier Beretta and Matteo Malucelli.

While Sharp indicated the team has plans to keep one of its GTE-spec Ferrari F458 Italias, no final decision has been made on the team's entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which had been confirmed for GTE-Am.

"Right now, we're looking at all possible options," he said. "It's obviously a race we really want to go do and hopefully do for ongoing years, not just one time. We have to sort everything out. If we can pull it off, we'd still like to."

The green light on ESM's switch to P2 only came this week, with the team taking delivery of Enzo Potolicchio's FIA WEC LMP2-championship winning chassis on Tuesday evening. The following day, it was out testing at Sebring International Raceway, with both Sharp and Patron Spirits CEO Ed Brown turning laps.

A brand-new second chassis has been ordered, with the team expected to have it built in time for the season-opener next month. A further test for the existing chassis is planned for next Thursday and Friday, also at Sebring.

It's no doubt an aggressive timeline, especially for a team that's new to prototype racing, although not entirely, as the team owner points out.

"Fortunately, we've got about five or six guys that worked on the couple of different Acura programs, including Robin Hill, who ran Highcroft's program before, while and after I was there," Sharp said. "He's very experienced with that and we're leaning on all of those guys' past relationships with HPD and knowledge of the car."

In addition to Sharp and Brown, team regulars Johannes van Overbeek and Guy Cosmo will also be part of the lineup, but it's still unclear what the exact pairing will be. Sharp expects to confirm third drivers for Sebring in the next few days.

The move back to the prototype ranks comes as a reunion of sorts for Sharp, who spent two years with the then HPD-blessed Highcroft Racing outfit, including the P1 championship-winning 2009 season.

But the major reason for the step up to P2 right now, despite no significant level of competition, is planning for 2014, which will see a combined P2/DP category as the top prototype class in the unified championship.

"We feel that this sets us up very well for the future and for the merger," Sharp said. "It's a good year for us to make the move and get the experience before a very competitive class emerges next year.

"Either way for us, we want some competition that hones and makes us better. But we're really looking at this year to get up to speed and really be ready for 2014. If someone like Level 5, who has won quite a lot, that would be a good benchmark for us, especially towards mid to the final end of the season."

Level 5 has indeed expressed an interest in re-evaluating its options for this year, following ESM's confirmation, which could help revive the once-doomed category and change the scope of the future unified North American sports car championship.

Enjoy a lap around Sebring in the new ESM HPD ARX-03b with Ed Brown:

John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at

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