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LE MANS: Starworks Yet To Finalize WEC Program
Peter Baron-led squad aiming to be on grid at Silverstone in partnership with another team...
John Dagys  |  Posted March 18, 2013   Chicago, IL
Starworks Motorsport is working to finalize its title defense in the FIA World Endurance Championship. (Photo: John Dagys)
With class wins at Sebring, Le Mans and becoming the first American team to win an World Championship title in more than 40 years, Starworks Motorsport enjoyed a storybook-like 2012 season in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

But following the departure of car owner, and principal backer Enzo Potolicchio, along with the current uncertainty of Venezuela, in the wake of the death of president Hugo Chavez, the Peter Baron-led squad is still working to finalize its WEC LMP2 program.

Reigning American Le Mans Series PC champion Alex Popow, who drives for Starworks in GRAND-AM, is the team's nominated driver for its planned HPD ARX-03b effort.

Although with time running out, Baron is working through his options in order to be on the grid for the season-opener at Silverstone on April 14 and remains confident of finding a solution.

"We found a lot of good ways to get us through the first couple of races," Baron told SPEED.com. "We think that Venezulea is starting to come on board; that's been the biggest holdup right now.

"As long as we can get through the first two, we should have time to get our own dedicated program online for Le Mans. But it would be a case of a partnering deal with someone for the first one or two."

Baron said there are currently as many as four different options on the table, which would likely see the team with a different LMP2 car for the start of the season, run in partnership with a European-based team, prior to a standalone Starworks operation later in the year.

Both Popow and Ryan Dalziel would be part of the driver lineup, should the program be finalized. Baron said he has more meetings this week with Popow to discuss their options.

"We have at least three weeks [to get a deal in place]," Baron said. "But for sure, it would make my life easier to get it confirmed sooner!"

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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