It was a welcome return to sunny Florida for me this week! I went to Sebring International Raceway for another Apex Driving Events test. This time, Dan Bloom was not only hosting the event but also doing a bit of driving himself in preparation for the upcoming Sprint Challenge races, which will be held at Sebring later this month.
Testing with Apex is always one of my favorite opportunities. They do an incredible job with the event organization, but they also provide an atmosphere that fosters camaraderie. I get to see familiar faces and friends, but in a less competitive environment than a race weekend.
The available track time is unparalleled, but Apex events are about a lot more than that. It’s a well-designed weekend, including additional services like catered food and a coffee bar, as well as complimentary access to a physical trainer.
Godspeed Ryan, your incredible artistic talent will never be forgotten. I will always wear the Indocil Art brand proudly.
Dan had an opportunity to drive the 992 Cup car earlier last month, and this was his second time at Sebring in that car. We’ve spent quite a bit of time over the past couple of weeks reviewing data and video specifics about what we should focus on at the test, and all of the review paid off as Dan was able to implement everything beautifully over the course of the two days.
We built on each run, working on new things while locking in the gains from the previous runs to achieve Dan’s personal best lap time by more than two seconds. That’s an incredible improvement! This will put him right in the mix come the race next month, and the test was a rewarding couple of days for both Dan and for me—I really enjoyed helping him surpass his goals.
As the teams from our event depart, there will be a whole new contingent of teams within the IMSA WeatherTech Series arriving at Sebring. Apex is hosting additional days for the Prototype and GT classes, including night running, which is exactly what the teams will need prior to the upcoming 12 Hours of Sebring
I’ll be spending more time in Sebring over the next several weeks, and I’m excited to be working with many other drivers there as the 2024 season ramps up.