Piccini and Deletraz wound up joint fifth in the Drivers Standings and Scuderia Italia fourth in the Team league, a little disappointing considering the quality of their machinery. Meanwhile, high on the priority list for any motor manufacturer is to win the Le Mans 24 Hours. Prodrive's first GTS class 550 prepared to comply with Le Mans' ACO regulations had run in 2001's ALMS finale at Road Atlanta where a freshly built car (108418) retired after completing 103 laps. The Sebring 12 Hours has always been a useful proving ground for Le Mans, both race's conforming to the same ACO regs. Heading to Florida in March, Prodrive arrived with high hopes of beating the works-backed Corvette C5-R's, some Saleen S7's and a few ageing Viper's. Starting the race from 26th on the grid, third fastest GTS car, Prodrive eventually finished fifth in class (30th overall) after the poor track surface had caused a variety of problems for the English team. Prodrive's 24 Hour build up took a significant step forward in May when Tomas Enge set a GTS lap record during the official Le Mans test day, the Czech ace crossong the line three seconds ahead of his nearest rival - this with a brand new chassis that had completed a mere five km. The omens were good and come race day in June, the number 58 Ferrari simply drove away from the opposition and within five laps, had established a 12 second advantage over the best placed Corvette.

This blistering pace was not to prove enough however, as despite holding the GTS lead throughout and rising to 13th overall after twelve hours of racing, an oil leak caused a flash fire at the Porsche curves and forced an immediate retirement. Nevertheless, Prodrive knew their 550 was the worlds quickest GTS car over twelve hours and rightly decided to campaign the final three rounds of 2002's American Le Mans Series, this in preparation for a full assault in 2003. Sebring had been the opening event for the high profile ten-race North American championship and Round 8 was held at the picturesque Laguna Seca circuit in California. But having been defeated by the Corvette's in their three previous encounters, Prodrive arrived in the US with a point to prove.