This conversation didn't actually take place. But Auston Harris, a 16-year-old high school sophomore from Hayward, Calif., did drive in the Rolex 24 here Saturday night.

Harris, who turned 16 last month, drove the No. 67 Porsche in the GT class for The Racer's Group. TRG made headlines at the Rolex two years ago with "Team 16," a Daytona Prototype race team that included three 16-year-olds.

Harris wanted to spearhead a new Team 16, but he said he couldn't find any other 16-year-olds to race with him. Not that just any 16-year-old can compete in this fabled race.

Harris has raced karts and cars since he was 8. In the past two years, he has been a standout in Formula TR and United States Touring Car circuits. Last fall,he auditioned for TRG in a test session at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, and was accepted as its latest teen driver.

"He never put a wheel off (the track) the whole time," said TRG owner Kevin Buckler. "He was fast, smart and respectful."

And resourceful. To become a part of the team, Harris had to bring in $50,000 worth of sponsorship. He signed up Mo's Gold car wax company to reserve his seat in the No. 67 with teammates Pierre Bourque, Tom Cloet and Michael Solley. Harris didn't buy his way in. The bring-sponsorship-with-you requirement is customary in the GT class.

It's not surprising he succeeded so quickly in attracting both a team and a sponsor. Harris seems to have poise beyond his years both on and off the track.

"With most 16-year-olds, you tell them what to do and they do something else," Buckler said. "They'll push it too hard in the corner and run off the track. They get too eager. But not Auston. He did exactly what we asked him to do. I have high hopes for him."

Buckler said Harris was "smooth and steady" in his first stint in the car Saturday evening. He kept the Porsche in 49th place overall. Buckler told Harris over the radio he would have only seven more stints throughout the night.

"He started laughing," Buckler said. "He was pretty relaxed in there. But he'll probably do more night driving than the other guys. He has young eyes."

TRG, which is running five GT cars in the Rolex 24, has a pretty good track record for finding young talent. Two years later, the Team 16 graduates are doing pretty well for themselves. Colin Braun won the Brumos 250 here last summer and finished fourth in the 2006 Grand Am points standings, despite missing three races due to age restrictions. Brad Coleman is slated to compete in 17 Busch Series races this year for Joe Gibbs Racing. And Adrian "Ace" Carrio will race in the Champ Car Atlantic series this season.

Buckler says Harris is as talented as any of the original Team 16. However, Harris proved he still has a lot to learn when he damaged the No. 67 Porsche in a wreck during testing here Jan. 6. But learning is what he's here for.

"Every stint I'm in the car, I want to learn something new," he said.

It's good Harris is mature for his age, because his peers won't be catching up to him anytime soon.

brent.woronoff@news-jrnl.com