2009 Grand-Am Rolex Series...........

Discuss all the other types of Motorsport

Moderator: Ed

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Test Dates Revised........

Post by mlittle » Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:15 pm

Press release from Grand-Am and Daytona International Speedway concerning the upcoming January test prior to the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona.....


~~~Grand-Am Road Racing Adjusts January Test Days at Daytona International Speedway; Three-day Rolex Series/KONI Challenge Series test will now commence Jan. 3 and end Jan. 5

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2008) - Grand-Am Road Racing has rescheduled its January Test Days at Daytona International Speedway, the opening activity on its 2009 schedule. The three-day session will now begin on Saturday, Jan. 3, and run through Monday, Jan. 5, one day later than previously scheduled.

The schedule was adjusted following the change of track availability, and will allow competitors in both the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and the KONI Challenge Series to have New Year's Day off. Originally, Jan. 1 was the scheduled setup date.

The setup date is now Friday, Jan. 2, beginning at 1 p.m. for the Rolex Series and 2:30 p.m. for the KONI Challenge Series. Saturday's schedule opens with Rolex Series practice at 9 a.m., and includes Rolex Series night practice, running through 8 p.m. Sunday's schedule runs from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., with the Monday session running from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

The Roar Before The Rolex 24 Fan Fest is slated for Saturday, Jan. 3 with fan forums with the drivers. All three days of the test session are open to the public with access to the infield, Sprint FANZONE and garage. Tickets, which are $10, are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

SunTrust Racing swtiches to Ford power for 2009

Post by mlittle » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:02 am

Wayne Taylor Racing, which runs the #10 SunTrust Daytona Prototype in Grand-Am competition, announced today that they will be switching powerplants for 2009, going with Roush-Yates built Ford engines instead of the Pontiac engines the team has run with for several years now. Quotes from the announcement...................

~~Wayne Taylor, Owner-Wayne Taylor Racing,
We are looking forward to turning the page to a new chapter in our racing endeavors with Ford power and Roush Yates engines, even though I'll admit it was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in all my years in the business. It's difficult for me, personally, because GM (General Motors) has been a big part of my racing success since I came to this country in 1989. I've won two championships with GM power, two 24-hour races and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
~~John Maddox, Sports Car Program Manager-Roush/Yates Engines,
We are excited to have SunTrust and Wayne Taylor Racing join our lineup. As a sponsor and a racing operation, SunTrust and Wayne Taylor Racing certainly have a winning tradition, and they are known for a level of quality and performance as competitors that is second to none.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Brumos Racing files first entries for 2009 Rolex 24

Post by mlittle » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:07 am

(quoting from multiple sources........)
----Brumos Racing filed the first entries Monday for the 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona, entering a pair of Brumos Porsche and Kendall sponsored Porsche Rileys for the 47th running of the endurance classic.

Hurley Haywood, seeking to extend his record with a sixth overall victory in the opening race of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 event, will join regular drivers JC France and Joao Barbosa in the No. 59 entry. Completing the lineup will be Terry Borcheller, the 2003 Daytona Prototype champion.

Returning to the No. 58 entry are regulars David Donohue and Darren Law, plus 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice.

Both cars led the 2008 event, with Donohue and Rice leading in the No. 58 and Barbosa and Borcheller in the No. 59. The latter entry was leading in the early morning hours when Barbosa retired with mechanical problems.

France and Barbosa scored four fourth-place finishes in leading the No. 59 to third in the final team standings. In addition, France won the Jim Trueman Award as the top sportsman driver in the Daytona Prototypes, while the team won the SunTrust Improve Your Position Award.

Donohue and Law recorded three runner-up finishes and ended the year with 10 consecutive top-10 finishes, placing fourth in the final Daytona Prototype team standings. In addition, Donohue shared the season best with three pole positions.

The two-car team has also filed entries for the January Test Days on Jan. 3-5, 2009.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Penske Racing to run Grand-Am in 2009........

Post by mlittle » Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:02 pm

Long considered one of the most successful motorsports teams in North America, NC-based Penske Racing announced earlier this week that they will be running full-time in Grand-Am's Daytona Prototype class in 2009, continuing their motorsports partnerships as they will be running a Porsche/Riley DP with drivers Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas full-time, with additional Penske drivers running in the endurance events this year.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Grand-Am unveils new series logos........

Post by mlittle » Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:47 pm

Image

Grand-Am officials, alongside officials from NASCAR Holdings, unveiled the Grand-Am Rolex Series' and Grand-Am Koni Challenge Series' new logos today at the "World Center of Racing", Daytona International Speedway; here are some quotes from the unveiling...........

~~Roger Edmondson, President, Grand-Am,
We decided to come up with a fresh look to reflect our change in ownership. The new logo reflects our new look as we move forward in our relationship with NASCAR as we work together to enhance both forms of motorsports.
~~Jim France, NASCAR Vice Chairman,
"NASCAR is proud to offer so many forms of racing to its fans. NASCAR has long provided its fans with the best stock car, truck, late model and modified racing. NASCAR is proud to add the best sports car racing, for its fans.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

New Starting Time for Rolex 24........

Post by mlittle » Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:48 pm

(quoting from multiple sources..........)
~~~~The starting time for the 47th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 24-25 will be at 3:30 p.m., Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig announced.

The new starting time is two hours later than last year's Rolex 24 At Daytona and adjustment will allow race fans more time to enjoy all of the fun-filled activities that are planned for America's most prestigious sports car race and the season-opening event to the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

"We're looking forward to the new starting time for the Rolex 24 At Daytona," Braig said. "The adjustment in the starting time will give race fans a better opportunity on both Saturday and Sunday to witness the action on the track but also participate in the numerous activities that we have planned off the track."

Among the activities that are planned around the twice-around-the-clock sports car challenge include a massive autograph session in the Sprint FANZONE, a wine and cheese tasting, Chili Cook Off, the largest Ferris Wheel on the East Coast, Saturday evening fireworks, the Daytona 5K run and a Sunday brunch.

For the third straight year, FOX Sports will once again televise the start of the Rolex 24 with a half-hour pre-race show followed by coverage of the first hour of the race. SPEED Channel will pick up coverage of the Rolex 24 in the second hour.

For tickets to the 47th anniversary of the Rolex 24, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Grand-Am prepares for upcoming Rolex 24 test.......

Post by mlittle » Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:40 pm

Teams from the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 will get a head start on the 2009 season Jan. 3-5 with three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway.

Known as the "Roar before the Rolex 24," the session is the lone scheduled testing at the speedway prior to the 47th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Jan. 24-25. All three days of the session are open to the public for $10 admission, which includes access to the infield, Sprint FANZONE and garage. Saturday's session also includes fan forums, including drivers from GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Banner Racing and Hyper Sport.

Saturday's schedule opens with Rolex Series practice at 9 a.m., and includes night practice running through 8 p.m. Sunday's schedule runs from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., with Monday's activities running from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge will also test all three days in preparation for its Jan. 23 season-opening Fresh From Florida 200 at Daytona.

Nearly 50 entries have been received for the test, which will feature 19 Daytona Prototypes and 29 GT entries.

TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will have a pair of Lexus-powered Rileys in preparation for a potential fourth consecutive victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, including the No. 01 of defending series champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas.

Five-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Hurley Haywood is part of a two-car Brumos Racing entry, with Michael Shank Racing, Penske Racing and Krohn Racing also entering two cars. Other entries include 2007 co-champions Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, with three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson set to join them for the Rolex 24; 2005 Rolex 24 winners and series champions Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor; 1995 Rolex 24 winner Christophe Bouchot, for Level Five Motorsports; Childress-Howard Motorsports, making its Rolex 24 debut with three-time event winner Andy Wallace; and Spirit of Daytona Racing, featuring motorcycle champions Scott Russell, Jeff Ward and Jason Pridmore.

Several of the teams, including Ganassi, Penske and Shank, are also expected to announce their Rolex 24 driver lineups at the test.

TRG and Farnbacher Loles Racing both have five Porsche GT3s entered in the test to head the GT lineup. Defending Rolex 24 class winner SpeedSource will have a pair of Mazda RX-8s, while 2008 champions Kelly Collins and Paul Edwards share the No. 07 Banner Racing Pontiac GXP.R with Jan Magnussen.

The GT entry also includes three Corvettes and a pair of Ferrari 430s.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

MSR quickest on Day 1 of "Roar Before the 24"

Post by mlittle » Sun Jan 04, 2009 2:09 pm

Image


Michael Valiante ran the fastest lap of the day in the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley, leading the opening round of the "Roar Before the Rolex 24" at Daytona International Speedway.

Valiante ran a lap of 1:41.760 (125.943 mph) to lead the first day of the three-day session in preparation for the 47th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona Jan. 24-25, the opening round of the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

The "Road Before the Rolex 24" continues Sunday with practice for the Rolex Series and Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The test concludes Monday, with practice from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Spectator admission is $10 both days, and includes access to the Sprint FANZONE and Grand-Am garage areas.

"The car is working real well, and the team has been phenomenal," said Valiante, who will be running his first race with Michael Shank Racing, co-driving with AJ Allmendinger, John Pew and Ian James. "The team is working well together in the short amount of time I've been here, and they've made it real easy for me to come in and drive the car. We've been working well since the first test here in October."

Meanwhile, Scott Pruett led the opening session with a lap of 1:42.163 (125.459 mph) in the No. 01 TELMEX Target Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley. While Pruett is seeking his fourth career and third consecutive overall victory in the Rolex 24, Ganassi Racing is going for a fourth consecutive triumph, dating back to a 2006 triumph by the team's No. 02 entry.

"It's always nice to pick up after a winning season," said Pruett, who won second Daytona Prototype championship last season. He will be joined by defending co-champion Memo Rojas and Juan Pablo Montoya in the No. 01 entry.

"Last year was huge for Ganassi Racing, winning our third in a row. Now, we're going for four, and that says a lot about the team and the commitment Ganassi has made. We haven't been in these cars since the end of last season, and we missed the testing here in October and November. To come here right out of the box and be fastest in our opening practice is a great way to start the year."

Montoya will be seeking his second consecutive victory in the event.

"I'm pretty excited, because the car is pretty quick," said Montoya, the 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner. "It's probably a little easier to driver around here, so we'll have to wait and see what happens."

Dario Franchitti was part of the 2008 winning Ganassi lineup. For 2009, he shifts to the No. 02 entry, co-driving with Target Chip Ganassi IndyCar Series teammate Scott Dixon and 2007 Indy Lights champion Alex Lloyd. Dixon is the defending Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion, while Franchitti accomplished both fetes in 2007.

"Chip's going for four in a row, so it should be pretty exciting," Franchitti said. "That's an amazing statistic, and it speaks volumes for the job that this team does. The team has done a great job preparing the car, as usual, and it's always exciting to come back to Daytona. It's good to be in the car with Scott. We've raced against each other for a long time, so it's nice to be in the same car now, because it gives us a chance to work with each other. My engineer, Chris Simmons, is engineering the No. 02 car, so that will also help get us ready for the IndyCar season.

"If you look at the entry list, there are many, many strong teams," Franchitti added. "But these guys are up to the challenge."

David Donohue led the evening session, waiting until the closing minutes to run a lap of 1:42.217 in the No. 58 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley co-driven by Darren Law and Buddy Rice.

"The Brumos guys did a great job, because we had issues with the engine in the afternoon session," said Donohue, who missed October and November testing while recuperating from shoulder surgery. "It started making funny sounds, so the guys went ahead and changed it between sessions. We went out towards the end of the session, and what can I say, the car is good. We've done a lot of testing here, so we're pretty pleased."

Also on Saturday, Childress-Howard Motorsports announced its driver lineup for the 2009 Rolex 24. IndyCar Series regular Danica Patrick and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Casey Mears will join three-time Rolex 24 winner Andy Wallace and Rob Finlay in the No. 2 Pontiac Crawford.

"We think we've got a real good package, running with Richard Howard and Max Crawford," said Richard Childress, a six-time championship-winning car owner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. "We've got a great driver lineup. Danica will do a real good job here. She's a great road racer, and we're excited to have her in the car. Casey's real excited. He won this race three years ago with Chip Ganassi, and he called me and said, ‘If you've got a seat, put me in.'"

A total of 49 cars - 20 Daytona Prototypes and 29 GT - participated in the opening day's testing, with 52 teams filing entry for the event.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Level55 Fastest on Day 2 of "Roar Before the 24"

Post by mlittle » Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:59 am

Image


Christophe Bouchut and Dominik Farnbacher recorded the fastest laps in their respective classes during Sunday's second day of activities of the "Roar Before the Rolex 24" at Daytona International Speedway.

The three-day session has 52 cars entered in preparation for the 47th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona Jan. 24-25, the opening race in the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 season.

Bouchut led the Daytona Prototypes with a lap of 1:41.884 (125.790 mph) in the No. 55 Edata Solutions/Supercar Life Racing LevelFive Motorsports BMW Riley co-driven by Scott Tucker and Ed Zabinski, while Farnbacher ran a lap of 1:51.424 (115.020 mph) in the No. 86 Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche GT3. Both speeds were unofficially better than the existing track records for their classes.

"Having a fast car actually has no affect on how you will do in the race," said Bouchut, the 1995 overall winner of the Rolex 24. "When I won this race, I was 16th on the grid. But, especially for a new time coming to Daytona with a Daytona Prototype, it's a nice feeling. We are not quite happy with our setup right now, and we are working to be closer to our setup. For sure, our time will be faster, and it would be nice to win the pole position."

Scott Dixon led the second session with a lap of 1:42.298 (125.281 mph) in the No. 02 Target/TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley, while Romain Dumas led the third and final session with a lap of 1:42.154 (125.458 mph) in the No. 7 Penske Racing Porsche Riley.

In GT, David Haskell led the second session with a time of 1:52.039 (114.389 mph) in the No. 70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8, while Andy Lally was fastest in the final hour with a lap of 1:51.739 (114.696 mph) in the No. 67 TRG Porsche GT3.

Michael Valiante's lap of 1:41.760 (125.943 mph) set on Saturday in the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley remains the fastest lap during the opening two days. Sylvain Tremblay leads the GT class with a lap of 1:51.205 (115.247), recorded during Saturday's opening session in the No. 70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8.

Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was a late arrival at Daytona International Speedway, but managed to run a handful of laps in the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley he will share with Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty and Jimmy Vasser.

"I had a few laps today, and I will be back in the car again tomorrow," Johnson said. "The guys were nice enough to get me a few laps this afternoon to give me something to sleep on tonight. I'm not in these cars too often, so it's nice to do a few laps, look at some data and come back tomorrow and be ready."

While Johnson is looking for an unprecedented fourth consecutive NASCAR crown in 2009, he also wants to win the Rolex 24 for the first time.

"I'm here to win, that's what we're all here for," said Johnson, who finished second in both 2004 and 2008. "I've been on the second step twice now. It's such an accomplishment just to finish this race, so to be there in Gatorade Victory Lane and be part of the ceremonies is great. But second in anything is first loser. It's fun, but it's not the most fun."

Rob Finlay had a scare late in the afternoon when he cut a tire and spun in the No. 2 Childress-Howard Motorsports Pontiac Riley, but he missed hitting anything and escaped with only bodywork damage. He will co-drive in the Rolex 24 with three-time winner Andy Wallace, IndyCar Series regular Danica Patrick and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Casey Mears.

The "Roar Before the Rolex 24" concludes Monday with a pair of sessions for both the Rolex Series and KONI Sports Car Challenge, beginning at 9 a.m. Official practice and qualifying for the 47th Rolex 24 At Daytona begins on Thursday, Jan. 22. The race takes the green flag at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. For additional information, visit www.grand-am.com.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Porsche Power Fastest in 3-Day Rolex Test

Post by mlittle » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:01 pm

(quoting from grand-am.com)
(from MO, 5 Jan. 2009)

~~~~After eight test sessions earlier this week - seven during the day and one at night - for both classes of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 at Daytona International Speedway, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers and Porsche-powered Riley Daytona Prototypes won more sessions than any other manufacturer.

In fact, Porsche teams were fastest in seven of the 16 test contests, with Mazda second (with four fastest times) and Lexus and BMW tied for third with two fastest sessions. In both the Daytona Prototype and GT classes, however, Porsche teams turned the fastest overall times of the weekend.

Darren Law, from Phoenix, Ariz., and Dominik Farnbacher, from Ansbach, Germany waited until the final day to set the fastest laps of the Roar Before the Rolex 24." Law, driving the No. 58 Brumos Racing Porsche Riley, led the Daytona Prototypes class in the Monday's conclusion of the three-day session with a lap of 1:41.733 (125.977 mph). He will co-drive with David Donohue, Malvern, Penn., Buddy Rice, Phoenix, Ariz., and Antonio Garcia, Madrid, Spain, in the 47th Rolex 24 at Daytona, which takes the green flag at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24. Law also was fastest in the third session on the first day of the test event.

Farnbacher, who has won the Rolex 24 GT class before (2005), waited until the final 30 minutes of the closing session before running a lap of 1:50.881 (115.853 mph) in a simulated qualifying run in the No. 86 Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racer which he will share with Eric Lux, from Jacksonville, Fla., Matthew Marsh, from Hong Kong, and Kevin Roush, of Upland, Calif.

"We've spent a lot of time with this car, and the team has done a good job with setup," Law said. We've been inching up on it and it's getting there. We're pretty happy with the car. We're close to going racing now. Right now, we're running in race equipment, making sure that everything is working properly.

Farnbacher turned the fastest time in the GT class in three of the eight practice sessions over the three-day test on the famous Daytona 3.560 combination oval and road-racing circuit. Farnbacher Loles Racing has five 911s entered in the Rolex 24.

"We had a good performance, and everything worked very well," Farnbacher said. On our fastest lap, our setup was like what it would be for qualifying, and it worked pretty good. Also, we put new tires on and we wanted to see what the difference would be between old and new tires. It was not really a big gain. The Pirelli tires are very good and very consistent. I also did a long run to see how the tires would perform through the stint, and the Pirelli tires were very consistent. We are quite happy to have such good lap times."

The final test session produced the three fastest GT laps of the weekend. Andy Lally, from Dacula, Georgia, ran a lap of 1:51.169 (115.284 mph) in the No. 67 TRG Porsche 911 GT3 he co-drives with Justin Marks, from Rockland, Calif. Pat Long, from Belleair, Calif., Jorg Bergmeister, from Langenfeld, Germany, and RJ Valentine, from Braintree, Mass. Third in the GT class in that Monday session was the No. 65 TRG Porsche 911 GT3 of Craig Stanton, from Long Beach, Calif., who ran 1:51.176 (115.277 mph) in the car shared by John Potter, from Salt Lake City, Utah, Bryce Miller, from Summit, N.J., and Marco Holzer from Germany. TRG, like Farnbacher Loles, also has entered five 911 race cars in the event.

Also, Penske Racing announced its driver lineup and sponsorship for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard and Ryan Briscoe will co-drive the No. 16 Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Porsche Riley, with Dumas and Bernhard continuing in the car for the remainder of the Grand-Am Rolex Series season. Dumas was fastest in the Porsche Riley Daytona Prototype in test session six.

"Going into the Rolex 24, we have two goals as a team," said Bernhard, who won the GT class in the 2002 Rolex 24 and then captured overall honors for TRG the following year in a Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

"Sure, we want to win the race because it's an outstanding race. But on the other hand we are looking for a good start to the season for the whole year, so we can fight for the championship."

In all, 18 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars in the GT class and three Porsche-powered Rileys in the DP class are entered in the Rolex 24. Both cars are powered by the Porsche 911-based boxer engine, with specs varying according to Grand-Am rules. The 911 GT3 Cup car is powered by the 3.6-liter, water-cooled flat six-cylinder boxer engine which delivers 428 horsepower, while the Daytona Prototype Porsches have the same engine configuration with a 3.99-liter displacement which produces 510 horsepower mounted in a Riley chassis.

note....Porsche press release following test sessions
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

McDonald's to sponsor Doran Racing Grand-Am DP entry........

Post by mlittle » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:40 pm

(quoting multiple sources.........)


-----Doran Racing will provide McDonald's with a new meaning to fast and quality service come the 2009 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 season, as the world's leading foodservice retailer will sponsor the No. 77 Doran Racing Ford Dallara Daytona Prototype throughout the season.

Starting with this month's Rolex 24 At Daytona, McDonald's will be prominently displayed on the car, which will be piloted by drivers Memo Gidley, Brad Jaeger, Fabrizio Gollin and Matteo Bobbi. McDonald's is expected to be displayed on the car for many races in 2009.

"We're excited about bringing McDonald's on board for the 2009 Rolex 24 and other races," said Kevin Doran, whose team won the Rolex 24 in 1998 and again in 2002. "McDonald's is well-known and will bring significant exposure to our team and Grand-Am. This is a great opportunity and we expect to put the No. 77 Ford Dallara up front this season."

Like McDonald's, Doran Racing will need a lot of speed, good communication and quality service from its crew if the team is to accomplish its goals, one of which is winning its third Rolex 24. The team was among 21 entries during this month's three-day ‘Roar Before the Rolex 24' testing session at Daytona International Speedway, and was a top-10 competitor each day.

With the announcement, McDonald's becomes the first foodservice retailer of its kind to sponsor a car as a primary or associate role within the Rolex Series. The 13-race Rolex Sports Car Series begins with the Rolex 24, which starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 24.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

SPEEDCOM to be presenting sponsor of MRLS Grand-Am Race.....

Post by mlittle » Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:40 pm

Image

note......MRLS: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca


~~~~(quoting MRLS press release)
SPEEDCOM Named Presenting Sponsor of Grand-Am's Monterey Festival of Speed




MONTEREY, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2009) - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has announced an expansion of its partnership with SPEEDCOM Communications as the presenting sponsor for the 2009 Monterey Festival of Speed. SPEEDCOM was named the Official Communications Supplier of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during last year's Monterey Festival of Speed and this latest development builds on what has already become a strong partnership between the two organizations.

The Monterey Festival of Speed presented by SPEEDCOM Communications officially kicks off the 53rd season of racing at the world-renowned race track on May 15-17. It features the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 along with the Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge, Mazda MX-5 Cup and Ford Racing Mustang Challenge as support series.

"All of us at SPEEDCOM are thrilled to be a part of the Monterey Festival of Speed," said SPEEDCOM Chief Executive Officer Toto Lassally, who runs the company from its Daytona Beach, Fla. headquarters. "We now have a two-tiered relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and we couldn't think of a better facility or organization to help us build the SPEEDCOM brand on the West Coast. Our strong position at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca perfectly complements our solid presence in the Daytona Beach-area motorsports community."

Established in 1996, SPEEDCOM is the world leader in motorsports radio and communications systems and also offers a related line of high-performance products and accessories for companies and competitors in all facets of the motorsports industry. Created and owned by racers for racers, only SPEEDCOM has first-hand experience in understanding the needs of competitors - behind the wheel and in the pits - and the incredible demands required of equipment and reliable communications in all forms of racing.

"It is partners such as SPEEDCOM which give us an extra level of confidence to our race operations," said Gill Campbell, CEO/General Manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. "SPEEDCOM complements the event and guarantees that all of our race communications happen seamlessly and clearly."

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was established in 1957. The world-renowned raceway has been operated since its inception by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), a not-for-profit 501C(4) corporation. Each race season, SCRAMP donates its net proceeds to the volunteer groups that help put on the races.

With headquarters in the heart of the "World Center of Racing" in Daytona Beach, Fla., and in the European gateway city of Barcelona, Spain, SPEEDCOM products and technology are distributed globally throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Belgium, Scandinavia, Italy, Germany, France and New Zealand. Future expansion calls for operations and distribution in Dubai and Australia. Check out SPEEDCOM at http://www.speedcomracing.com.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Post by mlittle » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:46 pm

Grand-Am Press Release...........
Grand-Am gives out free ticket vouchers for fans


Grand-Am Road Racing and Homestead-Miami Speedway have teamed to reward race fans by offering free ticket vouchers for the March 14-15 Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge at the speedway.

Grand-Am Fan Appreciation Weekend will feature a pair of KONI Challenge races, with the Street Tuner class racing on Saturday and the Grand Sport class competing on Sunday in a pair of two and a half-hour races. Each day will also include a Ford Mustang Challenge race.

Ticket vouchers are available by visiting the www.grand-am.com home page and following the easy instructions to receive a free ticket voucher for both days of racing. In addition, the voucher may be reproduced as many times as needed to take the entire family and friends to the event. Tickets will be sold at the gate for $10. Parking is free.

The KONI Sports Car Challenge is Grand-Am's showcase for the latest in international and American-made high-performance sports cars, coupes and sedans, straight from the showroom with only safety and limited performance modifications. This will be round No. 2 of the 2009 season, which opened January 23 at Daytona International Speedway on the eve of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The weekend will also feature full access to the garage and paddock areas, interaction with drivers and teams, access to the grid prior to the KONI Challenge races, and a cavalcade of special events and activities all weekend long, including talks and garage tours, tire and shock absorber presentations, pit-stop demonstrations and a whole section of the facility set up for car clubs and exotic car displays.
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Coyote Has Successful Test

Post by mlittle » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:41 am

GRAND-AM PRESS RELEASE

Image
-----DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 23, 2009) - Coming off an 11th-place finish in the Daytona Prototype class in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Spirit of Daytona Racing is continuing to work on the No. 09 Porsche Coyote in preparation for the next event on the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 schedule, the April 25 Bosch Engineering 250 at Virginia International Raceway.

Guy Cosmo recently tested for the team at Roebling Road Raceway near Savannah, Ga., and will join motorcycle legend Scott Russell Tuesday and Wednesday at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the special Rolex Series testing. The Spirit of Daytona car - sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America in the Rolex 24 - is the lone Coyote currently running in the Rolex Series.

"Savannah was fantastic," Cosmo said. "Troy Flis and the Spirit of Daytona guys have been making a lot of changes to that Coyote. We started late last year running the new version bodywork that Eddie Cheever had designed for it, and we're trying to learn the package and make some headway with it."

The team has been testing the car it raced in 2007 with new Coyote bodywork. The team plans to run the new bodywork on the updated Coyote chassis it raced at the Rolex 24, where Cosmo and Russell were joined by motorcycle racers Jeff Ward and Jason Pridmore.

"The test went real well," Cosmo said. "We were quicker than we've ever gone at that test, and we learned a lot of real good information that will help us out. We plan to have the bodywork and aero side sorted out when we run the updated chassis, so all that information can apply directly to the car. We're real excited about the upcoming race at VIR."
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

mlittle
Forum Hall of Fame
Forum Hall of Fame
Posts: 11205
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:51 pm
Location: At the F1 Idiots Bar.............where else?
Contact:

Racers Edge Signs Bryce Miller for Next Four Races

Post by mlittle » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:43 am

RACERS EDGE MOTORSPORTS PRESS RELEASE
(from 22 March 2009)


-----DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 20, 2009) - Veteran Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 driver Bryce Miller will compete in the next four races, and perhaps the remainder of the season, for Racers Edge Motorsports, team owner Jon Mirachi said Friday.

Miller will replace Doug Peterson, who signed with the team last season, and drive with Dane Cameron starting in next month's Bosch Engineering 250 at Virginia International Raceway. Peterson is taking some time off to concentrate on business commitments but may return later this season.

With one victory and 20 top-10 finishes in 27 Rolex Series starts, Miller will compete for the first time in the Rolex Series in a Mazda RX-8. Mirachi said he had sought Miller in the past, but the timing didn't work out between the two New Jersey parties until now.

"He is the guy we wanted to drive our car," Mirachi stated. "We set out this year to escalate our program to the next level and in order to do that, we needed a driver with Bryce's speed and experience to complete our lineup and get us into victory lane. As you might imagine, this is a dream come true for me - to have these two young drivers with so much talent in our car!"

Team and drivers will get their first chance to work together in next week's two-day test session at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The test begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, and both days are open to the public for free.

"We're really looking forward to it," Mirachi concluded. "Bryce has a wealth of testing experience which will really help with the technical development of our Mazda RX-8. Since the Rolex 24, the crew has rebuilt the entire car and developed some changes to the suspension. Dane has already racked up extensive pre-season testing miles, so his feedback will really help put the new changes in perspective while the fresh input from Bryce with his previous testing experience will also be invaluable."
The Sci-Fi Station Come by and visit when you get the chance. :)
The Wayward Tarheel I'm even in the blogosphere.... :shock:

Post Reply