Friday, January 28, 2011
Teams and drivers ready for Daytona 24-hour challenge
1/23/2011 By Pat Jennings, Sportscar series reporter - Motorsport.com
The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series begins its 12th season Saturday, January 29, with the 49th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Last year, a new team named Action Express scored an upset win in its first Rolex 24, giving Porsche its second straight victory in the prestigious 24-hour race. This year, a field of 17 Daytona Prototypes, including multi-car efforts from Ganassi Racing, Michael Shank Racing, Starworks Motorsport, and Level 5 Motorsports, and single-car entries by Gainsco Bob Stallings Racing, SunTrust Racing, and Flying Lizard Motorsports, will vie for the checkered flag in the most important event on the 12-race Rolex Series calendar.
Founded at the beginning of last year, when team owner Bob Johnson formed a partnership with Brumos Racing, Action Express returns in 2011 with the same V-8 Porsche Cayenne engine that propelled it to victory last year. However, this time it has entered two cars. The first will be driven by David Donohue, Darren Law, Buddy Rice, and Burt Frisselle; the second by Joao Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, Christian Fittipaldi, JC France, and Max Papis. Both cars will contest the entire series, with Donohue and Law in one car and Borcheller and Barbosa in the other.
"We have added experienced personnel in key positions and worked very hard in the offseason to be as prepared as possible to defend our 2010 victory with a two-car effort," said Johnson. "We are much better prepared than we were last year and now we are looking forward to enjoying the race on the newly repaved track in Daytona."
Besides the usual doses of speed, reliability, and luck that factor into 24-hour races, the headlining Daytona Prototype teams will have to contend with a new spec tire supplied by Continental and a new layer of asphalt on the oval portion of the high-banked speedway. The new pavement has made the notoriously bumpy oval portions of the track smoother and easier to navigate. The infield portion of the track has not been repaved.
Fresh off a season in which the tean won nine of 12 races and only finished lower than second once, Ganassi Racing will field two BMW Rileys for a star-studded lineup of world-class drivers. Reigning series champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas will share the No. 01 entry with Graham Rahal and Joey Hand. The No. 02 car will be driven by Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya. Ganassi Racing won the Rolex 24 three straight times, between 2006 and 2008, and finished second in 2009 and 2010. The team did not attend the Continental Tire test session at Homestead-Miami Speedway at the end of last year, but that did not seem to affect their performance during the Daytona test session in early January, when Pruett unofficially dipped below the current track record for the Daytona Prototype class.
"The Rolex 24 at Daytona is always exciting for our team, especially because it involves so many of our drivers from all different series," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "There are so many elements out of the drivers' hands that need to come together, in order to have a shot at winning this event. That's what I love about it. You have to not only be good, but you also have to have a little bit of luck on your side to succeed in a race that lasts 24 hours."
The winners of the 2005 Rolex 24, SunTrust Racing, have switched to Chevrolet power for 2011 and will field a Dallara for Max Angelelli, Ryan Briscoe, Ricky Taylor, and team owner Wayne Taylor. Angelelli and Ricky Taylor won one race last year and finished on the podium seven times.
Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will join series regulars Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, who won once in 2010, in the bright red Gainsco Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Riley. The team has yet to win the Rolex 24, but it finished second in 2008 and has won two series championships in the last four years.
Long-time Rolex Series contender Michael Shank has entered three cars: a Ford Dallara for AJ Allmendinger, Michael McDowell, and Justin Wilson, a BMW Riley for Marc Goosens, Oz Negri, John Pew, and Michael Valiante, and a Ford Riley for Mark Blundell, Zak Brown, Martin Brundle, and Mark Patterson. "As prepared as we felt like we were last year, we feel even better about being ready for the race here at the end of the month," said Shank after the preseason test session at Daytona. "All three of our cars could win this race." Michael Shank Racing has not won a Rolex Series race since winning the last two events of the season in 2008.
Peter Baron's Starworks Motorsport squad will contest the race with two Ford Rileys, one for Jared Beyer, Jan Heylen, Scott Mayer, Doug Peterson, and RJ Valentine and the other for Colin Braun, Ryan Dalziel, Tomas Enge, Mike Forest, and Jim Lowe. Dalziel was part of the winning Action Express team last year and set the fastest time this year in preseason testing.
"We are contenders, and we've proven that this weekend," said Dalziel after the three-day test session. "We do the best we can with what we've got. I think we could have gone faster. I didn't put together a perfect lap, and we didn't have a qualifying setup on the car. We know we've got more."
Krohn Racing, Doran Racing, and Flying Lizard Motorsports have all entered one-car efforts, with the latter featuring Patrick Long, Jorg Bergmeister, Seth Neiman, and Johannes van Overbeek. This will mark the Daytona Prototype debut for Flying Lizard.
In the 32-car GT class, SpeedSource will be racing for its third Rolex 24 win in four years. The team will field two Mazda RX-8s. Emil Assentato, Nick Ham, Anthony Lazzaro, Nick Longhi, and Jeff Segal will drive the No. 69 car, and Jonathan Bomarito, Adam Christodoulou, John Edwards, and Sylvain Tremblay will pilot the No. 70 entry. Segal and Assentato - last year's GT class champions - will contest the entire season in the No. 69 car. Tremblay and Bomarito were part of the winning GT class team last year.
Racer's Edge Motorsports, Dempsey Racing, and Team Sahlen have also entered Mazda RX-8s, nine of which will contest the race.
The Racer's Group will bring five Porsche GT3s to Daytona. Those cars will be shared by a number of drivers, including sports car stalwarts Lucas Luhr, Andy Lally, and Wolf Henzler. The team won the Rolex 24 in 2009, 2003, and 2002.
Dropping down from the Daytona Prototype division, Brumos Racing has entered a Porsche GT3 for Hurley Haywood, Marc Lieb, Andrew Davis, and Leh Keen. Davis and Keen will contest the entire series. Keen, the 2009 Rolex Series GT champion, competed most recently in a Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8. Davis comes to Brumos from the Stevenson Camaro program.
Turner Motorsport will field the lone BMW M3 in the race, with Bill Auberlen, Boris Said, Paul Dalla Lana, and Matt Plumb sharing the driving chores.
Three teams - Banner Racing, Stevenson Motorsport, and Autohaus Motorsports - will race Chevrolet Camaros. General Motors has announced it will provide more support for Rolex Series teams this year, so improved performances by the Camaros could be in offing.
As of January 21, 49 cars (17 Daytona Prototypes and 32 GT cars) have been entered for the Rolex 24, which will take the green flag Saturday, January 29 at 3 p.m. ET. SPEED will broadcast the race from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 30.
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Founded at the beginning of last year, when team owner Bob Johnson formed a partnership with Brumos Racing, Action Express returns in 2011 with the same V-8 Porsche Cayenne engine that propelled it to victory last year. However, this time it has entered two cars. The first will be driven by David Donohue, Darren Law, Buddy Rice, and Burt Frisselle; the second by Joao Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, Christian Fittipaldi, JC France, and Max Papis. Both cars will contest the entire series, with Donohue and Law in one car and Borcheller and Barbosa in the other.
"We have added experienced personnel in key positions and worked very hard in the offseason to be as prepared as possible to defend our 2010 victory with a two-car effort," said Johnson. "We are much better prepared than we were last year and now we are looking forward to enjoying the race on the newly repaved track in Daytona."
Besides the usual doses of speed, reliability, and luck that factor into 24-hour races, the headlining Daytona Prototype teams will have to contend with a new spec tire supplied by Continental and a new layer of asphalt on the oval portion of the high-banked speedway. The new pavement has made the notoriously bumpy oval portions of the track smoother and easier to navigate. The infield portion of the track has not been repaved.
Fresh off a season in which the tean won nine of 12 races and only finished lower than second once, Ganassi Racing will field two BMW Rileys for a star-studded lineup of world-class drivers. Reigning series champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas will share the No. 01 entry with Graham Rahal and Joey Hand. The No. 02 car will be driven by Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya. Ganassi Racing won the Rolex 24 three straight times, between 2006 and 2008, and finished second in 2009 and 2010. The team did not attend the Continental Tire test session at Homestead-Miami Speedway at the end of last year, but that did not seem to affect their performance during the Daytona test session in early January, when Pruett unofficially dipped below the current track record for the Daytona Prototype class.
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"The Rolex 24 at Daytona is always exciting for our team, especially because it involves so many of our drivers from all different series," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "There are so many elements out of the drivers' hands that need to come together, in order to have a shot at winning this event. That's what I love about it. You have to not only be good, but you also have to have a little bit of luck on your side to succeed in a race that lasts 24 hours."
The winners of the 2005 Rolex 24, SunTrust Racing, have switched to Chevrolet power for 2011 and will field a Dallara for Max Angelelli, Ryan Briscoe, Ricky Taylor, and team owner Wayne Taylor. Angelelli and Ricky Taylor won one race last year and finished on the podium seven times.
Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will join series regulars Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, who won once in 2010, in the bright red Gainsco Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Riley. The team has yet to win the Rolex 24, but it finished second in 2008 and has won two series championships in the last four years.
Long-time Rolex Series contender Michael Shank has entered three cars: a Ford Dallara for AJ Allmendinger, Michael McDowell, and Justin Wilson, a BMW Riley for Marc Goosens, Oz Negri, John Pew, and Michael Valiante, and a Ford Riley for Mark Blundell, Zak Brown, Martin Brundle, and Mark Patterson. "As prepared as we felt like we were last year, we feel even better about being ready for the race here at the end of the month," said Shank after the preseason test session at Daytona. "All three of our cars could win this race." Michael Shank Racing has not won a Rolex Series race since winning the last two events of the season in 2008.
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Peter Baron's Starworks Motorsport squad will contest the race with two Ford Rileys, one for Jared Beyer, Jan Heylen, Scott Mayer, Doug Peterson, and RJ Valentine and the other for Colin Braun, Ryan Dalziel, Tomas Enge, Mike Forest, and Jim Lowe. Dalziel was part of the winning Action Express team last year and set the fastest time this year in preseason testing.
"We are contenders, and we've proven that this weekend," said Dalziel after the three-day test session. "We do the best we can with what we've got. I think we could have gone faster. I didn't put together a perfect lap, and we didn't have a qualifying setup on the car. We know we've got more."
Krohn Racing, Doran Racing, and Flying Lizard Motorsports have all entered one-car efforts, with the latter featuring Patrick Long, Jorg Bergmeister, Seth Neiman, and Johannes van Overbeek. This will mark the Daytona Prototype debut for Flying Lizard.
In the 32-car GT class, SpeedSource will be racing for its third Rolex 24 win in four years. The team will field two Mazda RX-8s. Emil Assentato, Nick Ham, Anthony Lazzaro, Nick Longhi, and Jeff Segal will drive the No. 69 car, and Jonathan Bomarito, Adam Christodoulou, John Edwards, and Sylvain Tremblay will pilot the No. 70 entry. Segal and Assentato - last year's GT class champions - will contest the entire season in the No. 69 car. Tremblay and Bomarito were part of the winning GT class team last year.
Racer's Edge Motorsports, Dempsey Racing, and Team Sahlen have also entered Mazda RX-8s, nine of which will contest the race.
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The Racer's Group will bring five Porsche GT3s to Daytona. Those cars will be shared by a number of drivers, including sports car stalwarts Lucas Luhr, Andy Lally, and Wolf Henzler. The team won the Rolex 24 in 2009, 2003, and 2002.
Dropping down from the Daytona Prototype division, Brumos Racing has entered a Porsche GT3 for Hurley Haywood, Marc Lieb, Andrew Davis, and Leh Keen. Davis and Keen will contest the entire series. Keen, the 2009 Rolex Series GT champion, competed most recently in a Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8. Davis comes to Brumos from the Stevenson Camaro program.
Turner Motorsport will field the lone BMW M3 in the race, with Bill Auberlen, Boris Said, Paul Dalla Lana, and Matt Plumb sharing the driving chores.
Three teams - Banner Racing, Stevenson Motorsport, and Autohaus Motorsports - will race Chevrolet Camaros. General Motors has announced it will provide more support for Rolex Series teams this year, so improved performances by the Camaros could be in offing.
As of January 21, 49 cars (17 Daytona Prototypes and 32 GT cars) have been entered for the Rolex 24, which will take the green flag Saturday, January 29 at 3 p.m. ET. SPEED will broadcast the race from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 30.
Ferrari Challenge Drivers Awed by 458 Challenge in First Track Test
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“Uncanny.” “Mind boggling.” “Incredible.” Those are some of the words Ferrari Challenge drivers are using to describe their first impressions after test-driving the new 458 Challenge in Valencia, Spain this past November. The new racecar makes its Challenge track debut in the spring, when it will share the series for one year with the F430 Challenge.
Both drivers praised the new racecar’s performance, particularly its dual-clutch transmission, the first ever used in a Ferrari competition car. They also observed even greater stability through corners, thanks to both the car’s chassis tuning and new dynamic handling controls.
Asked what left the biggest impression after his first drive, Piovanetti said, “The car’s weight balance, lack of roll, and uncanny gearbox.”
A closer look at the 458 Challenge reveals why, drivers are excited to campaign the new car. A significant power advantage over the F430 Challenge is of course an obvious difference, thanks to the 562-hp 4.5-liter V8. Although the power rating is the same as the 458 Italia road car, the 458 Challenge employs a race-optimized intake and a true racing exhaust system. The intake uses a carbon-fiber plenum and filter box, along with flexible intake tubes.
Source: http://www.teamspeed.com/forums/458-430-360/53787-ferrari-challenge-drivers-awed-458-challenge-first-track-test.html
“Uncanny.” “Mind boggling.” “Incredible.” Those are some of the words Ferrari Challenge drivers are using to describe their first impressions after test-driving the new 458 Challenge in Valencia, Spain this past November. The new racecar makes its Challenge track debut in the spring, when it will share the series for one year with the F430 Challenge.
Scott Tucker, who took second place in the 2010 North American series, and Francesco Piovanetti, who garnered third, were among the Challenge drivers to test the 458 Challenge in Spain; they gave Ferrari News their feedback.
Both drivers praised the new racecar’s performance, particularly its dual-clutch transmission, the first ever used in a Ferrari competition car. They also observed even greater stability through corners, thanks to both the car’s chassis tuning and new dynamic handling controls.
Asked what left the biggest impression after his first drive, Piovanetti said, “The car’s weight balance, lack of roll, and uncanny gearbox.”
A closer look at the 458 Challenge reveals why, drivers are excited to campaign the new car. A significant power advantage over the F430 Challenge is of course an obvious difference, thanks to the 562-hp 4.5-liter V8. Although the power rating is the same as the 458 Italia road car, the 458 Challenge employs a race-optimized intake and a true racing exhaust system. The intake uses a carbon-fiber plenum and filter box, along with flexible intake tubes.
For the exhaust, the GT2-derived Inconel collectors are lighter than in the 458 Italia, and the Challenge car features a two-pipe system rather than the road car’s three-pipe setup. (That system features special valves that close off the two outer outlets at idle and low speeds). The FIA-homologated racing catalysts are lighter and reduce backpressure. There is an optional racing muffler for circuits that require noise control.
Drivers of the Ferrari 458 Italia and California models have been enjoying the transformative performance of the new dual-clutch seven-speed transmission; now, used for the first time in a Ferrari competition car, this technology won over the Challenge drivers immediately. “The transmission is superior to that of a F430C. The shifting, especially downshifting into braking zones, is mind-boggling,” Piovanetti said.
Tucker also sang out the dual-clutch transmission’s praises for acclaim: “The difference is incredible; the old shift system on the F430 can’t compete with the new shift system on the 458. The 458 is much faster and shifts much quicker. You are in a higher gear everywhere compared to the F430.”
The 458 Challenge has a 192-mph top track speed, vs. 202 mph for the 458 Italia. That is mainly because, for racing, the racecar’s transmission uses a shorter seventh gear. Also, for better track performance, tires with a smaller rolling radius than on the 458 Italia shorten the effective ratio in all gears.
The 458 Challenge chassis, which employs revised tuning and new electronic controls, greatly impressed the drivers. “The 458 Challenge has better overall stability and grip, especially on turn-in,” said Tucker.
Optimized for track-only duty, the 458 Challenge chassis uses rigid mounts in place of bushings, and features two-position Multimatic dampers and adjustable stabilizer bars (21 mm in front; 23 mm in back, each with slots adjustable by 10%). Rear track is identical to that of the F430 Challenge, but front track is widened to 1,692 mm, 23 mm wider. The 458 Challenge stands 30 mm lower than the F430 Challenge.
The 19-inch single-nut forged light alloy racing rims carry wider-section tires than on the F430 Challenge: 255 vs. 235 in front and 305 vs. 295 in the rear. The Brembo CCM2 brakes are new, derived from the 599XX experimental car; front discs are the same diameter as in the F430 Challenge but slightly thicker; rear discs are 30 mm wider with the same 34 mm thickness. New brake pads are thicker and more durable. The ABS system provides two settings – “high performance” for dry surfaces and “low grip” for wet.
The chassis changes combine with the first electronic handling systems in a Challenge car, including F1-Trac traction control and the E-Diff active differential, to enable higher cornering limits and faster speeds. There are two settings, “Wet” and “Dry” for various track conditions. The race-prepped 458 Challenge chassis enables a staggering 1.6g cornering capability. Setting a milestone in series performance, the 458 Challenge has posted a 1.6-second faster lap time at Fiorano than the F430 Challenge.
Piovanetti, commenting on the new Challenge racecar’s combination of speed and handling, added: “It’s faster in and out of slow corners, and in straight-line speed. It is just a faster car overall. It seemed to me like a fairly substantial transition [from the F430 Challenge].”
Drivers of the Ferrari 458 Italia and California models have been enjoying the transformative performance of the new dual-clutch seven-speed transmission; now, used for the first time in a Ferrari competition car, this technology won over the Challenge drivers immediately. “The transmission is superior to that of a F430C. The shifting, especially downshifting into braking zones, is mind-boggling,” Piovanetti said.
Tucker also sang out the dual-clutch transmission’s praises for acclaim: “The difference is incredible; the old shift system on the F430 can’t compete with the new shift system on the 458. The 458 is much faster and shifts much quicker. You are in a higher gear everywhere compared to the F430.”
The 458 Challenge has a 192-mph top track speed, vs. 202 mph for the 458 Italia. That is mainly because, for racing, the racecar’s transmission uses a shorter seventh gear. Also, for better track performance, tires with a smaller rolling radius than on the 458 Italia shorten the effective ratio in all gears.
The 458 Challenge chassis, which employs revised tuning and new electronic controls, greatly impressed the drivers. “The 458 Challenge has better overall stability and grip, especially on turn-in,” said Tucker.
Optimized for track-only duty, the 458 Challenge chassis uses rigid mounts in place of bushings, and features two-position Multimatic dampers and adjustable stabilizer bars (21 mm in front; 23 mm in back, each with slots adjustable by 10%). Rear track is identical to that of the F430 Challenge, but front track is widened to 1,692 mm, 23 mm wider. The 458 Challenge stands 30 mm lower than the F430 Challenge.
The 19-inch single-nut forged light alloy racing rims carry wider-section tires than on the F430 Challenge: 255 vs. 235 in front and 305 vs. 295 in the rear. The Brembo CCM2 brakes are new, derived from the 599XX experimental car; front discs are the same diameter as in the F430 Challenge but slightly thicker; rear discs are 30 mm wider with the same 34 mm thickness. New brake pads are thicker and more durable. The ABS system provides two settings – “high performance” for dry surfaces and “low grip” for wet.
The chassis changes combine with the first electronic handling systems in a Challenge car, including F1-Trac traction control and the E-Diff active differential, to enable higher cornering limits and faster speeds. There are two settings, “Wet” and “Dry” for various track conditions. The race-prepped 458 Challenge chassis enables a staggering 1.6g cornering capability. Setting a milestone in series performance, the 458 Challenge has posted a 1.6-second faster lap time at Fiorano than the F430 Challenge.
Piovanetti, commenting on the new Challenge racecar’s combination of speed and handling, added: “It’s faster in and out of slow corners, and in straight-line speed. It is just a faster car overall. It seemed to me like a fairly substantial transition [from the F430 Challenge].”
1/26/2011
Rolex 24 Star Power For Level 5
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Rafa Matos, Luis Diaz, Mark Wilkins, Richard Westbrook and Christophe Bouchut sign to pilot Level 5's pair of Riley-BMWs at the Rolex 24
Tucker's Riley-BMWs will sport new Microsoft logos for the Rolex 24. (Marshall Pruett)
Level 5 Motorsports owner/driver Scott Tucker announced today that the team will once again field two entries in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Jan. 29-30. The team returns with a pair of BMW-powered Riley Daytona Prototypes and hopes to improve upon last year's podium finish.Level 5 has entered the No. 55 with Tucker and longtime co-driver Christophe Bouchut sharing the driving duties with Mark Wilkins and Luis Diaz. Bouchut, a former winner of the Rolex 24 (1995) surpassed the 100 professional race victories mark during the 2010 season. Wilkins, who has three starts with Level 5, most recently drove for AIM Autosport in the Rolex Series. Diaz is new to Level 5, but is no stranger to GRAND-AM road racing. He drove for Chip Ganassi Racing in the 2004-2006 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series seasons.
In the No. 95, Tucker will be joined by 2010 teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay and Richard Westbrook, and 2009 teammate Raphael Matos. Hunter-Reay is a regular in the IZOD IndyCar Series as a driver for Andretti Autosport, and earned a career best seventh-place finish in the 2010 season point standings. Matos also competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2010 for deFerran Dragon Racing where he finished the season in 14th position overall.
The team will have Microsoft Office 2010 on board as primary sponsor of both entries for the event. This is the first time the software company has sponsored a GRAND-AM Rolex Series team. Other partners include eData Solutions, The Selling Source and US Bank.
"The Rolex 24 is a race like no other," Tucker said. "You have to approach it like no other. This team works incredibly hard to prepare these cars and we, as drivers, draw on every bit of experience we have to put together a good run. We've got a great line-up of drivers who know what it takes and we'll be prepared on raceday."
Following his third-pace finish for the No. 95 in the 2010 season-opening Rolex 24, Tucker and Level 5 embarked on a whirlwind season of racing that saw them claim two National Championships and 10 victories in various race series. In addition, the team's efforts in the 2010 Rolex 24 was the subject of a feature film that premiered this past summer. "Daytona Dream" not only made the rounds on the film festival circuit, the film also will be aired on the Discover Channel in Primetime Jan. 30 - the same day the 2011 Rolex 24 concludes.
"The film gives you an idea of what goes in to this race," Tucker said. "But, every endurance race presents challenges you've never faced before. You just have to be able to overcome them and persevere."
Mark Wilkins Prepares For Eighth Appearance At Daytona
Mark Wilkins Prepares For Eighth Appearance At Daytona
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Toronto, Jan. 20, 2011: The 2011 racing season is getting underway and Toronto's Mark Wilkins is all set to head to Florida for the 49th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the leadoff race in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. This is Wilkins eighth straight appearance at the Rolex 24 where he recorded podium finishes in 2004 (3rd - SGS) and 2005 (3rd - GT). He switched to Daytona Prototypes in 2007 and is on the hunt for his first podium in that class. Wilkins will be driving the Level 5 Motorsports No. 55 BMW Riley in this year's race.
Wilkins will share driving duties with Christophe Bouchut, Luis Diaz and Scott Tucker.
"I am happy to be here with Level 5 Motorsports for The 24 this year" commented Wilkins. "I learned a lot driving with Christope and Scott in an LMP car last year, understanding their driving styles and how they like to set up a car. That experience will be invaluable for us going into Daytona and in achieving a podium result. We had a great test session a couple of weeks ago at Daytona and everyone on the team is extremely confident."
The Microsoft, E Data Solutions, Selling Source, US Bank No. 55 BMW Riley recorded the third-fastest time at the recent Roar Before the 24 test days just two weeks ago posting a lap of 1:40.491 at 127.533 miles per hour.
"I really enjoy racing here on the Daytona road course", Wilkins stated. "I have two third-place finishes in The 24 and Daytona is also where I recorded my first GRAND-AM series pole back in 2008 in the AIM Autosport Ford Riley Daytona Prototype. But I've also had some disappointment here and really hope that this year we can turn that around and go for a win."
Source: 1/20/11 http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2011/01/20/515259.html
Grand Am champion to compete in 12 Hours of Sebring
With this famous event coming his way, Mark Wilkins is one happy bloke. The racer is excited about being an element of the 12 Hours of Sebring and stated that this is one race every racer looks up to and wishes to become an element of. they thought about this opportunity one not to be missed.
two times Rolex Grand Am champion, Canadian Mark Wilkins is all set to join ALMS Series with the LMPC Class for the Mobil 112 Hours of Sebring which is introduced by Fresh from Florida hermes birkin bag price. Together with Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker, Mark Wilkins will be seen racing the Level 5 Motorsports No. 55 FLM09. This event will mark the racer’s initial brush with the ALMS Series.
The twenty two year elderly racer, Mark Wilkins started racing in the year 2001 when they first joined Woodbridge to compete in Formula Ford which was followed up by his stint at the Star Mazda, Fran Am and Formula Renault which saw him earning podium victories. The bloke went on to add plenty of accolades to the list by bagging Podiums in the year 2004 in the Rolex 24 At Daytona which was followed by his victory in the next year in the GT Class, before Mark Wilkins finally became full time member of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports automobile Series introduced by Crown Royal Cask No 16 in the year 2007 hermes scarf catalogue . The tremendous gifted racer did not budge from scoring back to back podium victories at Montreal and Watkins Glen- two famous Grand Am Championships.
Mark Wilkins, who regularly drives the objective Autosport No 61 Ford Riley in another series, was excited at the chance to drive in the 12 Hours of Sebring. they went on to add that they looks forward to Level 5 race and also hopes to put in his best in the championship together with team mates Christophe and Scott. Apparently, the racer has raced historically against both his team mates and shares a bond with them which they stated would work for them as a team
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Mark Wilkins won his second Grand Am Rolex Sports automobile Series race in the year 2008 together with Brian Frisselle when it took place in new york a week after the duo won their first Grand Am Rolex race in Montreal.
Mark Wilkins has led his hand to drive a Daytona Prototype for objective in the Rolex Sports automobile Series and also to Autosport No 61 Ford Riley in one of the other series. The racer worked together with his team members in order to get things right in the championship and also participated in the Oreca FLM09. they also flew down to Florida in time to meet the crew and make chair fittings for the event hermes bags , while the LMPC class for the qualifying event would happen on coming Friday.
The American Le Mans Series runs on the lines of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and each automobile is driven by a multiple number of drivers depending on the period of the race.
The twenty two year elderly racer, Mark Wilkins started racing in the year 2001 when they first joined Woodbridge to compete in Formula Ford which was followed up by his stint at the Star Mazda, Fran Am and Formula Renault which saw him earning podium victories. The bloke went on to add plenty of accolades to the list by bagging Podiums in the year 2004 in the Rolex 24 At Daytona which was followed by his victory in the next year in the GT Class, before Mark Wilkins finally became full time member of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports automobile Series introduced by Crown Royal Cask No 16 in the year 2007 hermes scarf catalogue . The tremendous gifted racer did not budge from scoring back to back podium victories at Montreal and Watkins Glen- two famous Grand Am Championships.
Mark Wilkins, who regularly drives the objective Autosport No 61 Ford Riley in another series, was excited at the chance to drive in the 12 Hours of Sebring. they went on to add that they looks forward to Level 5 race and also hopes to put in his best in the championship together with team mates Christophe and Scott. Apparently, the racer has raced historically against both his team mates and shares a bond with them which they stated would work for them as a team
hermes handbags .
Mark Wilkins won his second Grand Am Rolex Sports automobile Series race in the year 2008 together with Brian Frisselle when it took place in new york a week after the duo won their first Grand Am Rolex race in Montreal.
Mark Wilkins has led his hand to drive a Daytona Prototype for objective in the Rolex Sports automobile Series and also to Autosport No 61 Ford Riley in one of the other series. The racer worked together with his team members in order to get things right in the championship and also participated in the Oreca FLM09. they also flew down to Florida in time to meet the crew and make chair fittings for the event hermes bags , while the LMPC class for the qualifying event would happen on coming Friday.
The American Le Mans Series runs on the lines of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and each automobile is driven by a multiple number of drivers depending on the period of the race.
Mark Wilkins all set for eighth Rolex 24 appearance
Canadian racer seeking his first podium in Daytona Prototypes
The 2011 racing season is getting underway and Toronto’s Mark Wilkins is all set to head to Florida for the 49th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the leadoff race in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. This is Wilkins eighth straight appearance at the Rolex 24 where he recorded podium finishes in 2004 (3rd – SGS) and 2005 (3rd – GT).He switched to Daytona Prototypes in 2007 and is on the hunt for his first podium in that class. Wilkins will be driving the Level 5 Motorsports No. 55 BMW Riley in this year’s race.
Wilkins will share driving duties with Christophe Bouchut, Luis Diaz and Scott Tucker.
“I am happy to be here with Level 5 Motorsports for The 24 this year” commented Wilkins. “I learned a lot driving with Christope and Scott in an LMP car last year, understanding their driving styles and how they like to set up a car. That experience will be invaluable for us going into Daytona and in achieving a podium result. We had a great test session a couple of weeks ago at Daytona and everyone on the team is extremely confident.”
The Microsoft, E Data Solutions, Selling Source, US Bank No. 55 BMW Riley recorded the third-fastest time at the recent Roar Before the 24 test days just two weeks ago posting a lap of 1:40.491 at 127.533 miles per hour.“I really enjoy racing here on the Daytona road course”, Wilkins stated. “I have two third-place finishes in The 24 and Daytona is also where I recorded my first GRAND-AM series pole back in 2008 in the AIM Autosport Ford Riley Daytona Prototype. But I’ve also had some disappointment here and really hope that this year we can turn that around and go for a win.”
Before racing gets underway, Wilkins will be joining a number of other GRAND-AM drivers for the annual Boggy Creek Gold Tournament. Boggy Creek is part of the Hole In The Wall Camps founded by Paul Newman and the golf tournament, designed to foster awareness of the camp’s work and to raise funds to support its efforts has become an annual tradition for GRAND-AM events at Daytona.
Practice and qualifying for The Rolex 24 at Daytona get underway on Thursday, January 27th.
The 49th Annual Rolex 24 at Daytona takes the green flag at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, January 29th and will be broadcast live on Speed TV from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (ET) , resuming coverage at 9:00 a.m. Sunday until 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Mark Wilkins fast facts: Twenty-seven year old Wilkins is a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He started racing in karts and in 2001, joined Woodbridge, Ontario-based AIM Autosport to compete in Formula Ford. He would move on to run in Fran Am, Star Mazda and Formula Renault through 2004 earning podiums in each series. In 2004 he earned his first podium (3rd) in the Rolex 24 at Daytona (SGS Class) repeating a year later taking third in GT. Wilkins and AIM Autosport joined the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No 16 full time in 2007. In 2008, co-driving with Brian Frisselle, Wilkins scored three podiums including back-to-back victories at Montreal and Watkins Glen.
Wilkins also recorded two poles that season. He has recorded two podiums in 2010 taking second place at VIR and third at Mid-Ohio. In 2010, Wilkins also competed in three American Le Mans events scoring two victories in the LMPC class with Level 5 Motorsports. A graduate of Georgian College in Automotive Marketing, Wilkins works in marketing with Engineered Automotive, a business specializing in Automotive Sales (inc. importation), Automotive Service, Automotive Tuning, Vehicle Storage and Track Events.
Source: http://www.flagworld.com/news/?p=50237#more-50237
Thursday, January 27, 2011
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