7/29/02-'99
July 29,2002 Marcos & Flis Motorsports Team Up
Marcos Racing and Flis Motorsports will team up for the remainder of the Rolex Sports Car Series season. The two Central Florida teams will partner in the running of the #03 Marcos Mantis and #04 Porsche GT3 R in the GT class at upcoming Rolex Series events.
"We have joined forces on the preparation of the cars," commented Marcos Racing team owner Toto Lassally. "The team is still the same. I still own it, and the drivers, for the most part, are going to remain the same. However, now Flis is doing all the preparation of the cars while they are at home and some of the Flis crew will be coming to help us at the events."
Marcos Racing, of Deland, Fla., fielded two Marcos Mantis in the GT class during the first half of the season, while Flis Motorsports, of Ormond Beach, Fla., contested two Corvettes in the American GT class. A lack of sponsorship has forced the two-time American GT champion to park its Corvettes and end its bid for a third-straight title.
"We aren't quitting motorsports by any means. Flis Motorsports has been around long before this and will be around long after this. We are regrouping right now, and it's nice to be able to stay in the same business that we have been in - preparing great race cars," team co-owner Troy Flis remarked. "Toto came to us and asked if we could help him develop his two cars, and we are glad we can help."
The cooperative effort of Marcos and Flis is something that has been in the works for quite a while. "When we first looked at fielding a Marcos team we were interested in doing it with Flis, but they were still committed to their program. Doing this together was something we had wanted to do since the start. Now that their program is over, we got back together, discussed it and are now moving forward with it," added Lassally.
Although Marcos Racing previously ran two Marcos Mantis in the Rolex Series, it will run a single Marcos and a Porsche in the upcoming races. "It takes quite a while to have our Marcos engines rebuilt, and we cannot get them back to the United States in time to run both cars. So for the next few races we will run just one Marcos and the Porsche GT3 R that (driver) Paco Orti raced in Europe," explained Lassally.
The rookie Marcos team has struggled this season, with its best finish of fifth place in the GT class coming at the Jani-King Paul Revere 250 earlier this month. However, Lassally is confident the addition of Flis Motorsports to the team will produce better results. "With their experience and capabilities, I firmly believe that we are going to start moving up front in the GT class and become real contenders," he noted. "They are also working on developing some of the stuff that still needs developing with the cars."
The first race for the newly combined effort will be next week's Bully Hill Vineyards 250 at Watkins Glen International, August 9. The #03 Marcos will be piloted by Dutchman Cor Euser and Englishman Ian James, who currently resides in Kissimmee. Spaniard Paco Orti and Deland's Cougar Jacobsen will race the #04 Porsche GT3 R.
July 25,2002 Toyota Racing Development Submits Engine
Toyota Racing Development (TRD), U.S.A. announced today that it will submit a 4.3-liter V8 engine to the Grand American Road Racing Association (Grand Am) for approval to compete in the Daytona Prototype Class of the Rolex Sports Car Series beginning in 2003.
The Toyota Daytona Prototype V8 engine will be based on the 4.3-liter, four-cam, 32-valve powerplant that is currently utilized in production models sold in North America. The engine will be submitted for inclusion in the "A" Type Daytona Prototype engine category, which is based on production six- and eight-cylinder engines, which have a maximum displacement of 4.3 liters.
"We believe that Grand Am has created a unique vision for an American-based sports prototype series," said Jim Aust, president and CEO of TRD, U.S.A.
"TRD is always interested in potential business opportunities that expand its presence in U.S. motorsports. Our goal will be to offer Daytona Prototype teams a competitive engine at a competitive price."
TRD will provide final engine specifications and pricing upon receiving certification from the Grand Am series in September. The Costa Mesa, Calif.,-based company will sell the spec engine parts and components to independent engine builders, and it will have the capability to sell and support complete race-ready engines directly to Daytona Prototype teams. TRD currently produces winning V8 powerplants in its off-road and sport compact/import drag racing programs.
Participation in the Grand Am Daytona Prototype program would continue Toyota's sports prototype heritage in the U.S. Toyota-powered prototypes dominated U.S. road racing in the early 1990s, including a victory at the prestigious Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 1993.
July 17,2002 Ford To Lend Extensive Support
As the support of the Daytona Prototypes continues to build, the program received a tremendous boost this week when Ford Racing Technology announced its agreement with Canadian-based engineering organization Multimatic and Robert Yates Racing to construct the Ford Focus Daytona Prototype. The factory support from Ford is expected to also benefit privateer Ford teams competing in the Daytona Prototypes championship in 2003, as Ford's years of technical know-how and Robert Yates' engine expertise become available to all competitors.
"Ford brings the ideal factory support to the Daytona Prototypes," commented Grand American President Roger Edmondson. "Their involvement in the program will provide all teams with the technology and resources made available by Ford Racing."
Teams will be able to benefit from Ford's racing engine development program for the Ford Focus Daytona Prototypes. “Ford Racing’s goal, besides seeing a good number of these Focus prototype cars on the track, is to help develop the modular V8, with help from Robert Yates, into a highly competitive customer racing engine," Ford Racing Technology Directory Dan Davis remarked. "We see the Ford Focus Daytona Prototype program as a great test bed and proving ground for this product.”
"Ford Racing's involvement in Multimatic's Daytona Prototype program is excellent news for both the Rolex Series and our customers," noted Multimatic Vice President of Engineering Larry Holt. "It is important to note that this is not an exclusive factory race team program; it is a technical cooperation that will significantly benefit every privateer racer that runs a Ford."
Multimatic has been active in the Rolex Sports Car Series since its inception when it fielded a SportsRacing Prototype II entry in the series' first race - the 2000 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Multimatic went on to capture a podium finish at Mid-Ohio in 2001 and fell just shy of the victory later the same year at Trois-Rivières. The company has also had extensive success the Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series with its Mustangs.
Submission of the Ford Focus Daytona Prototype designs for approval should be forthcoming, and the Ford 4.6 liter engine has already received tentative approval pending completion of testing at Pro Motor Engineering, the engine testing facility in Charlotte that is dynotesting all engines for approval.
July 16,2002 Multimatic to Build Ford Focus Daytona Prototype
Canadian-based engineering organization Multimatic has completed an agreement with Ford Racing Technology to be the exclusive constructor of the Ford Focus Daytona Prototype race car. Daytona Prototypes will be the name of the major championship class featured in the Rolex Sports Car Series beginning in 2003. The Daytona Prototype coupe is a flat-bottomed two-seat, closed cockpit, mid-engine automobile with a complete frame (non-stressed engine).
Multimatic has been working on the design and development of the car for over four months, but has delayed publicly revealing the details of the project until the Ford Racing partnership was completed. The car will be powered by a Robert Yates developed Ford modular V8 and will carry brand identification from the extremely popular Ford Focus world car. Ford Racing will lend technical support to the project and will direct the development of the new modular-based racing engine.
Multimatic has a strong relationship with Ford Motor Company and recently received its Gold World Excellence Award, recognizing the company as one of the OEM’s top nine global suppliers for 2001 performance. Multimatic Motorsports has enjoyed a long and successful racing history with Ford Motor Company that includes being the first team in the world to race and win with the four cam, four valve modular V8 engine. These engines were used in Multimatic’s highly successful Coca-Cola Mustangs that captured eight of nine poles, five lap records and won the Motorola Cup manufacturer’s championship for Ford in 1999.
Multimatic’s Vice President of Engineering Larry Holt comments: “We decided that the new Daytona Prototype formula was an excellent opportunity for us to exploit our engineering expertise in motorsports, and history dictated that we should do it in partnership with Ford Racing. I am thrilled that they have agreed to participate and that Robert Yates has been chosen to undertake the modular engine development. The Ford Focus Daytona Prototype will undoubtedly be the car to beat in the 2003 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series.”
Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology, adds: “We’re excited to be working with Multimatic on this new race car program since they have proven themselves as both a valued supplier to Ford, and a successful sports car racing team. Ford Racing’s goal, besides seeing a good number of these Focus prototype cars on the track, is to help develop the modular V8, with help from Robert Yates, into a highly competitive customer racing engine. We see the Ford Focus Daytona Prototype program as a great test bed and proving ground for this product.”
Roger Edmondson, President of Grand American Road Racing Association concludes: “A hundred years ago, Henry Ford started building cars for the American people and created a company that set the standard for an industry. Today, Grand American has set out to build a sports car racing series for the American people. Having Ford Racing recognize our vision and make the commitment they are making today puts them once again at the front of the field, a visionary organization with its finger on the pulse of the American psyche."
The Multimatic developed and built Ford Focus Daytona Prototype will test in October and its competition debut will be the 2003 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Cars will be run by an in-house team as well as being made available to customers. Details of the design configuration, price and availability will be released in the near future.
July 11,2002 Daytona Prototypes Engine Rules Updated
Momentum continues to build on the Daytona Prototype stage as Grand American Road Racing Association announces further details on the engine rules. The Daytona Prototypes will be the featured class in the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2003 when the series makes its season debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
"The concept since day one has been to provide a platform where smaller high-revving engines can compete head-to-head against large displacement V8s," Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf explained. "What we're doing now is defining the rules more clearly so car builders can choose which engine they want to use and then start preparing them for competition."
The new rules announced today offer details on specific requirements for different sized engines and are based on displacement and engine configuration.
| Size |
Compression |
RPM |
Restrictor |
Transmission |
Other |
| 3.8L & under |
Unlimited |
8600 |
None |
Six-speed |
|
| 3.81L - 4.3L |
11:1 |
TBD |
TBD |
Six-speed |
|
| Four-valve Ford 4.6L |
11:1 |
7000 |
Use approved Ford throttle body inlet |
Six-speed |
|
| Four-valve BMW 4.997L |
11:1 |
6800 |
30mm |
Five-speed |
|
| Two-valve 5.0L - 5.35L |
10.5:1 |
TBD |
TBD |
Five-speed |
3.25-inch max. stroke |
|
"Engines still have to be submitted to us for approval," Grand American Director of Competition Dave Watson added. "The difference now is that we have established some guidelines for people to use when selecting which engine to submit."
Watson added that the BMW 4.997 liter and the Porsche 3.6 liter engines have both been tested and approved at Pro Motor Engineering, the engine testing facility in Charlotte that is dynotesting all engines for approval, and that the Ford 4.6 liter engine has received tentative approval pending completion of testing.
"We are talking with three other manufacturers right now and will see some more powerplants coming to PME in the next couple of weeks," he continued. "Other companies have told us they will be participating but have not scheduled engine testing yet. By this fall, there should be at least six different engines approved for competition."
Raffauf pointed out that all of the new regulations are in keeping with the rules previously written in the Daytona Prototypes rulebook. "The only things that could even be considered new or different are the specifications on the five or six-speed gearboxes and the lack of compression limits on the small engines," he noted. "The transmission regulation is another way to help keep the playing field level. The same is true for letting the small motors rev. We want good racing from the front to the back of the field."
July 9,2002 Carbir Bodywork Approved
Grand America Road Racing Association announced today that the bodywork designs submitted by Carbir Race Cars have been approved for construction. Carbir Race Cars becomes the fourth Daytona Prototype constructor to have its bodywork designs approved, joining FABCAR Engineering, Crawford Race Cars and Picchio SpA.
"Carbir was one of the first constructors to submit chassis designs for approval, and we're happy to see them take the next step with the introduction of their bodywork plans," Daytona Prototype Project Manager Mark Raffauf remarked. "With Carbir's past success in Sports 2000 and Formula Ford, it's good to see them advancing into the Rolex Series with their Daytona Prototype."
Carbir Race Cars had its Daytona Prototype chassis designs approved for construction in May.
Carbir Race Cars was founded in 1995 by Brian Utt and Carl Seaberg, who successfully introduced their Carbir CS2 to Sports 2000 competition. The car dominated the American City Racing League (ACRL) in 1997 and continues to do so today, finding its way to victory lane at nine of the 14 ACRL events last season. Carbir's DS3 Formula Ford 2000 has also claimed victory in the U.S. F2000 series, as well as back-to-back American Continental championships.
July 2,2002 Flis Motorsports Named FunTech Distributor
Fundamental Technology (FunTech) and Grand American Road Racing Association announced today that the FT-2 Daytona Prototype chassis design submitted by FunTech has been approved for construction. The FT-2 will contest the Rolex Sports Car Series' premier class in 2003. The Central Florida-based manufacturer has chosen a unique bonded aluminum chassis structure, providing excellent chassis stiffness, keeping weight to a minimum and the center of gravity as low as possible.
The FT-2 will be constructed in Orlando by FunTech. Flis Motorsports of Ormond Beach is the first official distributor of the FT-2. Flis currently campaigns the 09 and 90 AGT corvettes in the Rolex Sports Car Series and offers full race support services for the FT-2. When combined with the proven winning record of FLIS Motorsports the FT-2 appears to be a winning package for the Grand American Daytona Prototype series.
Rob DeBardeleben, Vice President of FunTech Motorsports Division, said, “our engineers have created an innovative design in prototype race cars that is aerodynamically and structurally balanced to achieve maximum performance within the class rules.” The Daytona prototype format allowed the engineering staff at FunTech to create a completely new concept in road racing car. The FT-2 has been designed with engineering tools until now used only at aerospace corporations in the design of high performance air vehicles. DeBardeleben added, “in designing the FT-2 we used the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD), stress analysis, and mechanical design engineering tools to design a world-class performance race car. The FT-2 offers affordable, reliable performance that will finish up front.” In addition to Flis, FunTech offers the FT-2 to other distributors and motorsport teams.
Additional information on FunTech is available online at www.funtechsystems.com, on FunTech at www.grand-am.com and on FLIS Motorsports at www.teamflis.com
July 2,2002 FunTech & Quaife Prototype Chassis Approved
Grand American Road Racing Association announced today that the Daytona Prototype chassis designs submitted by Fundamental Technologies (FunTech) and Quaife Engineering have been approved for construction. The addition of the two constructors brings the number of approved chassis builders to seven, joining FABCAR Engineering, Doran Enterprises, Crawford Race Cars, Carbir Race Cars and Picchio SpA.
FunTech, based in Orlando, Fla., will build the FT-2 to contest the Daytona Prototype class of the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2003. "Our engineers have created an innovative design in prototype race cars that is aerodynamically and structurally balanced to achieve maximum performance within the class rules," explained Rob DeBardeleben, Vice President of FunTech Motorsports Division. "In designing the FT-2, we used the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD), stress analysis, and mechanical design engineering tools to design a world-class performance race car. The FT-2 offers affordable, reliable performance that will finish up front."
Two-time American GT champions Flis Motorsports, of Ormond Beach, Fla., is the first official distributor of the FT-2. "Everyone at Flis Motorsports is excited about the new Daytona Prototype package. We are looking forward to working with FunTech in the 2003 season," Flis Motorsports co-owner Todd Flis remarked.
Great Britain's Quaife Engineering will construct the Quaife GT-AM to run in the Daytona Prototype class in 2003. At this time, Quaife has plans to build two Daytona Prototypes. The first chassis with be retained by Quaife for development and raced later, and the second chassis has been sold to a Florida-based team that has yet to be named by the constructor.
Quaife began its work in motorsports competition with the development of motorcycle gearboxes. The company turned its expertise to auto racing in the 1970s. Today, Quaife continues to develop new products through its own competition vehicles with the Quaife GT-AM being the company's latest creation.
June 26,2002 Nadeau In Rand Lola For Paul Revere
NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau will partner with Indy Racing League driver Anthony Lazzaro in the #7 Nissan-powered Lola of Rand Racing in the Jani-King Paul Revere 250 at Daytona International Speedway on the Fourth of July.
"I am really excited about doing this. It's going to be a lot of fun. Anthony is a great driver, and he's been doing really well in the series. Hopefully I'll be able to get up-to-speed on Wednesday during practice," remarked Nadeau, who has extensive road racing experience in various types of race cars, but has never been behind the wheel of a prototype. "I'm mainly doing this for fun. I want to go out and drive the wheels off it. I would love to do the Rolex 24 At Daytona someday, so hopefully this will open the door for me to do that. "
Nadeau will replace team owner Bill Rand, who had originally planned to race the #7 Nissan with Nic Jonsson at the Jani-King Paul Revere 250. "It is unlikely I will be able to make it to Daytona in time for the race, because of a business commitment. So, Anthony and I were tossing around some names of possible drivers to sub in for me," explained Rand, who runs a two-car effort in the Rolex Series. "Anthony and Jerry have been friends for a long time, and Jerry was doing so well in the NASCAR road race last weekend that we thought we would ask him to join us in Daytona."
Nadeau raced for Petty Enterprises last weekend in the NASCAR Winston Cup Dodge/SaveMart 350K at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point Raceway). He took the lead on lap 88 of the 110-lap race and held more than a five-second advantage before the rear-end broke with only two laps to go.
"[Jerry and I] raced against each other in the Hooters series back in 1995, so I have known him for quite a while now," Lazzaro commented. "I met a lot of great guys during my time with NASCAR, and Jerry is one that really stands out. He would always tell me that if I need anything, to just ask. There are a lot of good guys over there, and he's just another one of them."
Lazzaro partnered with points-leader Terry Borcheller in Rand's #8 Nissan Lola at earlier races this season, but will move over to the team's #7 Nissan with Nadeau to run under the lights at Daytona next week. Nic Jonsson will slide over to the #8 Nissan to team with Borcheller for the weekend. "Since Terry qualifies the car, he gets most of the seat time during practice to set it up. There are some different setups I would like to try at Daytona, so it works well for me to be in the #7 at this race. That way he can try one setup in his car, while I'm testing out another in the other," commented Lazzaro. "Plus, I can help Jerry get adjusted to the car when he gets in it during Wednesday's practice."
"We now have a strong enough points lead that we can make adjustments like putting Terry and Anthony in different cars. Having them race against each other should make for some pretty exciting racing," said Rand, who saw his pair of cars sweep the top-two spots in the SRPII class and finish second and third overall at the 6 Hours of The Glen last weekend.
Rand Racing has dominated the SportsRacing Prototype II class of the Rolex Sports Car Series this season. The team's #8 Nissan Lola won its class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Nextel 250 in Homestead, Grand American 400 in California and, most recently, the 6 Hours of The Glen. The only race this season that has not seen the drivers of the #8 car on top of the SRPII podium was the UnitedAuto 200 in Phoenix, where the top honors went to the #7 Nissan Lola.
Nadeau is no stranger to road racing. In addition to his impressive showing at the Dodge/SaveMart 350K last weekend, Nadeau has also raced in Skip Barber, Firehawk, Formula Ford and GT cars. He finished sixth overall in the Formula Opel European series in 1996, competing in 13 of the 16 races. It was the highest finish ever by an American driver. In Winston Cup, Nadeau captured his first victory at the 2000 series finale in Atlanta.
June 25,2002 Crawford DP03 Bodywork Approved
Grand American Road Racing Association Daytona Prototype Project Manager Mark Raffauf announced today that the Crawford DP03 bodywork designs submitted by Crawford Race Cars have been approved for construction. The Crawford DP03 will make its debut in the Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class at the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
"[Crawford Race Cars President] Max Crawford has been building and developing race cars for years. It's exciting to see all his years of experience put to use in the Crawford DP03 designs," Raffauf remarked. "Max is considered an expert in the racing industry in bodywork designs, which is evident with all his recent work with Winston Cup teams."
The chassis designs for the Crawford DP03 where approved a month ago. Crawford Race Cars becomes the third constructor to have its bodywork designs approved, joining FABCAR Engineering and Picchio SpA.
Crawford has an extensive automotive and racing resume dating back to 1966 in his homeland of New Zealand. He has worked as the crew chief and team manager for several championship-winning teams and has been actively involved the last 11 years in wind tunnel model development projects including the recent Ford Taurus Winston Cup program.
Crawford's SSC2K SportsRacing Prototype chassis has been contested at three Rolex Sports Car Series races this season. The car qualified third at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and second at California Speedway, where it also earned a podium finish. Crawford Race Cars will field the #2 Home Depot Judd-powered Crawford SSC2K in the Jani-King Paul Revere 250 at Daytona International Speedway on the Fourth of July, with NASCAR driver Tony Stewart and veteran road racer Elliott Forbes-Robinson slated to drive.
June 18,2002 Robinson Racing Testing At Daytona
Robinson Racing and driver Jack Baldwin kicked off a two-day test session at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday in preparation for the Rolex Sports Car Series Jani-King Paul Revere 250 on July 4.
Baldwin and George Robinson will team up to compete in the Jani-King Paul Revere 250, which will go green following Bud Pole Qualifying for the Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on July 4.
Robinson Racing, with drivers Baldwin, Robinson, Wally Dallenbach and Mark Simo, finished 65th in February's 40th anniversary of the Rolex 24 after developing overheating problems several hours into the race.
Unsatisfied with February's results, the team opted to return to the "World Center of Racing" with hopes of continuing to develop the No. 74 Ranch Resort Judd Riley & Scott Mark IIIC.
"We made a lot of changes to the car and we're just trying to verify those changes," Baldwin said. "The car is totally different from February. We've got aero changes and mechanical changes and the engine. We've never run here with a five liter."
Robinson Racing will continue testing on Wednesday at the Speedway and the session is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.
June 17,2002 Stewart Back In Crawford For Paul Revere
Crawford Race Cars announced today that NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Tony Stewart would join road racing veteran Elliott Forbes-Robinson in the #2 Home Depot Judd-powered Crawford at the Rolex Sports Car Series Jani-King Paul Revere 250. The historic midnight running of the Paul Revere will take place on the Fourth of July at Daytona International Speedway following Winston Cup Bud Pole qualifying for the Pepsi 400.
"I am excited about the opportunity to run a true road course race again, especially after the fun I had with the Crawford team in the 24 hour," commented Stewart. "I am also excited about teaming up with EFR, knowing his years of experience in this type of racing, as well as his in-depth knowledge of the Crawford, will help me adjust to the changes made to the car since February. I'm looking forward to a great race."
The Jani-King Paul Revere 250 will mark Stewart's second appearance this season behind the wheel of the #2 Crawford. The Winston Cup star kicked off the 2002 racing season with Crawford Race Cars at the 40th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona in February. After starting in the third position and maintaining a spot in the top five of the 80-car field, the #2 Crawford lost its engine in the 12th hour and was forced to retire from the race.
"I'm very excited to have Tony Stewart back in our car for the Rolex Series Paul Revere at Daytona," team owner and car creator Max Crawford said. "Tony did a superb job for us at the 24 hour. I think, had we let him, he would have driven all night. He is the consummate racer and everybody on our team enjoyed having him as part of the team, both as a professional and as a person... particularly his humor!"
Forbes-Robinson, Stewart's co-driver for the Paul Revere 250, brings a wealth of experience to the team as the winner of numerous championships in professional sports cars, Trans-Am, Can Am, World Challenge and SCCA. The veteran racer's 33-year career also includes two Rolex 24 victories, as well as some NASCAR Winston Cup experience.
"Tony and I spent some time together during the 24 hour earlier this year, and he has come out to some of the Legends testing I've done," remarked Forbes-Robinson, known in the racing community as 'EFR.' "Max Crawford put us together for this race. Tony wanted to race in the Paul Revere, and I've been looking for a chance to run the Crawford in a race. I've been testing it since its inception, but this will be my first race in the car."
June 5,2002 Brumos first Seating;Add Donohue
Brumos Racing made history last January when it became the first team to announce plans to contest a Daytona Prototype in the 2003 Rolex Sports Car Series season. The renowned race team took the next step when drivers Hurley Haywood, David Donohue, J.C. France and Wayne Jackson traveled to Indianapolis for their first fitting in the new Daytona Prototype being constructed by FABCAR Engineering.
Five-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Haywood felt right at home behind the wheel of his new Porsche-powered Daytona Prototype. "Even though this is still a cage with no bodywork, it feels like a Porsche. I've driven Porsches for 25 years. When I get into this car, the steering wheel is in the right place, the dials are in the right place and the seat fits. So, I'm very comfortable. It feels just like a Porsche."
Haywood will co-drive the FABCAR-designed Brumos Racing #59 Porsche-engined car next season with J.C. France, an up-and-coming racer currently polishing his skills in the Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series. Wayne Jackson will pilot the similar Brumos Racing #58 entry with co-driver David Donohue, son of Hall of Fame road racer Mark Donohue.
Brumos Racing, based in Jacksonville, Fla., has a rich history of Porsche racing that includes 11 IMSA titles and three Trans-Am championships. They have also appeared in Daytona's Victory Lane six times as the owner or sponsor of the Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner.
All of the Brumos drivers were pleased with their first look at the new Daytona Prototype and are eager get it on the track. "I'm ready to race. Where's the start button?" France joked after sliding behind the wheel for the first time.
Both Haywood and Donohue commented that they were not only looking forward to racing the new race car, but also competing in the new Daytona Prototype class. "I like the uniqueness of the formula. It allows a much larger spectrum of drivers to compete for the overall win, which in sports car racing has not been available to most people because there are so many classes of cars," Donohue noted. "I think this will open the door for more people to compete for the overall win, which is much more rewarding and what teams and drivers want."
"I think all these cars are going to be very equal in performance. It's going to have a lot of different manufacturers involved, and it's going to put the importance back into the lap of the teams and drivers. The teams are going to be the ones to dictate who is going to win the race," Haywood added.
The new Daytona Prototypes will get their first official test in November during the Grand American Finale event weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
May 28,2002 Picchio First Approved European Daytona Prototype
e
Road Racing Association announced today that Daytona Prototype chassis and bodywork designs submitted by Picchio SpA have been approved for construction. The Picchio DP2 will contest the Rolex Sports Car Series' premier class in 2003. The Italian-based manufacturer becomes the fifth approved Daytona Prototype chassis builder and the second to have its bodywork designs accepted.
The Picchio DP2 will be constructed near Teramo, Italy and distributed in the United States by Momentum Motorcars of Houston. "With the support of Riccardo Weitz (owner of Momentum Motorcars) and Gary Schulze, our GM, we were able to bring to the USA a new manufacturer," Momentum representative/driver Armando Trentini commented. "There will be three Picchio DP2 cars at the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and all three will be prepared by G&W Motorsports. Momentum Motorcars will field one of the cars, with another being fielded by G&W. The third will be backed by a customer that we cannot make public at this time."
The collaborative effort between Momentum Motorcars and G&W Motorsports began this season with the #07 BMW-powered Picchio in the SportsRacing Prototype II class. "It has always been a dream of mine to be closely associated with a manufacturer that has a legitimate shot at a high-level championship. The new Daytona Prototype and our involvement with Picchio will allow G&W Motorsports to be able to accomplish that dream," G&W Motorsports team owner Cole Scrogham remarked.
The first Picchio DP2 is scheduled to be unveiled at the Grand American Finale at Daytona International Speedway, Nov. 8-10. The other two Picchios will be delivered to G&W Motorsports the first week of December. All three cars slated to race in the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona will be powered by 5.0 BMW V8 engines, however the manufacturer has designed the car to support other production engines if requested by the customer prior to construction.
Although a complete driver lineup has not been announced for the three cars, Trentini reports that he will be one of the drivers in the Momentum Motorcars Daytona Prototype. Past Rolex Series champions Darren Law and Andy Lally will also race one of the three Picchio DP2, though which entry has yet to be determined for the two championship drivers currently partnering in the #07 BMW Picchio.
May 22,2002 Crawford Daytona Prototype Approved
The Grand American Road Racing Association announced today that it has approved the Daytona Prototype chassis designs submitted by Crawford Race Cars, LLC. The Daytona Prototypes will be the premier class of the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2003. Crawford becomes the fourth car builder to have its chassis designs approved for construction, joining FABCAR Engineering, Doran Enterprises and Carbir Race Cars.
"[Crawford Race Cars President] Max Crawford has been building and developing race cars for years. He truly grasp what it takes to be successful in endurance racing, and its good to see that he is putting that knowledge and experience to use in the Daytona Prototypes," remarked Mark Raffauf, Daytona Prototypes Project Manager.
Crawford has an extensive automotive and racing resume dating back to 1966 in his homeland of New Zealand. He has worked as the crew chief and team manager for several championship-winning teams and has been actively involved the last 11 years in wind tunnel model development projects including the recent Ford Taurus Winston Cup program.
Crawford's SSC2K SportsRacing Prototype chassis has been contested at three Rolex Sports Car Series races this season. The car qualified third at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and second at California Speedway, where it also earned a podium finish.
May 6,2002 Carbir Daytona Prototype Approved
Grand American Road Racing announced today that the Daytona Prototype chassis designs submitted by Carbir Race Cars have been approved for construction. Carbir Race Cars becomes the third constructor to have its designs approved, joining FABCAR Engineering and Doran Enterprises.
"Over the years, Carbir has been known for building very successful Sports 2000 and Formula Ford cars. We're glad to see them advance into the Rolex Sports Car Series with their Daytona Prototype designs," Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf remarked.
"We are pleased to have our chassis designs approved on the first submission," noted Carbir President and Commerical Director Brian Utt. "We should begin construction of our first chassis in the next ten days and start preparing for wind tunnel work."
Utt reports that Carbir's Daytona Prototype designs are suited for any engine type, but he intends to build the first chassis to support a Chevy Corvette engine.
Carbir Race Cars was founded in 1995 by Utt and Carl Seaberg, who successfully introduced their Carbir CS2 to Sports 2000 competition. The car dominated the American City Racing League (ACRL) in 1997 and continues to do so today, finding its way to victory lane at nine of the 14 ACRL events last season. Carbir's DS3 Formula Ford 2000 has also claimed victory in the U.S. F2000 series, as well as back-to-back American Continental championships.
Additional information on Carbir Race Cars is available by calling 262-377-2850 or emailing carbir@execpc.com.
May 1,2002 Doran Daytona Prototype Approved
Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf announced today that Grand American Road Racing has approved chassis designs from Doran Enterprises for the Daytona Prototypes, the Rolex Sports Car Series premier class in 2003.
"The train is picking up speed with Doran's Daytona Prototype design. We expect to have several more sets of plans submitted for approval in the next couple of weeks," Raffauf remarked. "Doran Enterprises has a well-established reputation as a race car builder, and we are happy to see them committed to the Daytona Prototype program."
"Now that we have been granted approval, we will start production of our first car this week," Doran Enterprise founder Kevin Doran stated. "We expect to sell three cars for (the Rolex 24 At) Daytona, and we hope to test the first one the first of October."
Doran is well established as a builder and preparer of race cars ranging from NASCAR Super Trucks to Indy cars, but he is best known for his sports car accomplishments, which includes four Rolex 24 At Daytona victories as team manager. "Recently I have been looking back at the history of sports car racing. The Porsche 935 ran for seven to nine years. Then the GTP came along, and it ran for eight or nine years. Now the World Sports Car has been here eight or nine years. It looks like there is a trend in sports car racing," Doran explained. "It's time for a change. It's time for a new car, and the Daytona Prototypes are coming along at just the right time."
The Ohio-based constructor anticipates the Daytona Prototypes drawing larger fields and more exciting racing. "It's going to be an exciting car to see. It's going to have a little more style and flair than the current cars. If we can have 20 or 30 cars running around on any given day, you're going to have a good race," he said. "These cars are going to be at a cost that we can easily have that many racing. They are going to be 30 to 40 percent less than the current cars in cost. And when you add in the manpower need to run them, it will be half of what we are spending now."
Doran admits he has not yet decided on an engine for his Daytona Prototype, but says he is favoring the Chevy Corvette engine. "I think it will be a strong performer for the series, but I'm talking to others, as well. I hope to have a decision by the end of the month."
Although the Doran chassis design has been approved for construction, it must still submit its bodywork for approval. "We have the design and concept of the body firm in our mind and in 2-D drawings. Now it is just a matter of software data input, so we can have it approved," Doran noted.
The first Doran Enterprises Daytona Prototype has already been sold to an unnamed buyer, and Doran reports he has had several inquirers about the remaining two slated to be built. "In order to stay on schedule, we really need to sell the second prototype by the end of the May. There has been a lot of interest about the other two cars, so hopefully we will have a confirmed buyer soon. But, it is key to have something come together soon in order to stick to our schedule."
April 30,2002 Rand Racing Update
Rand Racing has enhanced its engineering expertise with the appointment of Jeff Braun as race and design engineer. Braun replaces John McLoughlin, who assisted with the team's startup engineering program. Braun will work closely with team strategist Thomas Blam and data specialist Jim Malicki. Houston-based Risi Competizione will continue to prepare the team's two Nissan-powered Lola race cars under the direction of crew chief and team manager Richard Taylor and chief mechanics Rickus Terburgh and Peter Kaczmar.
Braun's extensive experience includes International Motor Sports Association, Grand-American Road Racing Association and Trans-Am Series road racing; Indy Car World Series, Indy Racing League, Indy Lights and Atlantic open-wheel cars; and NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch Grand National, American Speed Association and Automobile Racing Club of America stock cars. He is also involved in engineering research and development work and is a published author.
Rand Racing continues to lead the SRPII team and driver standings in the Rolex Sports Car Series, with four wins in as many races this season. The team also won its debut race in 2001. Terry Borcheller of Phoenix heads the class driver standings with three victories in '02 in the No. 8 Rand Racing Lola he drives with Anthony Lazzaro of Acworth, Ga. Bill Rand of Plano, Tex., and Niclas Jönsson of Aliso Viejo, Calif., share the No. 7 car, which topped the class in the most recent series race in Phoenix, co-driven by Marino Franchitti of Scotland. German Ralf Kelleners joins the team for selected races.
April 25,2002 Daytona Prototypes Design, Construction Advancing
Design and construction of the Daytona Prototypes, continues to advance with several companies announcing their plans for the new class of race cars. Carbir Race Cars and Fundamental Technology Systems are the latest to unveil their Daytona Prototype plans ( See Below and 4/11 & 4/17 Grand-Am news). Engine testing will begin soon by Pro-Motor Engineering with BMW and Chevy being the first submitted for approval, while FABCAR Engineering's first car moves closer to completion with new renderings revealed and bodywork construction well underway.
First Powerplants Ready For Testing
Pro-Motor Engineering is setting up its engine dyno to test the first engines being submitted for approval for the Daytona Prototypes. A BMW M5 V-8 is likely to be the first engine tested, followed closely by a Chevrolet Corvette LS-6 V-8. The BMW engine is being submitted by Prototype Technology Group. The Chevrolet is being delivered by Total Engine Concepts.
Carbir Announces C4 Daytona Prototype
Carbir Race Cars released images and specifications for the new Carbir C4 Daytona Prototype as company president Brian Utt announced that the Wisconsin-based manufacturer was moving forward with the project.
"Carl Seaberg and I came out of the (Daytona Prototypes Summit) in enthusiastic agreement to give the C4 the green light," said Utt. "After listening to what Roger Edmondson, Mark Raffauf and Dave Watson had to say, we are confident that Grand American's vision and long-term commitment to the Daytona Prototype program will create a strong demand for the Carbir C4."
Carbir has been involved with the new class since its inception, with Utt attending the initial Daytona Prototype meeting in Daytona last January and Technical Director Carl Seaberg working on design and project planning.
"I've been following the development of the regulations through direct communication with Grand American officials, so the basic concept of the C4 is pretty well advance," said Seaberg. "Right now I'm finishing up the design of the wind tunnel model chassis and completing layout drawings for the Grand American technical staff to review. We are also actively pursuing engine installation information from several engine manufacturers."
Additional information about the Carbir C4 can be obtained from Brian Utt at 262-377-2850 or by emailing carbir@execpc.com.
FunTech Introduces FT-2 Daytona Prototype Coupe
Orlando-based Fundamental Technology Systems introduced the FunTech FT-2 Daytona Prototype. The FT-2 has been designed using engineering tools that until now were used only at aerospace defense corporations in the design of high performance air vehicles. In designing the FT-2, FunTech used the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD), stress analysis, and mechanical design engineering tools to design a world-class performance race car.
FunTech reports its goal for the FT-2 is to produce a low-cost, reliable performer that will finish up front. Its design is based on 60 years of combined engineering experience in vehicle design, performance prediction and validation.
FunTech has committed to filling all orders received by June 1 by the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Additional information about the FunTech FT-2 can be obtained from Rob DeBardeleben at 407-292-6709 or by emailing rdebar@funtechnsystems.com. Specifications for the FT-2 are available online at www.funtechsystems.com.
FABCAR Releases Latest Renderings
FABCAR Engineering released its latest renderings of its Daytona Prototype currently under construction. The constructor can now give fans a look at the inside components of the car, as well as the exterior bodywork designs. The progress of FABCAR's first Daytona Prototype can also be tracked on the company's website - www.fabcar-usa.com - which is regularly updated with photos of the construction.
Multimatic Busy With Prototype Parts, Design
Canadian-based Multimatic Inc. is staying busy working on several projects involving the Daytona Prototypes. As one of two specified manufacturers of the Daytona Prototypes' side pods, Multimatic is finalizing its designs and testing its side pods this week.
Multimatic is also working on chassis designs for its own Daytona Prototype. "We are progressing with our Daytona Prototype designs," Larry Holt reports. "We aren't as far along as Dave Klym (with FABCAR). I have to tip my hat to those guys at their progress. But, our target is to test our car in September, which is what I think everyone else is aiming for."
Additional information about Multimatic is available online at www.multimatic.com.
Bodywork Underway At Crawford Composites
Crawford Composites reports bodywork production has begun for the first Daytona Prototype designed by FABCAR Engineering. "We are well underway with construction," Jan Crawford noted. "And we are very pleased with how well it is going."
Crawford also said the fabricator was looking forward to assisting other Daytona Prototype constructors with their bodywork needs as additional designs are approved for construction by Grand American Road Racing.
April 23,2002 Daytona Prototypes Engine Certification Guidelines Released
Grand American Road Racing Association released guidelines and an application form for testing and certifying engines for the Daytona Prototypes class, which will debut at the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona. The form and guidelines are available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF document on the Grand American website - www.grand-am.com.
Testing and certification of engines will be conducted at Pro-Motor Engineering in Mooresville, N.C. Once an engine has been tested and certified, it will be legal and eligible for competition specifically as approved. "When we test an engine, we will specify certain components, measurements and performance criteria for that engine," Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf explained. "Engines used in competition must meet all the criteria and specifications we establish."
Teams wishing to use an approved engine with a different configuration will have an option. The first example of a single brand/model engine will be tested and certified at no charge. Teams or engine builders wishing to use the same engine with different components or specifications may resubmit that engine for approval with those different characteristics, but all submissions of an engine after the base brand/model has been approved will be charged a $3,000 testing fee.
"We don't want to close the door on any engine builder's own way of doing things. In fact, we are looking forward to having a class with a lot of different engines," Grand American Director of Competition Dave Watson added. "But at the same time, it isn't practical for us to underwrite the testing of every tuning theory that gets presented to us. Obviously, if someone has an engine they want to put in a car, they should get it to us right away so they can avoid the testing fee."
In addition to submitting the application form, companies need to schedule an appointment with Pro-Motor Engineering by calling PME President Peter Guild at (704) 664-6800.
April 17,2002 FunTech FT-2 Daytona Prototype
From our creative engineers comes an innovative design in prototype race cars.
The FunTech FT-2 has been designed using engineering tools until now used only at aerospace defense corporations in the design of high performance air vehicles. In designing the FT-2 we used the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD), stress analysis, and mechanical design engineering tools to design a world-class performance race car.
The FT-2 offers low-cost, reliable performance that will finish up front. Design is based on 60 years of combined engineering experience in vehicle design, performance prediction and validation.
Orders received by 1 June 2002 can be filled for Rolex 2003.
Wheelbase 110”
Width 78”
Overall Length 180”
Body Carbon Composite
Aerodynamics FunTech Balanced, Track-Tunable Design With Stability Margin
Weight 2000 lbs minimum with drivetrain
Front Suspension A-arm with pull-rod activated dampeners
Rear Suspension A-arm with push-rod activated dampeners
Chassis Aluminum/Aluminum honeycomb Reinforced Steel Tubing
Engine All Daytona Prototype Compatible Engines
Transmission 6-speed Sequential Transaxle, Customer Specified Type
Instrumentation FunTech RacerView (optional, for performance optimization)
Roller, less engine and transmission $238,000
April 16,2002 Franchitti Ready For Debut With Rand Racing
Marino Franchitti, winner of the 2001 British GTO Championship in his rookie year of GT racing, will be making his sports prototype debut with Rand Racing at this weekend's Grand-Am UnitedAuto 200 being run on the road course of the Phoenix International Raceway. In support of their unbeaten class wins in the 2002 Rolex Grand-Am Series, Rand Racing are entering a second SRPII Nissan Lola in the championship beginning this weekend in Phoenix. Marino will be co-driving with Sweden's Niclas Jonsson.
Last year Marino was crowned 2001 British GTO Champion driving a Porsche GT3RS; and other than two endurance classics, the Spa 24 Hours when Marino came 6th, and the Petit Le Mans, where Marino set a time quicker than his co-drivers, Ralf Kelleners and ex F1 Test Driver, Kelvin Burt, 2002 sees the start of Marino's international racing career.
Having set the fastest GT time in the official test for the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January, Marino was disappointed not to finish the race when his J3 Racing Porsche GT3RS failed in the early hours of the morning when lying 2nd in class. Undaunted Marino went on to compete one month later at the 12 Hours of Sebring this time in MSB Racing's Ferrari Modena 360 that he had been helping to develop over the winter months, but it too was to fail in the race, this time at the hands of Marino's co-driver, Ralf Kelleners, during Ralf's first stint.
However, Marino has now been given the opportunity by Rand Racing to take a big step up the sportscar ladder to the prototype category. Having completed his very first test in the Nissan Lola in Texas last week, Marino was enthused at the prospect of racing the car this weekend, "I just couldn't stop smiling on my first lap of the Speedway" said Marino, "the tyre grip is fantastic; and the braking is awesom, you can leave it so much later". Marino is hoping it will be a case of third time lucky in Phoenix this weekend.
April 16,2002 Rand Racing Phoenix Preview
Rand Racing will enter two cars in the SRPII class of the Rolex Sports Car Series, starting with the April 20 race on the 1.51-mile Phoenix International Raceway road course. Bill Rand of Plano, Tex., and Niclas Jönsson of Aliso Viejo, Calif., will drive the new No. 7 Nissan Lola. Marino Franchitti of Scotland will join them for the Phoenix race.
The rookie team has won four straight races with its No. 8 Lola, which will be driven by Terry Borcheller of Phoenix and German Ralf Kelleners this weekend. Borcheller's usual co-driver, Anthony Lazzaro of Acworth, Ga., is competing in an Indy Racing League event.
Jönsson and Franchitti spent last week with the Risi Competizione crew who prepare the Rand cars. "I think it's very important to get to know the crew because the better you know each other, the better results you're going to have," Jönsson explained. "You don't have to talk all the time - body language tells a lot, too, if you know each other well enough.
"I can't tell you how excited I am to be involved with this team," he added. "Bill Rand is a multi-talented guy, in business and behind the wheel. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona with Terry, Ralf and Anthony, and you have to have such talent to do that. Bill is also a great guy to hang out with. I think we'll have a lot of fun and a lot of success together."
Franchitti changed his fitness routine to prepare for his first race in a prototype car. "There's no power steering on the car and the corner speeds should be quicker, so it should be more physically difficult," he noted. "I've added more weight training and I've been doing a lot of exercises my brother [CART star Dario Franchitti] taught me for my neck.
"It's a totally new car to learn, a new discipline for me, so it's going to be very difficult. The learning curve is very steep. But it's a great opportunity that Bill Rand and Rand Racing have given to me, so I just want to do the best job I can for them."
Jönsson and Franchitti tested the new No. 7 Rand Racing Lola at Texas World Speedway on April 12. Jönsson has raced the bigger prototype cars, but it was Franchitti's first experience in a high-horsepower open-cockpit car.
"It's a fun car to drive," Jönsson said. "It's very smooth and it handles well. It's less power than the big cars, almost like a Formula Three car, so you have be very precise to try to use the power as much as possible. If you make small mistakes with a big-horsepower car, you can sometimes correct with the power. In this case, you have to be very precise and more careful. You have to be a bit more patient."
Franchitti was enthused about his test. "I was smiling a lot," he noted. "I went straight from a Formula Ford into a GT car into this, so I've never really driven a car with wings before. I don't think I'm using all the grip yet, but it's a lot of fun. I think it's easy to get within a second of a good [lap] time, but after that is the really difficult part. My aim is to make a progression each time I drive the car, to be able to use the full capability of the car."
Borcheller, who leads the SRPII driver standings, says racing at his home track will enable him to keep his usual routine, hopefully contributing to a strong performance.
"When I'm on the road, I try to get into my home routine as quickly as possible, whether it's my sleep pattern, training or whatever," he said. "At home, I don't have to go look for all that stuff. It's a lot less stress, I'm not searching for things. I'm in my own element."
April 15,2002 Miracle Motorsports Phoenix Preview
Buddy Rice, will accompany team owner/driver John Macaluso (Winter Haven, FL/Old Forge, NY), in the #6 Miracle Motorsports entry. The driving team of Macaluso and Rice will pilot the Ford powered Riley and Scott SRP around the 11 turn, 1.5 mile track, utilizing the oval as well as the infield road course.
Rice joined Macaluso and the Miracle Motorsports team earlier this season during the Nextel 250 weekend from Homestead, FL. The duo ran in the top three for more than half of the race, until a power steering problem occurred and forced the team back several laps, still, however, finishing a remarkable 4th place.
April 11,2002 FABCAR Becomes First Approved Daytona Prototype
GrandAm announced today that it has approved FABCAR Engineering's Daytona Prototype chassis and bodywork designs. FABCAR becomes the first Daytona Prototype constructor to have its design officially approved to contest the 2003 Rolex Sports Car Series' premier Daytona Prototypes class.
"David Klym and FABCAR have taken a lot of initiative in getting their Daytona Prototype program up and running. It was exciting to visit their shop last week and witness the transformation of this idea into reality," commented Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf.
"We have the tube portion of the first chassis finished, and you can sit in it," FABCAR owner David Klym reported. "Most of the sheet metal is done, and we are going to send it down to Crawford Composites to have the bodywork fit to it shortly.
"We are also in the process of building two other chassis. We hope to test late this summer, but a lot depends on the bodywork. That is a major part of the process."
Klym was the first designer to announce his intentions to design a Daytona Prototype and says he has been overwhelmed with response to the program. "I started FABCAR in 1977, and we have been involved in a lot of startups like this one. But, I have never had such a tremendous response about something. We have had calls from all over. I had three from Canada last week with different teams wanting information. It seems like it is the right time for this kind of racing," he remarked.
April 11,2002 Carbir C4 Daytona Prototype
Carbir Race Cars released images and specifications today for the new Carbir C4 Daytona Prototype as company president Brian Utt announced that the Wisconsin-based manufacturer is moving forward with the project.
“Carl Seaberg and I came out of the meeting (Grand Am Daytona Prototype summit meeting held last week in Indianapolis) in enthusiastic agreement to give the C4 the green light,” said Utt. “After listening to what Roger Edmondson, Mark Raffauf, and Dave Watson had to say, we are confident that Grand Am’s vision and long term commitment to the Daytona Prototype program will create a strong demand for the Carbir C4.”
Carbir has been at the forefront of the new class since it’s inception, with Utt attending the initial Daytona Prototype meeting at Daytona in January and Technical Director Carl Seaberg working on design and project planning.
“I’ve been following the development of the regulations through direct communications with Grand Am officials, so the basic concept of the C4 is pretty well advanced,” said Seaberg. “Right now I’m finishing up the design of the wind tunnel model chassis and completing layout drawings for the Grand Am technical staff to review. We are also actively pursuing engine installation information from several approved engine manufacturers.”
For more information, please contact Brian Utt, 262-377-2850, email carbir@execpc.com
April 11,2002 Final Daytona Prototype Rules Released
Grand Am released the final edition of the rules for the Daytona Prototypes, the premier class in the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2003. The final modifications and additions came following the Daytona Prototypes Summit Meeting held in Indianapolis last week.
"We had a very successful meeting with manufacturers and builders last week that allowed us to address the remaining open issues. We were able to solidify the difference between theoretical and practical," Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf said. "We have now fine tuned the rules to make it easier to design and build car."
The updated rules now incorporate several appendices for listing approved equipment. Appendix A is the Engine Eligibility and Approval List. Appendix B is the Approved Component List, which lists authorized suppliers for transaxles/gearboxes and for side pod structures. Appendix C is the Approved Chassis and Bodywork Constructors. These lists will be updated as new equipment/suppliers/constructors get approved. When the rulebook takes its final printed form at the beginning of the year, the Appendices will be printed separately from the main rule book.
Click Here for rules.
April 10,2002 Grand Am GT Class Adjustments
Porsche GT3R / RS Section:
Headers and Exhaust System are free, except must maintain a maximum sound level of 110 dba.
Unibody and Roll Bars: Stock, except 2000 and 2001 cars are allowed to add additional bars (welded and/or bolt in) and the unibody seams may be rewelded.
Clutch and Flywheel: Any steel or aluminum heavy duty for racing multiple disc type clutch with a steel flywheel, with a minimum diameter of 5.5 inches is allowed.
Wheels/Tires: Only 2002 cars may use the wide offset front wheels.
Minimum weights and air restrictors:
2000 - 2001 Cars: Minimum weight 2450 pounds and the airbox must use one of the two following options: a single 45.0mm restrictor or twin 32.0mm restrictors.
2002 Cars: Minimum weight 2450 pounds and the airbox must use one of the two following options: a single 43.1mm restrictor or twin 30.8mm restrictors.
Ferrari F360 Modena Section:
F1 style gearbox with synchronizers or Grand American approved Daytona Prototypes transaxle. Minimum weight: 2450 pounds, with twin 32.0mm restrictors.
BMW M3 V-8 Section:
Minimum weight: 2600 pounds, with twin 30mm restrictors and maximum allowed engine RPM 7000.
April 8,2002 Dyson Returning To Riley & Scott
After running a Judd-engined Crawford in California and Miami, defending champion Dyson Racing Team will return to its Ford-powered Riley & Scott for the UnitedAuto 200. Dyson Racing and Crawford Race Cars contested the #16 entry as part of a cooperative effort at the last two events. Dyson Racing reports its was pleased with the Crawford's performance and fans should not be surprised to see the #16 Crawford carrying the Thetford/Norcold livery at future events this season.
April 8,2002 Rand Racing To Debut Second Car
Rand Racing, which currently leads the SportsRacing Prototype II standings with its #8 entry, will debut its #7 Nissan-powered Lola in SRPII at the UnitedAuto 200. Team owner Bill Rand, of Houston, will co-drive the #7 Lola with Nicolas Jonsson, of Aliso Viejo, Calif., and Scotsman Marino Franchitti, younger brother of CART racer Dario Franchitti. Rand's #8 Nissan Lola has dominated the SRPII class this season, with driver Terry Borcheller leading the point standings.
April 8,2002 Buddy Rice And Miracle Motorsports Return At Phoenix
Photo Coutersy:Miracle Motorsports
Phoenix's Buddy Rice will co-drive the #6 Miracle Motorsports Ford-powered Riley & Scott on his home track in the UnitedAuto 200. Rice drove with team owner John Macaluso earlier this season at the Nextel 250, where the pair ran in the top three until falling victim to engine trouble. Rice won the 2000 Toyota Atlantic championship with five wins, 10 podiums and two poles.
April 5,2002 Indy Daytona Prototype Summit A Success
Grand American Road Racing Association President Roger Edmondson called Thursday's Daytona Prototypes Summit Meeting in Indianapolis a huge success. "It is pretty rare when you can get representatives of more than a dozen companies together in one room and find the unanimity of focus and determination we were able to achieve yesterday," he noted. "We came to that meeting to get input on the final issues that need to be resolved with the Daytona Prototypes rules, and everyone at the table offered valuable insight to help us make the final choices."
"We had some nuts and bolts technical issues to resolve like what is the exact width of this part or what is the material for that part and we got the input we need to lock those details in right now," Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf said. "More importantly, we had some fuzzier issues to deal with and, for the most part, I think we reached consensus on just about all of them."
Raffauf's next step will be to write in the final additions and modifications to the rules based on the input from the Indianapolis meeting and then submit the package for internal review at the company. "We are going to run the final rules by technical, communications and legal experts right away and we hope to have them back and ready to publish by next Tuesday (April 9)."
Attendees at Thursday's meeting included representatives from Carbir, Crawford Composites, Crawford Race Cars, Doran Enterprises, EMCO Gears, FABCAR, Ferrari/Maserati, Ford, G&W Motorsports/Picchio, Kenny Brown Performance, Multimatic, Pankl, Riley & Scott and Xtrac.
April 5,2002 Jeff Clinton Autopsy Report Released
Grand Am driver Jeff Clinton died from blunt head and neck injuries when he crashed during practice for a race last month at Homestead-Miami Speedway, an autopsy report said.
His car veered off the course as he entered Turn 1 and flipped repeatedly. His head was severed at the base of the skull, according to the report by Miami-Dade County Associate Medical Examiner Mark Shuman.
Clinton was wearing a head-and-neck restraint, which is voluntary for Grand Am drivers, but his roll bar ``broke away'' as the car rolled, said Grand Am spokesman Patrick Murphy .
Murphy said it was extremely unusual for the roll bar, which is intended to protect the driver when the car flips, to break.
April 3,2002 Daytona Prototypes Summit Meeting Set For Indy
Grand American Road Racing will host a summit meeting on the Daytona Prototypes rules at the Brickyard Crossing in Indianapolis on Thursday. The invitation-only meeting is for constructors and component suppliers that have been consulting and communicating with the sanctioning body on the new competition class set to debut in 2003.
Grand American staff headed by President Roger Edmondson, Daytona Prototypes Project Manager Mark Raffauf, Competition Director Dave Watson and consultant Don Hayward will present the current Daytona Prototypes rules and work with the invitees to finalize the last few remaining unresolved details.
Invited guests include representatives from constructors Carbir Race Cars, Crawford Composites, Doran Racing, FABCAR, Ferrari, Multimatic, Picchio and Riley & Scott. Component suppliers invited to attend include EMCO, Hewland, PANKL and XTRAC.
"We are 99 and 9/10s done with the Daytona Prototypes rules," Edmondson commented. "And the progress we have made so far has come in large part from the input of the individuals we will be meeting with on Thursday. By getting all of us in the same room at the same time, we will be able to hash out those final details."
Edmondson said that Grand American expects to post final rules on its website on Tuesday, April 9.
"Come next Tuesday, our constructors and engine suppliers will have a green flag to proceed with the construction of the Daytona Prototype cars," Watson added. "We've been assured by several of the companies that are building cars that we can expect to see cars ready for testing by October."
March 29,2002 Jackson For Second Brumos DSC
Bob Snodgrass, President & CEO of Brumos Motor Cars, Inc., announced today that Brumos Porsche will field a second car in the 2003 Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototypes class. Wayne Jackson, of Columbia, Md., will be the lead driver in Brumos' #58 Porsche-powered Daytona Prototype.
"I have watched Wayne improve as a driver through historic racing and as he branched into other forms of racing," Snodgrass remarked. "We are thrilled that he has committed to drive one of the Brumos team cars."
Jackson has previously competed in some Rolex Series events, including the 2001 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and plans on racing a portion of the 2002 season starting with the Six Hours of The Glen in June. "There are several reasons why I wanted to become involved in the new Daytona Prototypes," Jackson commented. "I expect it will be highly competitive racing, and I also applaud the safety considerations that are integral in the design of the Daytona Prototypes."
Jackson's co-driver has yet to be announced, but Snodgrass is rumored to be in negotiation with another prominent sports car specialist. J.C. France and Hurley Haywood have already been named as the drivers for Brumos' #59 Daytona Prototype. Both entries will run a Porsche 3.6 liter flat-six, normally aspirated engine in the FABCAR chassis designed and built by Dave Klym of Indianapolis, Ind.
March 28,2002 Robinson Racing Tests New Judd GV5
Engine Developments Ltd is pleased to announce that the new Judd GV5 engine has completed 2 days of running with the Robinson Racing Team at Virginia Intl Raceway.
This was the first time that the engine has run in a car, and it ran without problem. Regular drivers George Robinson and Jack Baldwin drove the car on the 26th & 27th of March and both were happy with the extra performance from the 5 Litre.
Further testing is planned before the race debut later in the year.
March 19,2002 Rand Racing Safety Mods.
Rand Racing is three-for-three in race victories, but the team isn't resting on its laurels. The new team claimed the SRPII class victory in the Rolex Sports Car Series 2001 season finale at Daytona International Speedway, and returned this year to win the class in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
But team owner Bill Rand of Plano, Tex., doesn't take victory for granted. With car preparation by the crack Risi Competizione squad, his crew continues to develop the No. 8 Rand Racing Nissan Lola driven this season by Anthony Lazzaro of Acworth, Ga., and Terry Borcheller of Phoenix.
Prior to the Homestead race, the team initiated two changes that will be implemented for this week's race at California Speedway. The suspension mounting points on the car will be reinforced and forward-facing braces will be used on the car's roll hoop. The changes are designed to contribute to both performance and driver safety.
"All of my drivers are like family to me and there is no budget when it comes to their safety," Rand said. "Our engineer, John McLoughlin, has come up with these changes to enhance the performance and overall safety of our Lolas. These changes are just a small step toward the team's goal of getting to the top step of the overall podium."
The Rolex Series race is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, on the 2.88-mile California Speedway road course in Fontana, Calif.
Rand Racing drivers are set for all four feature races at California Speedway this weekend. Lazzaro and Borcheller will compete in the Rolex Series race for Rand Racing, Lazzaro will race in the Indy Racing League with Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Borcheller will drive a Bell Motorsports Grand-Am Cup car and Rand will take the wheel of the Ferrari of Houston entry in the Ferrari Challenge. (Lazzaro's participation will depend on medical clearance, following a crash last weekend.)
"The fact that we're three races and three wins, the results speak for themselves," Borcheller said. "The team has gone above and beyond what anybody could expect. It would be nice to complement those wins with our other races, too."
Rand Racing will enter two cars in the SRPII class starting with the Rolex Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on April 20. Niclas Jönsson of Aliso Viejo, Calif., and Marino Franchitti of Scotland will drive the new No. 7 Nissan Lola. Rand will return to drive with Jönsson in June. Ralf Kelleners of Germany will drive the No. 8 Lola at Phoenix for Lazzaro, who will be competing in an Indy Racing League event in Nazareth, Pa.
March 12,2002 Picchio Announces "P2" Daytona Prototype
Picchio SpA announced today that the Picchio P2 will debut as a 2003 model to contest the Grand American Road Racing's new Daytona Prototypes division of the Rolex Sports Car Series. The car will be imported through Momentum Motorcars, the world's largest BMW and Jaguar dealer, and will be produced in a joint venture between Picchio SpA and G&W Motorsports, the East Coast distributor for Momentum Motorcars.
"With the support of Riccardo Weitz (owner of Momentum Motorcars) and Gary Schulze, our GM, I was able to bring to the USA a new manufacturer. We at Momentum feel that our association with a team like G&W will bring us a most desired championship," said Momentum representative and driver Armando Trentini, of Houston.
The new chassis will rely heavily on the development work currently being done on the #07 Momentum Motorcars BMW-powered Picchio currently competing in the Rolex Series SportsRacing Prototype II class. "It has always been a dream of mine to be closely associated with a manufacturer that has a legitimate shot at a high level championship. The new Daytona Prototypes and our involvement with Picchio will allow G&W Motorsports to be able to accomplish that dream," G&W Motorsports team owner Cole Scrogham said.
The P2 will be powered by a 5.0 BMW V8 engine and bear a striking family resemblance to the beautiful and unique SRPII car that is currently racing. The first two cars are planned for October delivery, giving the team an opportunity to properly test the them before the debut at Daytona International Speedway in January 2003.
"I am really looking forward to this project. After only two races so far this year, I have seen a lot of progress and a lot of potential in the Picchio. This is a personal goal of mine to be driving in the top prototype class, and I have the utmost confidence in the G&W Motorsports team that we will be a front running contender next year," said development and lead driver Darren Law, of Phoenix.
March 12,2002 Pro Motor Engineering To Certify Protoype Engines
Grand American Road Racing President Roger Edmondson announced today that Pro Motor Engineering in Mooresville, N.C., will work with the sanctioning body's staff to approve engines for competition in the Daytona Prototypes championship.
"When we introduced the Daytona Prototypes championship we listed engines from a variety of automobile manufacturers that we felt would fit the performance goals we had set for the new cars," Edmondson stated. "What was left for us to do was to establish the specific regulations for approved engines so we can maintain a competitive field in the series. With the help of Pro Motor Engineering's President Peter Guild and his staff, we now have the mechanism in place to evaluate and certify engines."
According to Edmondson, car builders, engine manufacturers or teams requesting approval of a particular engine will have to provide an engine to Pro Motor Engineering for testing. Guild and his staff will test each engine and determine which performance enhancements will or will not be allowed for that model. Once an engine has been tested and accepted, specification sheets will be prepared for that engine which will detail the configuration that has been approved for the engine.
"Grand American contacted me and said they wanted to establish a reliable method for testing and verifying engines," Guild added. "Our shop is equipped with the necessary equipment and experienced staff to analyze each engine's performance and to catalog the specific components and tuning options that should be allowed to deliver the right combination of performance and reliability."
Companies and individuals wishing to submit an engine for testing should contact Guild at (704) 664-6800 or pme-engines@mindspring.com for further information.
March 2,2002 Jeff Clinton Honored At Homestead
Photo Coutersy:Grand-Am
Archangel Motorsport Services drivers Jeff Tillman and Curtis Francois took two tribute parade laps in memory of their co-driver Jeff Clinton before the start of today's Indy Racing League Grand Prix of Miami. Tillman and Francois were slated to co-drive with Clinton in the #21 Budweiser/GreyEagle.com Nissan Lola in the SportsRacing Prototype II class this season.
Tillman and Francois both rode in Archangel's second Nissan Lola, which the team decaled to look like the #21 Budweiser/GreyEagle.com car that was involved in the fatal accident during Friday's practice session that took the life of Clinton. Tillman drove the Lola clockwise on the Homestead-Miami Speedway oval in a traditional memorial lap in the reverse direction of race traffic, while Francois rode in the Lola carrying a checkered flag.
During the Rolex Sports Car Series driver meeting earlier today, drivers signed the official Nextel 250 checkered flag, which will be given to Clinton's family. G&W Motorsports also provided 'In Memory of 21' decals, which the majority of the 34-car field will be displaying during today's race.
March 1,2002 Tragedy At Homestead
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Jeff Clinton was killed Friday when he crashed during practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway, team owner Mike Johnson said.
Clinton's car veered off the course as he entered Turn 1 and started flipping repeatedly. He died at the scene.
The 38-year-old driver from St. Louis was in his second season for Archangel Motorsport. He finished 54th in last month's Rolex 24 at Daytona.
"He was a great guy," Archangel team owner Mike Johnson said. "This was his fifth race with us and we've just always had a lot of fun with him.
"He made it fun for us. He always brought the right attitude, the right style, the right everything. We're really going to miss him."
EnduranceSportscar.com sends its sincere condolences out to Jeff's family and team members. These are those days in motorsports that we all fear.
Grand-Am Qualifying has been canceled due to the tragedy, so teams will lineup based on owners points tomorrow.
March 1,2002 Grand-Am Statement
The Rolex Sports Car Series held practice sessions at Homestead-Miami Speedway today for Saturday's Nextel 250. A fatality occurred during the second practice session, and track officials issued the following statement:
"Grand American Road Racing driver Jeff Clinton, age 38 from St. Louis, Mo., suffered fatal injuries in a single-car accident during Friday's practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The SportsRacing Prototype II car lost control entering turn one of the road course resulting in the fatal accident. There will be a further investigation by the Grand American Road Racing Association and Miami-Dade County officials."
Clinton was a driver in the #21 Budweiser/GreyEagle.com Nissan-powered Lola of Archangel Motorsport Services. The team officially withdrew its second entry, the #22 711.tv Nissan Lola, from the race.
Qualifying for the Nextel 250 was canceled, and the field will be gridded by points, in accordance with the Grand American Rulebook.
February 27,2002 Lally Added To G&W Picchio
G&W Motorsports held a driver audition and test session of the #07 Momentum Motorcars BMW-powered Picchio prototype sponsored by USI and the Valley Group last week. On-site at Virginia International Raceway, the team's testing time came to an abrupt end when an early morning accident on Thursday sent Andy Lally off-track in turn one. "Fortunately Lally escaped unharmed from the testing accident and the G&W crew has hastily repaired the car to make the Homestead event," commented team owner Cole Scrogham, on his way to Miami.
They are looking forward to promising results to come with the addition of standout Lally as the third driver in the Picchio lineup.
"I am thrilled to be added to the G&W driver lineup! I was very impressed with the driveability and grip that the car was able to make at VIR last week. We are still in the very early stages of development with the car and although it will be a tough battle this year the car is showing a lot of promise from the get go and I know these guys can make the most of it," responded Lally.
He will join the driving ranks of Darren Law and Armando Trentini in the SRP2 class
February 25,2002 Archangel Heads For The Tropics
Archangel is heading down to Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida, known as "Racing's Tropical Destination," to defend their 2000 and 2001 SRPII class wins at the Rolex Sports Car Series' Nextel 250. The Nextel 250, to be run on Saturday, March 3, is the second race of the 2002 Rolex Series season and also part of the 20th Anniversary of the Grand Prix of Miami.
The Archangel crew is looking forward to this end-of-winter opportunity to compete at such a beautiful track with its "tropical" weather. The team has experienced tremendous good fortune at Homestead, as evidenced by their repeat wins, and hope that their commitment and preparation will yield yet another podium visit.
Last year's Archangel #21 Nissan Lola B2K/40, with Nigel Greensall and Mike Durand behind the wheel, finished the race 1st in class and 7th overall. The 2000 class win was earned by the driving skills of Larry Oberto and Ryan Hampton. Archangel also holds the Race Average Speed Record in the SRPII class at Homestead with an average race speed of 99.073
This year's effort will have Jeff Tillman and Jeff Clinton behind the wheel of the #21 Budweiser Nissan Lola B2K/40. Tillman and Clinton distinguished themselves at the just-run Rolex 24, where they raced as high as 3rd in class and 10th overall before having their efforts dashed by a mechanical failure.
Archangel's second entry, the #22 www.711.tv / www.purezza.com sponsored Nissan Lola B2K/40 will have Florida's own Joe Safina (Ft. Lauderdale) and Justin Bell (Del Ray Beach). In 2001, Bell competed in the Trans-Am Series and captured the "Rookie of the Year" title by winning the last two races of the season and finishing 5th in points overall.
"In a sense it's very exciting to strive for a repeat win -- and the experience and knowledge we gained with previous wins will hopefully add to our potential to win again," says team owner Mike Johnson. "But, as a team, we don't assume that our previous wins give us any advantage at all over our worthy competitors. We will approach each race with the attitude that this is a new race, with very strong competition, and we must strive for a fresh win."
February 25,2002 Grand-Am Takes on Consultant
Don Hayward, a well-known consultant in the racing industry, has agreed to work with Grand American Road Racing Association on the Daytona Prototypes championship and other projects. Hayward, 56, will be advising Grand American on engineering as well as business issues from his home base in Worthington, Ohio.
"I'm excited about working with Grand American," Hayward commented. "I think the Daytona Prototypes class they have introduced is right on target for where the sport should be going and I hope to offer my experience and knowledge to help it get established."
His background is impressive from an engineering as well as management background. A former executive with Ford Motor Company, Hayward has been involved in NASCAR, Indy car, sports cars, drag racing and Trans-Am racing.
A mechanical engineer who also has done post graduate work in business administration, he has extensive experience in aerodynamics and chassis development. Hayward also was instrumental in the design of the Turbo Ford DOHC Indy engine that earned the company four Indianapolis 500 victories.
"Don Hayward is a special person who brings a lot to the Grand American team working on the Daytona Prototypes and other projects, "Grand American President Roger Edmondson noted. "His mix of technical and management experience is ideal for the needs we face right now in bringing this series along. Don is as at home talking with the CEO of a company as he is with a race team's mechanics. That broad familiarity with the sport is going to be a prime asset."
Prior to reaching this agreement with Grand American, Hayward had recently completed a consultation project with CART's Team Rahal.
February 25,2002 Justin Bell In Archangel Lola
What may be called a home field advantage, 1998 Le Mans GT2 class winner Justin Bell and Joseph Safina are paired to enter the Nextel 250 Grand-Am race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Saturday, March 2. Both drivers are South Florida residents. They will pilot the #22 711.Tv Lola Nissan SRPII car fielded by Archangel Motorsports. Safina hopes to duplicate his 2001 Ferrari 360 Challenge win at Homestead. For Justin, it's a welcome opportunity to revisit his endurance racing roots.
"I'm excited about returning to endurance racing," said Bell. "I really do love it. I'm looking forward to getting quality seat time in a competitive car early in the season. To win in the sprint format of Trans-Am, it is not too far apart from winning in endurance racing. As it is now, you have to be able to drive all out in both forms of racing, yet still be disciplined to manage the tires and equipment."
Bell's co-driver will be Joseph Safina, a ten-year veteran of professional racing. His extensive professional racing record includes three finishes in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, as well as several podiums and top-ten finishes. Safina is a South Florida resident and investment banker. Both Bell and Safina plan to compete in Grand-Am racing as preparation to contest Le Mans in a front-running prototype.
Safina Racing, Ltd. welcomes a new key marketing partner, 711.Tv. The international debit card service company considers sports car racing a perfect fit for their marketing program.
"711.Tv is scheduled to go public in London before the summer and we are excited about the relationship with Justin Bell and Joseph Safina," stated 711.Tv Chairman, Leem Hutchinson. "We hope to sponsor more events in the future. Sports car marketing is a great way to market our services on an international bases."
February 21,2002 Miracle Motorsports Heads For Homestead
Gearing up for Round 2 of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, Miracle Motorsports proudly announces 2000 Toyota Atlantic Champion, Buddy Rice (Phoenix, AZ), will co-pilot the #6 Miracle Motorsports Ford SRP with Team Owner/Driver, John Macaluso (Winter Haven, FL).
Rice joined forces with Miracle Motorsports at the January test days in Daytona, bringing with him a great deal of experience and talent. "Buddy is a proven winner, and we are excited about the possibilities he brings to the team," states Macaluso. "We have a great deal of confidence in his ability, and are expecting many good things to happen during the Nextel 250 weekend. We are pleased that his first competition in an SRP entry will be with the #6 Miracle Motorsports Team."
Macaluso, a part-time resident of Old Forge, NY, is campaigning in his second full-time season as Team Owner/Driver in the #6 Ford Riley and Scott entry. Miracle Auto Dealerships, also owned and operated by Macaluso, is the primary sponsor of Miracle Motorsports.
February 19,2002 Dyson Crawford Confirmed For Homestead
Two-time Rolex Series champion Dyson Racing Team has entered a Judd-powered Crawford into the Nextel 250 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, March 2. The Crawford is the same one ran by Crawford Racing at the Rolex 24 At Daytona earlier this month. For the Nextel 250, the car will wear the #16 and Goodyear/Bosch/Thetford/Norcold sponsorship and be piloted by champion driver James Weaver and rookie Chris Dyson.
However, it will be chassis-creator Max Crawford and his crew preparing and running the car for Dyson Racing during the weekend. Dyson crew chief Pat Smith and his staff will remain back in New York to continue rebuilding the team's pair of Riley & Scott Mk IIIs. "The Crawford is one of the best cars out there right now, and its good that James will be able to get some more in-depth experience in the Crawford during the Homestead race," Smith commented.
Although the cooperative racing effort between the two teams is currently for only one race, neither team has dismissed the idea of additional joint projects in the future.
Dyson Press Release
Thetford / Norcold Dyson Racing's James Weaver and Chris Dyson will be sharing driving duties in Max Crawford's Crawford SSC2K in the upcoming Nextel 250 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Anglo-American pair's #16 car has been entered under the Dyson Racing banner and will race in Thetford / Norcold / Goodyear livery. Its progress will be monitored by Max Crawford, whose past successes working with Dyson Racing include engineering the team's race-winning cars at the 1997 and 1999 24 Hours of Daytona.
Weaver, the reigning Grand-Am champion and defending champion of the Nextel 250, was happy with the team's decision to send him to Homestead. "I think it's a great opportunity to evaluate Max's car. We tested it a little at Sebring and Daytona, and he was very responsive to our input. We're looking forward to working with him."
Chris Dyson, fresh off his debut in the Rolex 24 Hours, also expressed enthusiasm for the weekend. "I'm really looking forward to driving Max's car with James. Max is a great friend and it will be interesting to see the difference between our Riley and Scott mk3 Ford and the Crawford-Judd. It's a great opportunity."
The Crawford SSC2K made its racing debut in last year's Daytona 24 Hours. Max Crawford and designer Andy Sciven have since revamped the car's aerodynamics and replaced its Gemini transmission with an X-Trac unit. The car qualified third and set the race's fastest lap in February's Daytona 24 Hours.
"James is just terrific with feedback," Max Crawford said this past weekend. "He's so analytical, it's great to have him in my car."
Dyson Team Manager Pat Smith said that "we had the feeling that the Crawford was the best car at Daytona. It will be interesting to see how well James does down there."
While the car will be campaigned by a group from Crawford's Concord, NC race shop, the rest of the Dyson crew will be busy readying the team's two Riley and Scott mk3s for their assault on the Sebring 12 Hours.
February 19,2002 Daytona Prototypes Transition Defined
Grand American Road Racing Association announced today how the transition will go from this year's current SportsRacing Prototype and SportsRacing Prototype II classes to the new Daytona Prototypes championship formula that will begin in the 2003 season.
The current SportsRacing Prototype chassis will be allowed to run for the Daytona Prototypes championship in 2003 using the same rules as the coupes regarding minimum weight, wheel and tire size and engine type and displacement. At the conclusion of the 2003 season, the SRP cars will no longer be approved for competition.
The current SportsRacing Prototype II class will continue as is for at least the next three seasons. Renamed Daytona Prototypes Roadster II (DPRII) beginning in 2003, the class will continue to run as a separate championship at least through the 2004 season. The class will be continued in future seasons if the level of entries is sufficient to support the class.
'The Daytona Prototypes coupes are the featured cars of the Rolex Sports Car Series beginning in 2003,' Grand American President Roger Edmondson stated. 'We are totally committed to that transition and it will occur as scheduled. At the same time we feel an obligation to the SRP owners to give them another year of use with their current chassis, if that is the direction they choose.
'Regarding the SRPII teams, we want to make it very clear that our commitment to that separate championship has not wavered,' he added. 'We are seeing new teams joining the Rolex Series this year and we want to encourage further growth there. This class is a great way to get involved in prototype racing and can be a stepping stone to the major Daytona Prototypes championship.'
February 15,2002 Park Place Racing Announces Grand-Am Campaign
Park Place Racing announced today that they will contest the majority of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series 2002 Season in the #5 Park Place Limited/TransGroup/Gatorz Saleen S7R. The team also renewed their membership in Grand-Am’s Team Owner’s Points (TOP) program, an incentive program for team loyalty to the series.
Park Place Racing will also be making a run for the GTS championship in the American Le Mans series this season. Park Place lead driver, Chris Bingham is looking forward to contesting both series in the Saleen S7R.
"We will concentrate more on the ALMS championship, since we have already won a championship in Grand-Am, but we are going to run as hard as we can in both series," Bingham said. "I would love to win two GTS championships in the different series in consecutive years. It would be great to win the manufacturer’s championship for Saleen in Grand-Am as well."
Bingham will contest the ALMS series with former Toyota Atlantic driver Peter MacLeod and veteran sports car driver Vic Rice. As of now, the Park Place Racing team is still seeking a second driver for their Grand-Am effort.
In addition to two new drivers, Rod Everett joins the team as the team manager and engineer. Everett and Bingham built a working relationship when Bingham ran in Everett’s Hybrid Racing Riley and Scott in 1999 and 2000.
Familiar faces on the team will be crew chief Curt Ormiston and the entire championship-winning Park Place crew.
Due to Bingham’s 24 Hours of Le Mans schedule, there are two conflicting race dates in the United States in June. With help from Saleen, the Park Place team will try to resolve the scheduling problems to stay in the championship hunt in both ALMS and Grand-Am.
Bingham and Park Place’s 2002 race season begins with the Grand-Am race at Homestead on March 2. From there, the team will travel to Sebring to compete in the 50th Anniversary of the 12-Hours of Sebring on March 16. In addition to Bingham’s busy sports car schedule, he is in negotiations to run the majority of the new Infiniti Pro Series and possibly select IRL races.
February 14,2002 Riley & Scott DSC Revealed
Riley & Scott revealed today their version of the new Daytona Sportscar named the Mk XI. The Mk XI will build on the company’s engineering expertise in constructing steel tube / aluminum reinforced chassis with excellent mechanical grip and an outstanding aerodynamic package. Any class-eligible motor can be fitted, along with a proven Xtrac gearbox and the "Riley Rocker" split spring/damper system.
"The level of interest in the new class expressed to us immediately after the Rolex 24 was surprising", R&S vice-president Bill Riley said. " Bob Riley had already been working on the design. We’ve been able to develop the new car with many elements from the Mk III"
The car, which is expected to cost $375,000 as a roller, is expected to be ready for delivery in the Fall of 2002 and should be ready for the 2003 Rolex event.
Type Mk XI
Constructor Riley & Scott Racing LLC
Class GARRA Daytona Prototype
Chassis Hybrid Steel-Aluminum
Weight 2000 lbs (engine dependent)
Overall Length 178 inches
Height 42 inches
Width 78.5 inches
Wheelbase 110 inches
Front OH 34 inches
Rear OH 34 inches
Fuel Capacity 24 US Gallons
Steering Jack Knight Rack and Pinion (standard)
Electric Power (optional)
Gearbox X-trac six speed sequential
Suspension Twin wishbones and pushrods F and R; “Riley Rocker” split spring/damper
Brakes Alcon Calipers/Steel Rotors
Price $375,000 complete FOB Indianapolis Minus engine, data and fuel mgt systems
February 12,2002 Auberlen and Wagner In Washington Ferrari for Season
Scuderia Ferrari of Washington today announced that young American road racing stars Bill Auberlen and Cort Wagner have been signed to drive a Ferrari 360 GT in the 2002 Rolex Grand American series.
" I have driven a lot of GT cars but this Ferrari 360 GT has the best brakes and balance of any I have ever driven", said Wagner. "It is a delight to drive hard, lap after lap. It's extremely predictable, and I can't wait to get back in it. It's an honor to be again be associated with this incredible marque".
Auberlen added, "The Ferrari is an absolute blast to drive! The brakes and handling are first class, and I love the F-1 style shifting. Ferrari of Washington has prepared a great car, and I think Cort and I are going to win some races this year."
The first Grand American race for the Scuderia Ferrari of Washington was the 2002 Rolex 24 at Daytona. With Auberlen and Wagner joined by 1990 Daytona 500 Winner Derrike Cope and 1999 Italian Touring Car Champion Costantino Bertuzzi, their Ferrari 360 GT was consistently one of the fastest cars in the GT class, although slowed to a 14th in class finish by a failed tire and transmission problems. Scuderia Ferrari of Washington is a former Dealer Champion in the Ferrari Challenge series.
February 12,2002 Rand Racing To Field Second Car
Fresh from a class victory and an overall podium finish in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Rand Racing is stepping up its 2002 program. The team will field two cars in the SportsRacing Prototype II (SRPII) class of the Rolex Sports Car Series sanctioned by the Grand American Road Racing Association, and it will enter selected races in the Le Mans Prototype 675 (LMP675) class of the American Le Mans Series.
Niclas Jönsson of Sweden will join the team as co-driver with team owner Bill Rand of Plano, Tex., in the No. 7 Nissan-powered Rand Racing Lola. Anthony Lazzaro of Acworth, Ga., and Terry Borcheller of Phoenix will continue in the No. 8 Lola, and German Ralf Kelleners will drive in selected races. Both cars will be prepared by Risi Competizione.
The new Rand Racing team is 2-for-2 in sports-car racing starts to date, having won the SRPII class in both the Rolex Series 2001 finale and the 2002 season-opener, the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.
"Nic will be a great addition to our team," Rand said. "He is a good person and a championship-caliber driver. Adding him to our second car, together with our drivers we had at Daytona, makes Rand Racing and Risi the most formidable SRPII team to compete yet. How can you argue with names like Lazzaro, Borcheller, Kelleners and now Jönsson?"
Jönsson will get some seat time during practice for the March 2 Rolex Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He will make his first start with the team at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on March 23.
"I'm delighted to be offered the opportunity to race in such a professional and competitive program with Rand Racing and Risi Competizione," he said. "This is definitely one of the most up-and-coming teams. I don't think I could have asked for anything better. It's going to be a blast to race with Bill Rand, Anthony Lazzaro, Terry Borcheller and Ralf Kelleners, who are some of the best drivers in the business. I'm really looking forward to the season."
Jönsson has raced and tested prototype sports cars since 1992, in addition to his career in open-wheel Formula and Indy cars. He said he enjoyed driving a Grand Touring (GT) car for the past two seasons, but he's ready to get back behind the wheel of a prototype car.
"Everybody in racing wants to drive the big cars and my background is in open cars, so I'm excited to be back in a prototype again," he said. "That's where the toughest, closest and most competitive racing is today."
Rand welcomes the challenge. "I have very high goals for this team," he explained. "Our first two races are just the beginning. We will go after a driver championship along with a team championship. Those are two very difficult things to accomplish, but if we continue to work together as a team, I believe they are both obtainable."
February 11,2002 Perspective Mosler Daytona Recap
The brand-new Perspective Mosler MT 900R finished the Rolex 24 at Daytona in an excellent fifth place in the GT class, thirteenth overall. Drivers Thierry Perrier, Michel Neugarten and Joao Barbosa were all delighted with the result, obtained after twenty-four hours of careful driving and hard work.
After an extremely successful season in 2001, finishing third in the GT class in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa, as well as a fifth-place finish, with one win, in the FIA GT Championship, French-based team Perspective Racing have exchanged their Porsche 996 GT3-R for a Mosler MT900R, which they plan to enter in various rounds of the Grand Am Sports Car Series.
Perspective's main aim behind this participation is to develop the car, working on its reliability and competitiveness, while preparing the Mosler MT 900R for homologation and import into Europe. "And there is no better way to develop the car than through real competition," Thierry Perrier explained.
After encountering a number of problems during the Daytona test days in early January, which meant changing from power to direct steering, and a complete rethink on the oil system, part of the team remained in Florida to totally dismantle and rebuild the car.
On the Monday before the race, the team met up at Moroso, a small circuit close to Jupiter, Florida, for a day of testing. It was a great relief to everyone when the Mosler ran smoothly. Moving on to Daytona, Barbosa set the car up during the practice sessions, and proceeded to claim the GT pole position during the first fifteen-minute qualifying sessiAfter night practice sessions and a further warm-up, the team used the available time to put the finishing touches on the Mosler, before the start of the race on Saturday, at 1 pm.
Joao took the start, with Michel Neugarten taking over for the second stint, and Thierry Perrier the third. The team soon realized that the car could only manage stints of approximately one hour, due to poor aspiration and over-compact mousse in the reservoirs, which the team will work on before the next race. The driver changeovers were also relatively slow, due to difficulties adjusting the seat belts. A number of other minor problems lost them time, such as a worn suspension support ring, which was causing a lot of vibration, a lengthy stop to change the brake pads mid-race, and a very necessary stop to clean the air filter, which was losing them between four and five seconds per lap. Unfortunately, they were unable to take advantage of any yellow flag periods for these repairs, as they always fell at the wrong moment for Perspective!
Despite these teething troubles, quite normal in a new car, the car ran well, being placed in the top six for their class for much of the race, and finally crossing the finish line in fifth place.
"For a first participation, I think it is quite fantastic that we did not encounter any serious problems," Thierry Perrier said afterwards. "We are extremely proud of the whole team and the hard work they have put in. The drivers were told to keep a certain rhythm, without pushing, and to be extremely careful to avoid any contact. And, despite the heavy traffic, we managed to do this, unlike many of the other cars in our class. We are very pleased with fifth place, especially for our first attempt, and we are looking forward to the rest of the Grand Am Sports Car Series."
February 10,2002 Werner Lupberger Rolex 24 at Daytona Recap
It's always good to get a mega start to the season and despite the ultimate disappointment of retiring when it was looking good for at least a podium position at Daytona last weekend, the whole Ascari team are well pumped up for mixing it with the big boys this year. Having said that, we believe that we will establish ourselves as 'big boys' over the coming year when we tackle Miami, Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans among others. Like I have said before, Klaas (Zwart) has amazing plans for Ascari Cars as a whole and it is a great experience being at the sharp end of it all.
At the end of last season I went back home to South Africa to catch up with the folks and get away from a foggy and cold Northamptonshire for a while. Unfortunately, Theresa my wife had a fairly heavy 'shunt' while water skiing and was in hospital for a while and I had to be Dr Lupberger for a few weeks! Thankfully she has recovered just fine now.
We then went to Sebring in early December with both the Judd and BMW KZR-1's. It was the first time that I had been to the track, that we will race on in March and I have to say that it has more than lived up to what people have told me and what I expected myself. It is a well-known fact that the track is very abrasive but it is nothing too extreme. I think that Mondello Park last summer was harder on the car, particularly in the driveshaft department, but Sebring, with all the 50th anniversary celebrations should be quite something.
Klaas, our new signing TJ Bell and myself drove both cars at the test in Florida and apart from a minor test at Snetterton last August it was the first real run I had done in the turbo car. It took a little getting used to as compared to the Judd car you almost short shift as it only revs to 7,500 compared to the 11/12,000 of the atmo. I could even hear the tyres squealing because it was so quiet in the cockpit, which was a very strange experience. It was a fruitful test and we got the turbo car down from being 3 seconds behind the Judd to just 1.5. TJ was very impressive and did exactly what was expected of him, which was to not go out and prove himself and to just gel with the team and get used to his new surroundings.
After the test I headed back home (sunny South Africa as opposed to frosty Northamptonshire again) for Christmas and then flew back out to the Daytona tests on January 2nd. Frustratingly we didn't manage to get out for the first day with the Judd car but part way through the second we hit the track and I set about learning the infield. It didn't take long and on the third day everything came together despite a small clutch problem and I ended up with the quickest time of the day. It was quite funny because at the beginning of the day Klaas was a little despondent and not sure that we were going to be right up there, but I could feel the potential and just said; "Klaas, we're going to be bang on the pace here, don't worry we'll be on pole." That seemed to cheer him up a bit and the whole team left the test in a positive frame of mind.
I stayed on with some of the team during January just to help out with things and be with the boys as we had a workshop base at Orlando, right next to the airport. We managed to take a break one-day to Universal studios but apart from that it was a case of preparing physically and mentally for the 24 hours.
Free practice was again hindered a little by a clutch problem but we just concentrated on getting all the procedures correct like driver changes and pit procedures. Harri (Toivonen) had a brief shakedown on the short circuit at Sebring as he had just recovered from a shoulder operation and wanted to play himself in again as it was the first time he had driven the car since Le Mans.
Qualifying was fantastic, apart from one crucial aspect. I had no communication with the team at all as the radio was out and also the dash was not functioning so I could not see what times I was doing. There is also no way that you can see a pit board out on the banking so I was totally incognito! So, I just got a rhythm going and put some laps together not really knowing how I was doing which is so frustrating and slightly disorientating. I was cooling the tyres down in-between spurts but the confusion over communication was compounded by the fact that the circuit timing got wiped out in the last few minutes, so when I came in to the pits at the end everyone was convinced that I was on pole. I even went to the Press Conference believing I was the pole sitter until Didier Theys walked in. He had gone one-tenth quicker right at the death. Gutted!
But it was still the front row and I had a very good feeling for the race, as the car was the best I had ever driven it during that qualifying session. We decided to opt for the harder tyres for the race, knowing that we could triple stint on them. The start went well and I tailed Theys in the Dallara for the first hour or so and could see that he was taking some big chances amongst the traffic. We were all running pretty quickly in the early stages, near qualifying pace in fact. My engineer, Roger Griffiths was giving me some 'stick' over the radio and telling me to back off a little. Our strategy was to obviously finish the race but throughout qualifying and in the early stages the car felt fantastic and it was all pretty full-on with guys like Theys, Lammers and Guy Smith out there at more or less qualifying pace.
At the stops, the team were taking good care of the car, checking the brake ducts for rubber build-up and making sure that all was perfect for the next stint. As a result we lost probably quite a bit of time to the leading cars and I think we were in 4th place after five or six hours. My second time in the car was a triple-stint and I was really enjoying it and everything was looking good. Later on I looked at the telemetry and there was not one over-rev or missed shift, which is pretty impressive for that amount of running. It was looking very good indeed. However, you can never tell in a race of that magnitude and sure enough we had a major problem when TJ went off at Turn One. He actually went in to the tyres very hard and tweaked his back which needed some intensive physio work later on. It was sad for him as he otherwise did a great job and should develop in to a solid sportscar driver.
The guys did a brilliant job on the repairs but as a result of the 'off' some rubber and debris had got in to the gearbox and caused a sticking downshift but that was soon sorted too. After a while we were back on track but down in 9th or 10th position.
During the night, Peter Weston, who has recently joined the team from Lola switched from engineering the retired turbo car on to ours and I really enjoyed working with him. He has fitted in to the team brilliantly and is a pretty slick operator, I am sure that he is going to be an integral part of Ascari over this coming season.
Just as we had got it all back together, Harri reported some engine problems and pulled in to the pit apron. The Judd engineers were huddled over the car with their bore scopes trying to diagnose what the problem was. I hopped back in to the car and went out for a lap to listen to the engine and in my mind I was hoping that it would just be a minor electrical fault or something. Sadly, it wasn't and there were some bent valves so it was game over. All of a sudden there was a flashback to Le Mans last year, as it was roughly the same time that we went out there too. It's a funny mixture of emotions, mainly despair tinged with a sort of tribal pride with all the mechanics and engineers shaking hands after so much hard and satisfying work. It was the furthest the car had ever done and we were in the hunt for a podium place at least. Boy, these races are real heartbreakers.
While we learn from each and every time the car is on track, we never look back too much and now everyone is focused on Sebring in March. That is going to be tremendous as it will be Ascari's first time there, as well as mine, but at least I now have some experience of the track. It's going to be really physical there but that will suite me just fine. We will have two Judd cars there for that and it will also see us racing with the Audi's too. That is a massive incentive for any driver as anything other than an Audi is viewed as a David to their Goliath. I love competing against the best and with racers like Kristensen, Herbert, Lehto, Brabham and others there, it will be another level that I can find out about. Having raced against guys like Lammers, Nielsen, Baldi and Boullion over the last 18 months I have learnt so much about sportscar racing.
Having done that, it is now time to go out there to beat them. At Daytona I showed that I can take it to some of those guys and now I have every intention of doing the very same thing at Sebring next month.
February 8,2002 Gunnar Readying Lola-Porsche for Homestead
Gunnar Racing are preparing their Lola B2K40-Porsche for the 2nd round of Grand-Am at Homestead March 1-3.
This same car was scheduled to run at Sebring last year but ran into problems with the ACO. The car was previously homologated with the standard Nissan powerplant. Changes needed to be made
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