MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
February 13,2003 Team PTG Returns to Competition :
Tom Milner, president of Prototype Technology Group, today announced that BMW Team PTG, following a year's absence, will return to sports-car competition in the 2003 SPEED World Challenge Championship Series.
BMW Team PTG will field two BMW M3 coupes in the GT Class of this series for production-based race cars, which features 50-minute sprint races and a weight-equalization system based on each competitor's finishing position in each race. This will be BMW Team PTG's first entry into the series.
"The entire BMW Team PTG is, of course, excited to be back in competition with the BMW M3 after sitting out a season of racing," said Milner. "It's also a new challenge for us to compete in a series with unique regulations. You really lay it all on the line in 50 minutes. Instead of a marathon, it's like the 100 meters. But, if you're the fastest man in the world at 100 meters and you win the race, at the next event you'll be given a backpack with 10 pounds in it and we'll see if you're still the fastest."
The SPEED World Challenge rules provide a 40-pound weight addition for a win, down to zero pounds for a fourth-place finish. The fifth-place finisher may remove five pounds for the next event. A 12th-place finish in the next race will allow the 40 pounds to be removed for the following event.
Driving the M3s for BMW Team PTG will be Bill Auberlen, 34, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., and Boris Said, 40, of Carlsbad, Calif. Auberlen has driven for Team PTG in GT sports-car competition since 1996, and Said since 1995, when the team first entered sports-car racing with the BMW M3.
Auberlen is the 1997 SportsCar GT-3 driver's champion and the 2002 Grand-Am GT-class champion. Said holds championships in several series, including his most recent, the 2002 Trans-Am championship.
"I have the highest confidence in Bill and Boris. I think their records with BMWs and other cars they've raced in other years speak for themselves," added Milner. "And they're certainly not new to this series." Said has 46 starts in World Challenge, with two wins, 10 top-three finishes, and 20 top fives. Auberlen has three starts, finishing in the top 10 in all, including one victory and two top fives.
The other challenge the team will face is competing on stock Toyo tires, as required under the series' rules. The World Challenge BMW M3 will have the same outside dimensions as a stock M3, with the tire fitting inside the production wheel well. The M3's suspension parts will be stock, but the 3.2-liter, in-line 6-cylinder engine will be modified, as it was in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series. The World Challenge M3 will be 75 percent stock, producing 420 horsepower, approximately 90 more than a production M3.
"We are excited that BMW Team PTG will be campaigning a production version of the M3 coupe," said Tom Salkowsky, Motorsports Manager for BMW of North America, LLC. "I know the entire PTG team is very excited about returning to competition. The SPEED World Challenge has been a growing race series in the U.S, where BMW teams have been competing for years in both Touring and GT. In addition, we have tremendous confidence in both Bill Auberlen and Boris Said. It will be great to see them back in M3s."
To date, the BMW M3 has won 13 SPEED World Challenge events and one GT driver's championship with Jeff McMillin in 2000. In total, BMWs, including the M3, 325is, 328is and 328Ci models, have won 33 World Challenge races in both GT and Touring since 1991. BMW is the 2001 Touring Car manufacturers' champion.
In seven years of North American sports-car racing in SportsCar and American Le Mans Series competition, the BMW M3 has scored 38 pole positions and 39 wins in 72 races, collecting 14 championships along the way.
The 2003 SPEED World Challenge Series opens on March 14, at Sebring International Raceway, in Sebring, Fla. The 50-minute race begins at 4:25 p.m. Speed Channel is scheduled to air the SPEED GT Championship race on Saturday, March 29, at 5 p.m. ET.
July 19,2002 Bathurst 24 Hour On Target:
Bathurst 24-Hour on target as teams, television and ticketing announced.
Australia's first major 24-hour motor race is on schedule for 16-17 November this year at Bathurst's Mount Panorama circuit, with the announcement in Sydney today of television and ticketing arrangements and several prospective entries.
Tickets will go on sale next Monday for the race, which will be telecast around Australia on the Seven Network.
Agreements to show the race on Australian pay television and in Britain, Europe, Asia and New Zealand also are in the pipeline.
The starting grid for the Bathurst 24-Hour will be able to take up to 83 sports and touring cars - and already 12 overseas teams have expressed strong interest in running against some of Australia's top outfits.
One of the first to advise an intended entry is United Kingdom-based Australian driver VJ Angelo, who is visiting home this week to further arrangements for his team to race a BMW M Coupe in the outright class.
Mr Angelo, 36, raced the 380-horsepower BMW at last month's Nurburgring 24-hour in Germany and will test it at England's Snetterton track later this week before shipping it to Australia in September.
Organiser PROCAR Australia said it had finalised agreements with the Bathurst City Council, the Seven Network and International Management Group, which will provide ticketing, sales operational and other services for the race.
PROCAR Australia Chairman Ross Palmer said he expected an influx of entries after today's announcements.
"Since we first announced the Bathurst 24-Hour race in March, interest has been intense from all quarters because this will be one of the world's great motorsport challenges," he said.
"Until now, there has been only one chance a year to race at Australia's most famous track, but the 24-Hour opens the door for many drivers who otherwise would never get the chance.
"Mount Panorama is legendary for its high top speeds, its enthralling climb and descent, its atmosphere, its history and even its changeable weather and any driver with a gram of emotion yearns for a crack at it.
"Well, the Bathurst 24-Hour will require up to 300 such drivers with international-class licences. The challenge to win will almost be secondary to that of just making it around the clock."
Mr Palmer said the Seven Network was committed to providing at least four hours' live national coverage, including overnight updates, between the race start at 4pm on Saturday 16 November and the finish at 4 pm on Sunday.
"We're extremely pleased to welcome Seven as host television broadcaster at Bathurst," he continued.
"We look forward to superb coverage from the Seven team, which built a great reputation on its pioneering live Bathurst broadcasts and in more recent times distinguished itself with its coverage of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games - and as it no doubt will again with the forthcoming Manchester Commonwealth Games.
"Seven will underpin an extensive international telecast. We are in active negotiations with broadcasters throughout the world to take live and delayed television packages."
Bathurst City Council, which owns the Mount Panorama facility and the public roads that will become the 6.2 kilometre circuit for four days from 14 November, will erect special lighting for the race.
International Management Group, whose Gold Coast-based motorsport division runs the Honda Indy 300, Bathurst 1000 and several other major events in Australia and New Zealand, has contracted to supply ticketing and accreditation, major sponsorship, signage and hospitality sales.
It also will enlist and manage up to 1000 officials and volunteers, along with other operational responsibilities.
Drivers - minimum 3, maximum 4. Minimum licence requirements will be International Grade C.
The race permit will be international, issued by the FIA and administered by under the terms and conditions of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport.
July 10,2002 Eligibility List Announced for Bathurst 24 Hour:
Cars competing in Britain, Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Australia will be eligible for the inaugural Bathurst 24-hour race next November.
The field of up to 83 sports and touring cars will be divided into 10 groups representing current international and domestic racing classes, event organiser PROCAR Australia has announced.
Outright contenders for the 16-17 November race will compete in Group One, which includes sports cars such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and Vipers from the FIA Grand Touring (N-GT), British GTO, All Japan GT and Lamborghini Trophy series and the Australian Nations Cup Championship.
At the other end of the spectrum, Group Nine includes popular showroom models from the Australian GT Production Car Championship. Group Ten is for invited entries and may include performance sedans that achieve high environmental standards.
Detailed regulations currently are being finalised and will be released soon to potential entrants.
The Bathurst 24-hour on the famous Mount Panorama circuit will be Australia's first major international round-the-clock race, joining similar events at Le Mans (France), Nurburgring (Germany), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and Daytona (Florida).
Up to 20 teams at the Nurburgring 24-hour last month expressed strong interest in competing at Bathurst.
Eligible cars will comply with technical regulations for the following series or categories -
Group One - FIA Grand Touring (N-GT), British GTO, All Japan GT (Group Two), Australian Nations Cup Championship (Group One, including Lamborghini Trophy).
Group Two - Porsche Super Cup (2002).
Group Three - Australian Nations Cup (Group Two).
Group Four - FIA Super 2000 touring cars (2002).
Group Five - Australian GT Performance Championship touring cars (2002 and 2003 specification).
Group Six - FIA Group N touring cars (3001 c.c. and over).
Group Seven - FIA Group N touring cars (2500 c.c. to 3000 c.c.).
Group Eight - FIA Super Production and New Zealand Schedule S touring cars (weight adjusted).
Group Nine - Australian GT Production Car Championship touring cars (V8 Touring, 6-Cylinder Touring, Sports Touring).
Group Ten - Cars invited by PROCAR Australia.
July 3,2002 Kremer Porsche Nurburgring Historics:
At the fourth round of the new Group C Racing Series, Porsche Kremer Racing will run with the Porsche 962 CK6 and with the Porsche K8 Spyder on 9th till 11th August 2002.
The driver for the Porsche 962 CK6 will be no less a person than Ralf Kelleners from Dues-seldorf/Germany, who raced several times for Porsche Kremer Racing during the last years. Kelleners has won the race at Kyalami for Kremer at the FIA Sportscar Championship in 2000.
During the last years AvD Old Timer Grand Prix the Cologne based Team had bad luck. Due to engine trouble the team was forced to stop.
Now after the rebuild of the engines the whole team is glad to see both cars again at the track. Also the organizers Brian and Roger Bailey of Group C Racing from England are pleased that the Cologne based team starts again with the former Le Mans Porsches. Fur-thermore there will also await 30 till 35 cars of the former Group C.
Along with these both cars Porsche Kremer Racing will have a stand for the fans and show further old timers.
Porsche Kremer Racing would like to invite all friends and fans to visit us at the Nürburgring. A trip would be worth in the Eifel to the 30th AvD Old Timer Grand Prix, which will be an ex-perience for everybody.
April 30,2002 Statement from Porsche Motorsports on Akin:
Fred Schwab, president of Porsche Cars North America, was deeply saddened when he learned of Akin's death, and said Akin represented the best of Porsche and motorsports.
"He was a very talented race driver and team owner, having won the 12 Hours of Sebring in both his Porsche 935 and Porsche 962, but his enthusiasm and dedication to vintage racing and the perpetuation of motorsports made him a special friend," said Schwab.
Akin was a standout in the International Motor Sports Association's Camel GT series in the '70s and '80s, driving Porsches almost exclusively, but his career highlights were those two Sebring wins, with Roy Woods and Rob McFarlin in the Budweiser Porsche 9 35 in 1979 and with the late Jo Gartner and Hans Stuck in the Coca-Cola Porsche 962 in 1986. The 115.82 mph average speed in the 1986 race represents the fastest average speed ever for a 12 Hours of Sebring winner.
Alwin Springer, president of Porsche Motorsport North America, said he and his wife had become friends with Akin and his family as a result of the 25 years of Bob's Porsche racing involvement.
"My wife and I were fortunate to know Bob Akin, his wife and children, and we share their loss of this fine man. Even after Bob retired from competitive racing in 1991, the Akins sent us mistletoe branches every year at Christmas. We will miss him," said Springer.
Springer noted that Akin was not only a successful and talented Porsche racer, but he was a mentor to many young drivers and team owners, helping them through the difficult process of maturing into successful motorsports competitors.
Betty Jo Turner, editor of Porsche Panorama, the monthly magazine for the national Porsche Club of America, said Akin represented the ultimate Porsche privateer as both a competitor and a gentleman.
"Not only was Bob a fast driver, and a meticulous race car owner and preparer, but he embodied the spirit of the best of the private Porsche racer, spending his own time and money to help elevate Porsche to the most successful IMSA marque during the 1970's and '80s. Porsche owners are also grateful to Akin for his efforts as a collector, car owner, and vintage racer as he has helped keep many famous race cars running for all of us to enjoy," said Ms. Turner.
April 30,2002 Bob Akin Dies From Injuries:
Bob Akin died late Monday night of complications from injuries
suffered last Thursday during a testing accident for a historic sports car
race at Road Atlanta.
Akin crashed in a 1988 Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo during testing for the Walter
Mitty Challenge. He was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital after the
accident.
Akin, who won the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring in 1979 and 1986, was a
standout in sports car racing in the International Motor Sports Association
(IMSA) during his professional driving career. He also made six starts in
the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a best finish of fourth in 1984. He won the
IMSA World Endurance Championship in 1986
He started racing in 1957 in dragsters, then switched to road racing in
1959. He retired from driving in 1961 to concentrate on his business, but
returned to racing in 1973. He won the IMSA World Endurance Championship in
1986. Mr. Akin was also a member and former president of the Road Racers
Drivers Club.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Ellen Akin of Pocantico Hills, NY,
his children Susan E. Akin of Sleepy Hallow, NY, Robert M. Akin IV of
Manhattan Beach, CA, and Johanna Akin Stolecki of Cortlandt Manor, NY; his
brother William D. Akin of Montauk, NY, and three grandchildren, Conor Mook,
8, Ian Mook, 6, and Emily Stoelcki, 3.
Bob Akin was born on March 6, 1936, in North Tarrytown and was raised in
Sleepy Hollow Manor. He was educated at Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY, and
received a BS and MBA from Columbia University.
He spent his professional career at Hudson Wire Company in Ossining, NY, a
manufacturer of advanced technology conductors for applications ranging from
aerospace and medical. The company was founded in 1902 by his grandfather,
Robert M. Akin, and was operated by the Akin family for three generations.
Mr. Akin joined the family business in 1955 while still in college, became
president of Hudson Wire Company in 1974, and continued in that role through
his retirement in 1995, having organized the sale of the company to Phelps
Dodge Corp. in 1989. He was a member of the Electrical Manufacturers Club.
Akin had a life long passion for auto racing. His familiar #5 rode a series
of Porsche 935 and 962 prototype race cars, all of them red, carrying such
distinctive sponsorships as Coca Cola, Polo Ralph Lauren, Paradyne, Domino's
Pizza, Yokohama, and of course, Hudson Wire.
Following his retirement from Hudson Wire Company, Akin devoted his time to
the management of Bob Akin Motorsports, which specializes in the restoration
and race preparation of historic race cars. He was a writer and frequent
contributor to Road & Track magazine, and did on-air commentary for
Speedvision, TBS and ESPN.
Akin was a member of the Board of Trustees of Hackley School for 30 years,
beginning in 1972, and served as Board President from 1980 to 1990.He was
also a long-time member of the school's Alumni Association board of
directors, serving as its president in 1971-72. He was awarded the Hackley
Medal of Honor for distinguished service to the school in 1990. In the
1950s, Mr. Akin was also a competitive sport fisherman, and a member of the
Montauk Yacht Club team that won the United States Atlantic Tuna Tournament
for three years in the late 50s.
Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Kisco Presbyterian Church,
Mt. Kisco, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be
made to the Robert M. Akin Memorial Fund at Hackley School, 293 Benedict
Avenue, Tarrytown, NY 10591.
April 29,2002 Bob Akin-Address:
Robert L. Akin
Grady Memorial Hospital
7L ICU
80 Butler Street
Atlanta, GA 30335
April 27,2002 Bob Akin’s Condition Upgraded To Critical:
Bob Akin’s condition was upgraded to
Critical Saturday as he remained in the neurological intensive care unit at
Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta recovering from injuries suffered
Thursday during a testing accident at Road Atlanta.
Akin, 66, had been listed as "critical and extremely unstable" Thursday
following the accident at turn four. His condition stabilized somewhat
overnight Friday.
Akin suffered a "complete disruption" of the C5/C6 vertebrae, but doctors do
not expect to be able to conduct any further tests until the swelling
subsides, hopefully by Monday. Akin also suffered third-degree burns on 15%
of his body (hands, face and left shoulder), has a broken left leg, broken
right arm, broken left shoulder and multiple lacerations.
Akin was driving a 1988 Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo during testing for this
weekend’s Walter Mitty Challenge at Road Atlanta.
April 26,2002 Bobby Akin Jr. Statement :
At 7 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2002, Bob Akin remained in "critical and very
unstable" condition at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He was seriously
injured Thursday in a testing accident for the Walter Mitty Challenge at
Road Atlanta.
Bobby Akin Jr., issued this statement today:
"We'd like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support we've received
during this most difficult time. We are reminded once again that
motorsports is more than just a sport or business - it's family. It's nice
to have family at a time like this.
"My dad is engaged in a very severe battle right now and we are hopeful that
he'll be OK."
April 26,2002 More On Bob Akin Injuries :
Bob Akin was listed in “critical and
extremely unstable” condition Friday after suffering serious injuries in a
historic sports car testing session at Road Atlanta Thursday.
Akin, 66, suffered a “complete disruption” of the C5/C6 vertebrae. Doctors
at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta said it would be at least Monday
before any additional tests could be done, due to the swelling. Akin also
suffered third-degree burns on 15% of his body (hands, face and left
shoulder), has a broken left leg, broken right arm, broken left shoulder and
multiple lacerations.
Akin was driving a 1988 Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo during testing for this
weekend’s Walter Mitty Challenge at Road Atlanta. The Mitty is sanctioned by
the Historic Sportscar Racing association and features vintage and historic
cars from a wide variety of racing series.
Akin, who won the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring in 1979 and 1986, was a
standout in sports car racing in the International Motor Sports Association
(IMSA) during his professional driving career. He also made six starts in
the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a best finish of fourth in 1984.
Akin started racing in 1957 in dragsters, then switched to road racing in
1959. He retired from driving in 1961 to concentrate on his business, Hudson
Wiring, but returned to racing in 1973.
Akin retired from professional racing in 1991. Since then, he has remained
active in vintage and historic car racing and runs a racing company in
Ossining, N.Y.
April 26,2002 Bob Akin Seriously Injured At Road Atlanta:
Two time 12 Hours of Sebring Winner Bob Akin, who is famous for his Coca Cola Porsches back in the 80's, was injured during practice at Road Atlanta Thursday, April 25. Akin was driving a Nissan GTP car in the Walter Mitty event. Akin was transfered to a hospital in the Atlanta area. Akin's business restores and prepares vintage and historic race cars.
Akin is listed in critical condition with a head injury and multiple injuries. He is also in an medically-induced coma. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob and his family.
March 28,2002 Reynard In Receivership:
Reynard Motorsport has today announced that the company has been placed in receivership with immediate effect. Recent efforts to recapitalise the company did not reach fruition and without further financial investment the company had no alternatives available.
Staff losses will number over 100 people, although the company will continue under the management of receivers for the immediate future. The company has trade creditors of over £3m, in addition to Adrian Reynard, who is substantially the company's single largest creditor.
Adrian Reynard, founder and Chairman, Reynard Motorsport, said of the decision, "It is the worst day of my business life and in the history of the company. Reynard has had so much success over the last three decades and I'm devastated that it has ended this way, but we had no choice."
Reynard adds, "It has been a combination of factors which has led to our situation today. Our aborted float on the US Stock Exchange, which put a strain on our financial resources, and the subsequent changes in the US autoracing market are just some of the influences on the downturn in fortunes of the company. Reynard has suffered from several management changes and strategy shifts over the past three years and it eventually found itself in two of the wrong market places at the wrong time, having invested huge amounts of money in those products. I had hoped that we could retrieve the situation, but sadly we were not able to achieve this."
Reynard Motorsport was founded by Adrian Reynard in 1973 and grew to a multi-million pound company, with outstanding success in International motorsport through the years across many formulae, including F3, F3000, and in particular, in the American CART FedEx Championship Series and the Japanese Nippon Series. In addition, the company has provided consultancy services for many major automotive manufacturers and engineering companies.
March 6,2002 Sebring Hall of Fame Inductees:
Ten legendary names in the history of sports
car racing at Sebring have been selected for induction into the Sebring
International Raceway Hall of Fame. The inaugural induction ceremony will
take place in conjunction with the track’s 50th Anniversary celebration,
March 13-16.
The 10 inductees will be honored at a luncheon the day before the Golden
Anniversary running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by
Dodge, America’s premier sports car race.
International Motor Sports association founder John Bishop and former
Sebring promoters Alec and Mary Ulmann, John Greenwood and Charles Mendez
will be honored for establishing and then continuing the Sebring tradition.
Drivers to be inducted are Dan Gurney, Jim Hall, John Fitch and the
legendary Juan Manuel Fangio. In addition, Porsche will become the first
manufacturer inducted.
“Sebring is the mecca of North American sports car racing, and we felt the
50th Anniversary was an ideal time to recognize many of the pioneers who
helped establish the Sebring tradition,” stated Tres Stephenson, Sebring
Raceway Director. “Of course, narrowing the list to only 10 was a very
difficult task, and many more legends will be honored in coming years. We
felt it was important to honor not only drivers, but promoters and
manufacturers as well.”
Sebring International Raceway is America’s oldest permanent road racing
facility. Originally a WWII air base known as Hendricks Field, it hosted
its first twelve hour race in March 1952.
February 11,Bathurst 24-Hour Race Under Consideration:
A 24-HOUR race for international sports and touring cars could be staged at Bathurst's Mount Panorama circuit in November if current negotiations are successful.
Motorsport promoter PROCAR Australia today confirmed a report that it is planning the race for 23-24 November, with the world-famous track the preferred venue.
PROCAR Chairman Ross Palmer said he hoped to get approval for a field of 83 starters from Australia, Europe, the United States, Japan and New Zealand.
Negotiations have been under way for several months with the Bathurst City Council and Confederation of Australian Motorsport.
"Our own logistical planning is well advanced, but it's fair to say there are some outside issues still to be settled," Mr Palmer said.
"For instance, the pits and other facilities at Mount Panorama would need upgrading to accommodate such a large field and we must come to terms with the needs of residents on the inside of the track, which is usually a public road.
"Bathurst remains our preferred option as it's a challenging track that many international drivers will jump at the chance to try. However, we have also been in discussions with other tracks in case we can't achieve what we need at Bathurst."
The race is being planned on the lines of a similar event in Germany, the ADAC 24-Hour at the Nurburgring circuit. Mr Palmer is among several Australians who have raced there in recent years.
The ADAC 24-Hour, to be run this year on 1-2 June, attracts more than 200 starters from around the world in everything from Le Mans-type GT sports cars to small hatchbacks.
Mr Palmer said the Australian race would see cars from PROCAR's Australian Nations Cup and GT Production Car Championships joined by invited sports and touring car categories from Europe, the United States, Japan and New Zealand.
January 25,1000 Miles of Brazil Final Qualifying:
Jamie Campbell Walter clinched the pole-position for the 30th "Mil Milhas Brasileiras” with the Lister of the Capuava Racing Team.
Walter, who will drive the race alongside Alcides Diniz, Belmiro Júnior and Alfredo Guaraná Menezes, completed his fastest lap in 1m38s899.
"The car is great, the track is great and we are just saving equipment. It will be the first time I start a race at midnight" said Walter, that came for the first time to Brazil.
Starting Grid (first 10 positions):
1º) Alcides Diniz/Jamie Campbell Walter/Alfredo Guaraná Menezes/Belmiro Júnior (Lister-Jaguar) 1min38s899
2º) Arialdo Pinho/Juliano Moro/Nelsinho Piquet/Vítor Meira (MCR) 1min39s301
3º) André Lara Resende/Flávio Trindade/Raul Boesel/Régis Schuch (Porsche GT3 RS) 1min41s747
4º) Alfred Legyel/Adson Moura/Ricardo Arantes/Marcelo Reis (MCR Volvo) 1min44s831
5º) Otávio Mesquita/Letícia Zanetti/Paulo Ricci (AS-Vectra) 1min45s195
6º) Hybernon Cysne/Rodrigo Bernardes/Valdir Florenzo (Proton HC01) 1min45s231
7º) Luiz Otávio Paternostro/Giuliano Losacco/Ciro Aliperti Júnior (Aldee-Spider AP) 1min45s540
8º) José Roberto Venezian/Roberto Samed (Porsche GT2) 1min45s683
9º) Baltazar Júnior/Alceu Feldmann Filho (AS-Vectra) 1min46s250
10º) Urubatan Helou Júnior/Rodrigo Hanashiro/Marcelo Carneiro (Aldee-Spider AP) 1min47s115
January 24,1000 Miles of Brazil Qualifying:
Jamie Campbell-Walter completed today, in Interlagos, his first laps on the brazilian track with the Lister Storm of Pedro Paulo Diniz.
Campbell will race, for the first time, in the traditional 1000 Miles of Brazil this weekend.
Campbell completed his best lap in the first of the four practices of the day in 1m39s030, being the only driver to lower the 1m40s mark.
The MCR of the young hot shoes Nelson Angelo Piquet, Vitor Meira and Juliano Moro were second fastest of the day, with 1m41s479.
The Tango BMW, sponsored by Hollywood, was third fastest with 1m43s275, being followed by the Porsche GT3 of Raul Boesel, Regis Schuch, Flavio Trindade and Andre Lara Resende, the defending champions of the race.
Thursday times in Interlagos, preparing for the 1000 Miles Race:
1º) Alcides Diniz/Jamie Campbell Walter (Lister Storm), 1min39s030
2º) Arialdo Pinho/Juliano Moro/Nelson Piquet/Vítor Meira (Protótipo MCR), 1min41s479
3º) Flávio de Andrade/Felipe Giaffone/Zeca Giaffone/Ruyter Pacheco (Tango-BMW), 1min43s275
4º) Régis Schuch/André Lara Resende/Raul Boesel/Flavio Trindade (Porsche), 1min42s981
5º) Luiz Otávio Paternostro/Giuliano Losacco/Ciro Aliperti Júnior (Aldee-Spider), 1min45s921
6º) Alfred Legyel/Ricardo Arantes/Adson Moura (MCR Volvo Turbo), 1min46s110
7º) Pedro Pimenta/Pires/Sciola (Protótipo), 1min46s664
8º) J.R. Venezian/Roberto Samed (Porsche), 1min46s750
9º) Otávio Mesquita/Paulo Ricci/Letícia Zanetti (AS-Vectra), 1min47s385
10º) Nelson Silva Júnior/Nelson Silva/Jorge Schuback (Aldee-Spider), 1min48s463
11º) Eduardo Homem de Mello/Paulo Rovella/Cecolyn (Protótipo), 1min48s781
12º) Urubatan Helou/Antônio Carlos Avallone/Luiz Celso Freitas (Aldee-Spider), 1min49s086
13º) David Muffato/Paulo Gomes/Pedro Gomes/Marcos Gomes (AD), 1min49s948
14º) Hybernon Cysne/Rodrigo Bernardes/Valdir Florenzo (Proton HC01), 1min50s192
15º) Alfred Legyel/Adson Moura/Ricardo Arantes (MCR Volvo Turbo), 1min50s306
January 22,2002 Reynard Motorsports Streamlines Operations:
The current economic conditions within the motorsport
industry has led Reynard Motorsport to reduce its workforce, with just over
50 redundancies in various divisions of the company announced today.
Reynard, like many similar companies within motorsport has experienced a
downturn in demand for its products and services, particularly in the USA.
In response, the company has streamlined its operations to ensure that the
company continues to maintain the high levels of service and quality that it
is renowned for, with the appropriate cost levels.
Adrian Reynard, Chairman of Reynard Motorsport, comments, "It has been a
difficult time for us over the last few months and this has, unfortunately,
led to a need to tighten our belts to ensure we can operate efficiently.
This has inevitably caused a loss of jobs in some areas. My commitment to
the company has never been stronger and we have a dedicated management team
that is aligned and focused on these challenges. We are all working very
hard to maintain our leading position within the marketplace during these
tough times."
October 23,2001 Kremer To Join Group C Revival Series:
Photo Courtesy: Kremer Racing
The Le Mans-winning Kremer team is set to enter Group C Revival events next year with one of the most highly-developed Porsche 962 Cs in existence.
The Le Mans-winning Kremer team is set to enter Group C Revival events next year with one of the most highly-developed Porsche 962 Cs in existence.
Erwin Kremer, whose squad won the French 24-hour classic in 1979, has rebuilt the 962 CK6 in which JJ. Letho, Manuel Reuter and Harri Toivonen finished ninth at Le Mans in '91. He wants to run the car in the British-based historic series, now in its second season. Kremer said: "We have rebuilt the car and would love to race it. There's a lot of interest in that series and it should be fantastic to enter a 962 CK6 next year. "There will be five or six races and I'd like to do three of four, depending on our other programmes." Brian Bailey, co-organiser of the series, said: "We'd love to have him in our races. It would great to have an association with Kremer. It can only do us good." The Porsche is chassis number three in a run of Kremer cars built around aluminium honeycomb monocoques produced in Britain by TC Prototypes. One of the sister cars twice finished on the podium in '91, the final year in which the twin-turbo 962C was eligible for the Sportscar World Championship.
The Cologne-based team tried to run chassis four in the Group C Revival race at the Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix. Briton Sam Hancock, who races for Kremer in the FIA Sportscar Championship, completed only one practice lap before the engine blew. FIA Sportscar Championship team Kremer Racing are set to run the Porsche 962 C that came ninth at Le Mans in '91 in Group C events. Autosport, September 6, 2001
August 5,2001 Ulrich Richter Dies:
Former Daytona 24 GT champion and BPR contestant Ulrich Richter died at the Nurburgring on Saturday while driving a Porsche 911 GT3 in qualifying for a national Grand Touring race. He was married, with children, and lived in Essen.
Richter was a modest man with a ready smile, and never raced any make except Porsche. He started by driving a 924 Carrera GT in 1983-84, then quit racing for nearly 10 years until he drove a 911 Carrera RSR to 17th place overall, and third in class at Le Mans in 1993.
He will be best remembered for some outstanding results in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In 1994 he finished third overall and won the GT class in an RSR shared with Karl-Heinz Wlazik, Dirk Ebeling and Gunther Doebler, and he won the class at Daytona in the next two years.
In 1995 he finished fifth overall with Enzo Calderari, Lilian Bryner and Renato Mastropietro, and the following year he finished fourth overall with Calderari, Bryner and Ferdinand de Lesseps.
Richter contested the entire BPR Global Endurance Championship in 1996 in Porsches prepared by Matthias Stadler, an RSR followed by a GT2, then concentrated again on the classic races. He competed this year at Daytona and Sebring in a Porsche GT3R with Juergen Alzen, Calderari and Bryner. They finished 16th at Sebring, eighth in the LM-GT category.
July 3,2001 Silverstone Historic Group C Race :
Over 40 Group C Cars Expected At Record-Breaking Silverstone Historic Festival
The organisers of the Silverstone Historic Festival now anticipate grids as large as 40 cars for the two Group C Sports Car races that will be run on August 25 and 27.
Said Group C co-ordinator Roger Bailey, "We have an extremely exciting provisional entry list from the owners of a mouth-watering cross-section of cars, including former Group C2 multiple-World Champion, Ray Bellm, whose Spice should be one of five representatives of this very successful marque expected to compete.
"There is something in this gathering to satisfy all the many fans of this spectacular endurance racing era, including multi-car teams of Jaguar XJRs battling against Porsche 956/962s and AMR, EMKA and Nimrod Aston Martins."
The cars will first take to the track on Saturday, August 25, competing in a two-hour evening race for the British Empire Trophy. This race is to be sponsored by Bonhams & Brooks, whose auction of collectors' cars and automobilia immediately precedes it. The cars' second appearance will be on Monday, August 27, when they will compete for the Danka UK-sponsored Bob Wollek Trophy, run over 10 laps of the same 3.14 mile Historic Grand Prix circuit.
Said event organiser, Roger Etcell, "The Group C news is extremely exciting and echoes the level of entries we are already looking at for many of the other races, including Historic Formula Ford, and Historic Touring Cars. In total, The Festival is likely to feature over 400 competing vehicles, making it not only the biggest of the 12 Silverstone Historic Festivals run to date, but the largest such race meeting ever held anywhere in the world."
Provisional Entry List - Group C Endurance Cars for the
British Empire Trophy Race sponsored by Bonhams & Brooks and the Bob Wollek Trophy Race sponsored by Danka UK
NO. 1ST DRIVER NATION 2ND DRIVER NATION ENTRANT MAKE MODEL ENGINE CC YEAR COLOUR
Category 1 - Late Group C1 & IMSA GTP Cars
2 Win Percy GB TBA Don Law Racing Jaguar XJR-16 Jaguar V6 Turbo 3000T 1991 Red/White/Blue
3 Graham Hathaway GB TBA JD Classics Jaguar XJR-11 Jaguar V6 Turbo 3500T 1990 White/Purple
14 TBA TBA Richard Lloyd Porsche RLR 956 Porsche 2650T 1983 White/Red
27 Charlie Agg GB TBA Charlie Agg Nissan R90CK Nissan V6 3496T 1990 Yellow
28 Nick Adams GB TBA Duncan McKay Spice SE88C Cosworth DFR 3500 1988 Blue/Yellow
32 Nick Rini USA Tomas Scheckter RSA Nick Rini Jaguar XJR-12 Jaguar V12 7400 1993 Red/White/Blue
35 Jeff Kline USA TBA Neil Hadfield Jaguar XJR-12 Jaguar V12 7000 1990 Purple
43 TBA TBA Nick Mason Porsche 962C Porsche 3000T Pink
58 Benton Bryan USA Ralf Thomas USA Phil Stott MS Argo JM19D Chevrolet V8 5700 1989 Multi
60 Justin Law GB TBA Don Law Racing Jaguar XJR-10 Jaguar V6 Turbo 3500T 1989 Green/Red/White
72 Ian Donaldson GB TBA Ian Donaldson Porsche 962 Porsche 3000T 1987 Red/White/Blue
Category 2 - Early Group C1 & IMSA GTP Cars
1 Philipp Brunn D TBA Brunn Racing Porsche 956 Porsche 2650 1983 White
12 Gary Pearson GB TBA Bryan Wingfield Racing Zakspeed Ford Mustang Probe Ford V8 6000 1986 Yellow/Black/White
31 Roger Bennington GB TBA Roger Bennington Nimrod Aston Martin Aston Martin V8 5340 1984 White/Blue
33 Martyn Konig GB Rob Wilson NZ Martyn Konig Porsche 956 Porsche 2600T 1984 White/Green
41 Bob Searles GB TBA Bob Searles EMKA Aston Martin Aston Martin V8 5340 1983 Red
44 Paul Chudecki GB TBA Don Miles Jaguar XJR-5 Jaguar V12 6000 1984 Green
52 David Coplowe GB Martin Stretton GB David Coplowe Jaguar XJR-6 Jaguar V12 6050 1985 Green
66 John Dennehy GB Andy Shepherd GB John Dennehy EMKA Aston Martin Aston Martin V8 5340 1984 Cream/Blue
Category 3 - Late Group C2 & IMSA Lights Cars
17 John Grant GB TBA John Grant Jaguar XJR-17 Jaguar V6 3500 1991 Red/White/Blue
18 Michael Jankowski USA Ronnie Farmer GB Michael Jankowski Spice SE88C Ford DFR 3500 1988 Red/Blue
21 Steve Coen GB TBA Actiondrome Harrier LR7C Chevrolet V8 6200 1987 Blue/Green/Silver
111 Ray Bellm GB TBA Ray Bellm Spice SE88C Cosworth DFL 3900 1988 Blue/White
128 Nick Randall GB TBA Nick Randall Spice SE90C Cosworth DFR 3500 1990 Blue/Green/Mushroom
132 Jim Graham GB John Mayston-Taylor GB Jim Graham Tiga GC289 Cosworth DFL 3300 1989 White/Green
Category 4 - Early Group C2 & IMSA Lights Cars
37 Tony Dunderdale GB Richard Bateman GB Tony Dunderdale Tiga GC287 Rover V64V 2886 1987 White
78 David Leslie GB Alasdair McCaig GB Hugh McCaig Ecosse GC286 Cosworth DFL 3300 1986 White
98 Nick Atkins GB Ross Bygrave GB Nick Atkins Tiga GC286 Rover V64V 2886 1986 Dk. Blue
102 Thomas Erdos BR TBA Bryan Wingfield Racing Ecosse C286 Cosworth DFL 3300 1986 Red
103 Chris Randall GB TBA Chris Randall Spice SE88C Cosworth DFL 3300 1988 Red/White
107 Harvey Cooke GB Phil Stott GB Phil Stott MS Tiga GC289 Cosworth DFL 3300 1989 White
Category 5 - Group 5 & Group B
36 Steve Wellings GB TBA Steve Wellings Porsche 924 GTR Porsche 2000T 1985 White
55 John Greasley GB Nigel Barrett GB G-Force MS Ltd. Porsche 935 Porsche
Category 6 - Invitation Cars of Special Interest
5 Richard Chamberlain GB TBA Richard Chamberlain Porsche 935' Porsche 3200T 1972 Orange
10 Mike Millard GB TBA Mike Millard Pro-Sport LM 3000 Ford Cosworth V6 3000 1990 Red
15 Ian Stinton GB TBA Ian Stinton Harrier LR9C Ford Cosworth 2000T 1994 Red
17 Henry Pearman GB TBA Henry Pearman Pro-Sport LM 3000 Ford Cosworth V6 3000 1990 Purple
23 Allen Lloyd GB Gerry Wainwright GB AJL Racing Jaguar XJ-220C Jaguar V6 3500T 1993 Green
25 Paul Osborn GB David Clark GB Paul Osborn Pro-Sport LM 3000 Ford Cosworth V6 3000 1990 Silver
26 Lance Robinson GB TBA Lance Robinson Pro-Sport LM 3000 Ford Cosworth V6 3000 1990
56 Gareth Jones GB TBA Gareth Jones Porsche 911 GT2 Porsche 3600 1994 Red/Silver
88 Peter Hardman GB TBA Sporting & Historic Cars Ferrari 288GTO Evo Ferrari V8 3000T 1986 Red
116 Philip Harris GB TBA Philip Harris Porsche 911 Porsche 3200T 1974 Pink
152 John Shipman GB Mark Hales GB Shipman Motorsport GRD S74 Ford Cosworth BDG 2000 1974 Blue
June 21,2001 Hans Stuck Sets Record in BMW at Nurburgring :
NURBURG, Germany (June 21, 2001) -- The world recently saw another motorsports record fall to BMW as American Le Mans Series driver Hans Stuck drove a specially-prepared V12-powered BMW X5 around the 20-kilometer (12.5-mile) northern loop of the legendary Nurburgring circuit in a time of 7:49.92 minutes.
The "X5 Le Mans" is an engineering exercise that originated among BMW engineers to explore and demonstrate the absolute limits of this type of vehicle beyond just theory. The X5 Le Mans is powered by the same six-liter V12 engine that propelled the V12 LMR to its win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999. To break the eight-minute barrier is an accomplishment many thought was impossible with a sport activity vehicle - even for a driver the caliber of Stuck.
"We tried three times last year," said Stuck, "but had twice weather problems and one time a mechanical problem. The target was to go below eight minutes on the northern loop of the famous old Nurburgring and this time we were lucky that the weather was good. Normally it is bad at the Nurburgring and good in the rest of Germany, but this time it was good up there and bad in the rest of the country.
"After going out in the morning and checking our settings my first flying lap in the afternoon was a 7:49.92. People were totally crazy that I could go so fast as they did not think I could break the eight-minute barrier. The X5 reached 311 kilometers per hour (194 mph) on the straightaway. It was a ride on a cannonball!"
February 15,2001 Danny Ongais Inducted Into Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame :
Nearly four decades after Danny Ongais left his home state of Hawaii to further a rapidly flourishing drag racing career on the mainland US, his old friends and admirers could finally pay him homage as the 50th State's biggest contribution to professional motorsports.
In ceremonies held at the Stan Sheriff Center on the University of Hawaii - Manoa campus in Honolulu February 13, Ongais - known to fans worldwide as the "Flying Hawaiian" and "Danny On-the-Gas" - became the first auto racing personality inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in the organization's four year history. Ongais had previously committed to attending an auto launch in Essen, Germany this week and could not attend the festivities, but he sent over one of his trademark Arai helmets and a driving uniform (from his stint substituting for the injured Johnny Rutherford at Patrick Racing during the 1983 CART season) for the Hall of Fame to display.
Born on Maui in 1942 and raised in Honolulu, Ongais began racing motorcycles in 1957 and won a state championship three years later. He later switched into sportscars and primarily dragsters, earning recognition as the "Top Competition Driver" in Hawaii in 1961 before moving to California. He won three national drag racing titles and two Driver of the Year awards in the 1960's, becoming the first driver ever licensed by NHRA in 1964, before making another sudden turn, switching to four-wheeled competition and running his own Formula 5000 car in 1974. With the support of car owner Ted Field, Ongais and the black #25 Interscope Racing car electrified USAC Indycar racing by winning a race in his 1977 rookie season and five more in 1978, leading all drivers in pole positions earned and most laps led.
In 1978, he qualified second and led 71 laps at the Indy 500 before his engine failed. The following year, he placed a career-best fourth at Indy. During this period, Ongais also dabbled in both Formula 1 and sportscar competitions, capturing the 1979 24 Hours of Daytona alongside Field and Hurley Haywood. He became the only driver in history to achieve professional level victories in drag racing, oval track racing, and road racing.
His career nearly ended in a violent crash during the 1981 Indy 500, where he suffered serious leg and internal injuries. But Ongais returned and competed for four more years, finishing 10th in CART season points in 1984 with a best finish of 3rd in the Detroit News 200 at Michigan that same year. After a decade's layoff, he returned to the Brickyard in 1996 as an IRL driver, substituting for fatally-injured pole-sitter Scott Brayton in John Menard's car. Starting the race from the stipulated last position, Ongais finished seventh.
This award comes upon the heels of Ongais being inducted last June into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Novi, MI for his drag racing accomplishments. He also served as Grand Marshal this past October at the NHRA-affiliated California Drag Racing Reunion at Bakersfield's Famoso Raceway, one of the quarter miles where he made his name in the early 1960's.
Other Class of 2000 inductees include World Series winners Mike Lum, Lenn Sakata and Sid Fernandez; Super Bowl-winning Russ Francis; Olympians Chris Duplanty (water polo), Maiola and Manuela Kalili (swimming) and Harold Sakata (weightlifting); inaugural Honolulu Marathon winner Duncan MacDonald; Hawaii International Billfish Tournament founder Peter Fithian; and sumo wrestling champion Salevaa Atisanoe (aka Konishiki). Each inductee received a commemorative medallion and plaque, along with certificates of proclamations from US Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, Governor Ben Cayetano, and the Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives.
Founded in 1998, the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame is a nonprofit, educational partnership with the State of Hawaii, the purpose of which "is to record for all time, the outstanding accomplishments of Hawaii's world class athletes." The organization presently maintains an exhibit at Honolulu's Bishop Museum and a satellite display at Honolulu International Airport's inter-island ternimal.
A Selectors Committee, consisting of nine local media representatives, meets every December and chooses the next year's inductees on the basis of an 80 percent approval rating. Nominees must fit a series of stringent criteria for nomination, including significant accomplishments at the national or international level and a strong residency connection to Hawaii. For Ongais, who has lived in Southern California for the past three decades, to retain this strong connection speaks volumes about how racing enthusiasts here still fondly regard him as one of their own.
January 27,2001 Ken Miles Inducted To Motorsports Hall of Fame :
Ken Miles will be honored as a 2001 inductee at the 13th Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony on June 6, 2001 at the State Theatre in Detroit. The late Miles won the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and many other sports car races in a variety of machines. Much of the development of the Ford GT40 was led by Miles contributions.
January 17,2001 "John Winter" Dies:
Former Le Mans and Daytona 24 Hours winner Louis Krages(51) who went by the alias
"John Winter" for is 20 year racing career (because he did not want his mother to know he raced cars) was found dead in his Atanta Ga. home.
Winter was a longtime member of Joest Racing and co-driver in the Newman Porsche 956-117 second straight victory at Le Mans in 1985.
He also partnered Hurley Haywood for victory in the 1991 Daytona 24. Winter who started racing in the late seventies was known for his endurance
racing skill more than speed and drove for the Kremer team also early in his career. He went on to have a pretty successful career in the DTM with Joest's Opel team but was involved in a bad accident in 1994.
Winter made a small fortune in the wood business but hard times hit and he lost most of it.
Cause of death has not been released but suicide is thought to be the case with a shotgun found near the body.
The quiet softspoken German, who was a true Gentelman Driver, will be missed greatly. GODSPEED MY FRIEND
April 14,2000 Alan McNish Toyota F1:
Former Le Mans winner and Porsche Works driver Alan McNish has been selected by Toyota as their test and develpoment driver
for the company's entry into F1 in 2002. The team will use the Le Mans GT1 as a test bed over the next year. It is a great to see Alan getting his chance
to prove his abilities after the dissapointment of Porsches Factory withdrawl from Motorsports the past two years. McNish will be aiming
for a second Le Mans victory at La Sarthe in June at the wheel of a factory
Audi R8.
February 25,2000 Group C Revivalry News:
The Dates have been announced for the Croup C revivalry. Maison Blanche has all the details
including news of regulations and a website.
Dates:
Spa-Francorchamps on 19th/20th/21st May
Donington on 3rd/4th June
Silverstone on 24th June
Brands Hatch on 8th/9th July
Nürburgring on 4th/5th/6th August
February 24,2000 Gregg,Ongais Elected To Hall of Fame:
Sportscar great Peter Gregg and Multi talented Danny Ongais were the two sportscar racers
elected to the Motosports Hall of Fame today.The 2000 Class of inductees
will be honored at the 12th Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame Dinner and
Ceremony on June 8, 2000 at the State Theatre in Detroit.
PETER GREGG Sports Car Racing
Born: May 4, 1940, New York City, New York
Died: December 15, 1980
"Peter Perfect" was a six-time IMSA Camel GT series champion (1971,
1973-74-75, 1978-79), completely dominating that circuit in the decade of
the 1970's. He is still second in all-time IMSA career wins, 41 to 49 for
the late Al Holbert. In 1973 and 1974, he also raced on the SCCA Trans-Am
series and was equally dominant, winning the championship both seasons, and
recording 20 major victories.
Gregg was a master of the endurance races winning the 24 Hours of Daytona
three times and the 12 Hours of Sebring once.
Peter Gregg, #59, Porsche, and Brumos Racing are synonymous with sports car
racing in the 1970's. The beautifully prepared red, white, and blue cars
will forever be associated with Gregg. Today, his son Simon carries on the
#59 tradition in SCCA Trans-Am racing.
DANNY ONGAIS Drag Racing
Born: May 21, 1942, Hawaii
Residence: Long Beach, California
By age 14, Ongais was already racing dirt motorcycles in his native
Hawaii. By 17 he was an expert biker and began winning in sports car
competition as well. In 1962 he came to the mainland with another
Hawaiian, Roland Leong, and when their "Hawaiian" dragster won Best
Appearing Car and Long Distance Awards at the NHRA Winternationals,
veterans predicted it would be their last trophies. Ongais soon proved
them wrong, however by winning the AHRA Top Gas title the following year.
Teaming with Hall of Famer Mickey Thompson in 1964 Danny prevailed at
NHRA, AHRA and UDRA events plus the Hot Rod Magazine Championships where
he hand pushed his stalled dragster to an E.T. of one minute 35 seconds.
Ongais is still remembered for his near-perfect U.S. Nationals winning 1969
season driving Thompson's blue Mustang Funny Car. Moving to the Vel's
Parnelli Jones camp he drove that team's Top Fueler and Funny Car until 1975
when he left drag racing to begin a successful Indy Car and sports car
racing career. His Indycar career was highlighted by an amazing sophmore
season in 1978 -- in 17 starts, Ongais let EVERY race he started, winning
five times. He also raced F-5000, tried a few F-1 races and highlighted his
sports car career with a win in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Whether they knew
him as "The Flyin' Hawaiin", or as Danny "On-The-Gas" fans knew to expect a
strong drive from Ongais in anything he drove. Ongais is the only driver in
history to have achieved professional level victories in drag racing, oval
racing, and road racing.
Past Road Racing Inductees:
Phil Hill 1989
Mark Donohue 1990
Dan Gurney 1991
Carroll Shelby 1992
Al Holbert 1993
Jim Hall 1994
Bruce McLaren 1995
Peter Revson 1996
Briggs Cunningham 1997
Denis Hulme 1998
George Follmer 1999
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