August 6, 2008
B-K Motorsports, Mazda. Thanks to our friends at
Trackbytes.com who scored this sneak peek exclusive on the new
Mazda-powered LMP2 car. Here is what Trackbytes' John Dagys reports on
the subject: Each year, many rumors often get floated around the
American Le Mans Series paddock. Some, of course are just hearsay, but
others sometimes come to fruition. One of the more hotly contested topics
as of late has centered on the status of B-K Motorsports, the
Mazda-supported LMP2 team. Word had originated that the Wisconsin-based
team would be taking delivery of a new car before seasons out. This week,
the speculation became fact when Mazda confirmed to British weekly
Autosport that the team would indeed be debuting a brand-new Lola B08/80
Mazda at the Petit Le Mans. And just a few days later, SPEEDTV.com's
Marshall Pruett published an interview with Mazda Motorsport's Manager,
John Doonan, revealing the team's goals with the new car. Now, in a
Trackbytes.com exclusive, we're able to give you a sneak peek at the
official livery of the No. 8 BP Lola B08/80 Mazda. Go here to
read more.
(Copyright © 2008, John Thawley ~ Creative Communications Group All rights reserved.)
Mat Mladin (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki) at speed at Mid-Ohio last weekend. Mladin won both races at Mid-Ohio, giving him 70 career AMA Superbike victories.
Ron Fellows. The 48-year-old Canadian and longtime Corvette Racing ace made history when he won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Cicuit Gilles Villeeneuve in Montreal last Saturday afternoon, the first points-paying NASCAR event ever to be run in the rain. Goodyear equipped the field with rain tires built almost ten years ago after the Montreal promoters said they were going to run the race no matter what the weather, and Fellows, driving the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports, did the rest. Fellows hopes to continue his NASCAR momentum when he does guest drives in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races in Watkins Glen, NY, this coming weekend. Peter Brock. The talented designer and renaissance man who was part of the design team that worked on the original Sting Ray for Bill Mitchell, and who went on to design one of the most famous racing cars of all time - the Cobra Daytona Coupe - and who later on ran his own successful racing team, is at it again, and this time racers of all stripes will benefit. Peter has designed a lightweight, aerodynamic race car trailer featuring a semi-monocoque structure and all-aluminum construction. Check out the beautiful new BRE "Orca" here.
Publisher's Note: The greatest road racing circuit in the United
States in my estimation is Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Watkins Glen has its fans, and so does Laguna Seca, but none enjoy the
popularity of Road America. Year in and year out, the classic 14-turn,
4.048-mile circuit ranks as the favorite of teams and drivers throughout
the ALMS paddock. There are many reasons for this too. The speed, the
flow of the track through the majestic Kettle Moraine region of
North-Central, Wisconsin, and the fact that the basic layout of the track
has remained unchanged since it opened, in 1955, to name just a few.
Suffice to say, Road America is a natural-terrain road racing circuit
that can stand up to any around the world. We've dubbed Road America
"America's National Park of Speed" for good reason, because
it's simply unequalled in this country in terms of offering the pure
essence of road racing - for competitor and race fan alike. Here are what
some of the drivers competing in this weekend's Generac 500 at Road
America presented by Time Warner Cable (scheduled for Saturday, August 9
at 4 p.m. CT) had to say. SPEED will televise the race starting at 2 p.m.
ET on Sunday, August 10. XM will air the race from 4 to 8 p.m. ET on
Sunday via Sports Nation Channel 144. Live radio coverage will be
available from American Le Mans Radio at americanlemans.com, which also
will feature IMSA’s Live Timing & Scoring. Thanks to the folks at
ALMS for the driver quotes. - PMD
Lucas Luhr, Audi Sport North America
Audi R10 TDI (LMP1)
“Road America is one of the best racetracks there is. It’s really
challenging. You have every kind of corner there is. It is really good
for our Audi R10 TDI. We have long straights and a lot power on parts of
the circuit. It should be a good race for us.”
Dirk Mueller, Tafel Racing
Ferrari F430 GT (GT2)
“If you are German, which I am, you must compare it with the
Nürburgring Nordschleife. So this is definitely one of my favorite ones.
The key there is to take as much speed as possible in every corner
without messing up the exit. This means you need to have confidence in
your car. Additional to all of this there is waiting one of the best
corners: the Kink. This corner is very quick and flat in fifth gear, if
you like.”
Clint Field, Intersport Racing
Lola B06/10-AER (LMP1)
“The track is unbelievable. I believe it’s the best one we go to all
year round. Everyone in the town loves the race and we always have really
great crowds. It’s a fantastic track to go to and we’re excited to go
there.”
Patrick Long, Penske Racing
Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)
“Road America is one of my favorite tracks in the world let alone on
the American Le Mans Series calendar. It’s fast and flowing; there are
plenty of passing opportunities and a real consistent feel of fast- and
slow-speed corners. There has to be a compromise in your setup, and I
think every bit of challenge is a great equalizer.”
Chris Dyson, Dyson Racing
Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)
“I love Elkhart Lake. It’s one of the classic venues. There’s still
that great tradition of road racing in that area, a tremendous fan base
that is very knowledgeable, and the facility is fantastic. It’s a long,
fast track and that’s kind of a nice departure from the rest of the
schedule, too.”
Michael Lewis, Autocon Motorsports
Creation CA06H-Judd (LMP1)
“It’s just one of the classic circuits for North America, and in
fact, of the world. It’s a very European type track, very open , a lot of
cornering. It really lets these cars stretch their legs and do what they
can do. So it’s a beautiful experience in these cars and being four miles
long, it’s like you’re on a journey. It’s not just like you’re going
around in circles; you actually take a journey through that track. That’s
why a lot of guys like it. You really test the driver and it’s also a big
challenge for these cars.”
Emanuele Pirro, Audi Sport North America
Audi R10 TDI (LMP1)
“Road America is the number one North American circuit. I really,
really enjoy driving there. It’s a fast driver’s circuit in a beautiful
place with a nice layout, nice atmosphere in a nice place. I like a lot
of other races too but I always pick that course as my favorite one
especially because it has very fast corners, which is my favorite type of
venue. And it’s a circuit where you can push and you can get the fluid
rhythm, and I’ve always done good races and good battles. It’s a great
place to be and I look forward to it.”
Gerardo Bonilla, B-K Motorsports
Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R (LMP2)
“A lot of what makes it special is its history. It’s been around
quite a long time and the configuration hasn’t really changed. They have
just improved the surface and some of the safety, but it’s a really fun
track. And what makes that one special is that it’s fun no matter what
kind of car you’re racing, whether it’s a car with 130 horsepower, or a
car with more than 600 horsepower. There is something for everyone at
Road America.”
Marino Franchitti, Dyson Racing
Porsche RS Spyder (LMP2)
“It’s very challenging, very fast, very little low-speed corners.
It’s more a European style track for a European driver like me. There are
a lot more up and down and blind corners. It’s just somewhere I thrive. I
enjoyed it in GTs, but it wasn’t my favorite. Going back there now in a
prototype is right up there now with Mosport.”