The Line #427
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 01:56PM 
Riley Technologies. After winning the Rolex Sports Car Series Constructor Championship for four straight seasons (2004-2007) with its Mk XI, Riley Technologies introduced its Mk XX Daytona Prototype last Thursday for the opening weekend of testing at Daytona International Speedway. Working with partner Siemens, Riley evaluated every critical performance area of the Mk XI to improve the on-track performance of the Mk XX. "We are really looking forward to seeing this car take to the track," said Riley Technologies VP Bill Riley. "This entire organization has stepped up to use all the tools we have at our disposal to not only create a competitive entry, but also to have this car ready to go in time for the test with the support our customers need to be competitive and ready to go in the 24. We know that we'll be facing some new challengers this year but we feel strongly that with the Mk XX, we will continue to have a successful presence in the Rolex Series." The new Daytona Prototype entry will take the green flag for the first time at the 46th Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 26th. In addition to their presence in the Rolex Sports Car Series in the DP and GT classes, Riley Technologies also constructs cars for competition in the American Le Mans Series, the USAC Silver Crown Series and the Japanese GT Championship Series.
(Grand-Am)
The new Riley Mk XX Daytona Prototype.
The Dakar Rally. The AP reported that the annual event was canceled last Friday on the eve of the race due to terror threats and the recent slaying of a French family in Mauritania that was blamed on an al-Qaida-linked terror cell. It was the first time in the 30-year history of the automobile, motorcycle and truck race across the Sahara Desert that it had been called off. In a statement, organizers blamed international tensions, the tourists' Dec. 24 murders and "threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organizations."
Publisher's Note: We're pleased to welcome John Thawley back to Autoextremist.com, and we look forward to featuring his wonderful work during the 2008 racing season. - PMD
(Photo©2007, John Thawley - Creative Communications Group)
The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 (come on now, folks, seriously, is that not the lamest title ever for a racing series?) completed its January Test Days last weekend in preparation for the 46th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Jan. 25-27. Defending Rolex 24 co-champion Scott Pruett turned the fastest lap of the weekend with a 1:41.232 (126.6 mph) in the No. 01 TELMEX/Target Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates Racing Lexus Riley. Pruett, Rolex Series co-driver Memo Rojas, and NASCAR stars Juan Pablo Montoya and Dario Franchitti were quick all weekend. The Ganassi/Sabates team has captured the last two Rolex 24 races.
(Photo©2007, John Thawley - Creative Communications Group)
Penske-Taylor Racing's Ryan Briscoe turned the second quickest lap of the weekend with a 1:41.277 (126.544 mph) in the No. 9 Toshiba Pontiac Riley, a one-off collaboration between Wayne Taylor Racing and Penske Racing. Briscoe will drive with IndyCar teammate Helio Castroneves and NASCAR star Kurt Busch during the Rolex 24.
(Photo©2007, John Thawley - Creative Communications Group)
AJ Allmendinger turned the third-fastest lap of the weekend in the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley, posting a time of 1:41.555 (126.198 mph) in the Saturday midday session. Allmendinger, who has joined Michael Shank Racing for the two previous Rolex 24 events, will be joined by Rolex Series regulars Ian James, John Pew and Burt Frisselle.
Lewis Hamilton. It's good to be a Formula 1 sensation at 23 years old, Lewis Hamilton is finding out. According to reports emanating from London, he has signed a new five-year contract with Team McLaren worth in the neighborhood of $138 million. That's a nice neighborhood, especially since he was paid $700,000 last year. And it doesn't account for the multi-million-dollar endorsements he has, which are rumored to be worth more than his base annual salary. Hamilton will be under contract to the team until 2012.
Lola Cars. In 2008, Lola Cars celebrates a remarkable and memorable 50 years in motorsport. Established in 1958 by Eric Broadley MBE, Lola is Great Britain’s longest-serving manufacturer of racing cars. Lola experienced an extraordinary rise to prominence, in which it competed in all classes of the sport, from club racing to Formula 1 and endurance sports racers to Indycars. Since 1997, when businessman Martin Birrane acquired the company and invested in its future, Lola has become even more synonymous with success. To mark the occasion Lola has introduced a 50th anniversary logo, and the Lola team in Huntingdon has selected their favorite images of landmark Lola cars. To view these images, you can click on this link: http://www.sportssystems.com/hosting/display.cfm?key=100748.
(Courtesy of Lola Cars)
Eric Broadley confers with Graham Hill in the Lola T90 at Indianapolis in 1966.
(Photo courtesy of Regis Lefebure/ALMS)
Peugeot will be among the list of entries for the American Le Mans Series’ annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway (January 28-30), joining Series prototype regulars such as Audi Sport North America, Penske Racing and Dyson Racing from the Porsche camp, three Acura teams, Mazda’s B-K Motorsports and Intersport Racing. The appearance of the turbodiesel-powered Peugeot 908s at the ALMS Winter Test has heightened speculation that the French team will contest the 12-Hour and possibly the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta later in the year.
