News From The American Le Mans Series - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 2013
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A storied name and style returns to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the first time in over a decade as the SRT Viper Racing GTS-Rs complete a cycle of first visits to ALMS tracks. Sporting a rich history that includes three class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Vipers made four starts in 2012 and are gaining momentum and confidence with each stop in the 2013 season. The SRT Vipers led the formidable GT class at the 2012 season ender at Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans and picked right back up, leading the 2013 season opener at Sebring. From there, it was on to Long Beach where Dominik Farnbacher claimed the team’s first pole position and joined with Marc Goossens to score the new team’s first podium. The high-speed, high-risk/ reward nature of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park seems a proper match for the SRT Viper team whose cars are powerful and increasingly quick and whose drivers possess a potent blend of talent, youth and experience. Montreal, Canada’s Kuno Wittmer is paired with young Californian Jonathan Bomarito aboard the #93 car, while Germany’s Dominik Farnbacher is teamed with veteran Marc Goossens of Belgium in the #91 car. With veterans Goossens and Tommy Kendall showing the way, the SRT Viper team is developing a distinct culture and personality. “I try to be a calming effect,” said Goossens, who is obviously succeeding with the aggressive Farnbacher and series newcomers Wittmer and Bomarito.
SRT
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CLOSING IN ON
While drivers on many teams often head their separate ways as they leave the track each day, the SRT Viper drivers actually seek each other out and typically share rides from the airports, hotels, tracks and often dine together. The team’s momentum is now extending to the younger pairing as evidenced by Wittmer who stormed from ninth to third in the opening stint at the most recent ALMS event at Lime Rock. “You can see Kuno gaining confidence and becoming more comfortable every race,” said SRT Viper technical leader Matt Bejnarowicz. Building a team from scratch, SRT Motorsports leader Gary Johnson and the Riley Technologies squad took a big step last month as the team returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Finishing the race with both cars was a major milestone on the road to reestablishing the Viper legend, as the SRT Viper team proved that they have the reliability and consistency needed to succeed on racing’s biggest stage.
ST
WIN
It took a combination of passion, dedication and skills for Ralph Gilles and a small team of true believers to create the new SRT Viper concept as a secret project in the depths of Chrysler’s darkest days. Diving headfirst into the GT class wars against Corvette, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin takes confidence, commitment and technology and makes a bold a statement. It is the kind of bold move that Viper made when the original Viper first appeared and captured the imagination of performance enthusiasts everywhere as it dominated international GT competition. Now as the flagship for the entire SRT brand, the Vipers are poised to strike victory again.
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The Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin joins the American Le Mans Series action this weekend at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Now in its third season, the fastest-growing singlemake series in North America is one of three official Development Series sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The series holds races at five classic Canadian road courses with each event having two 45-minute races. Competition is intense, exciting and designed to develop and prepare new
The
drivers for competition in professional levels of sports car racing. David Ostella (Maple, Ontario) has won two of the first four races of the season and currently leads the Platinum Cup championship standings. Pfaff/Alegra Motorsports teammates, Spencer Pigot (Pasadena, CA) and Chris Green (Montreal, Canada) have the other two wins and are tied for second only seven points behind Ostella. Tim Sanderson (Pickering, Ontario) is dominating the Gold Cup class for older Porsches with four victories.
Carlos de Quesada (Tampa, FL) is his closest challenger with two secondplace and two third-place finishes. Porsche and Michelin’s relationship also extends to the 911 GT3 Cup in the Porsche Supercup and worldwide Porsche Carrera Cups, and for the 911 GT3 RSR in the ALMS and the new 911 RSR currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Michelin also is the technical partner for the new Porsche LMP1 sports prototype which will compete in WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014.
Porsche Time @
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
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TOM KIMBER-SMITH
ALLAN McNISH
SRT VIPER DRIVERS
WHAT’S MY STYLE Tom Kimber-Smith I’m a very shy person off the track, but as soon as I put my helmet on that changes. I don’t like to use the word ‘aggressive,’ but I am forceful in the car. Patrick Long My personality and racing style is parallel in that it’s ‘work hard, play hard.’ If I’m in a relaxed environment, then I’m goofy and playful, but if it’s time to qualify or the final restart in a race, I’m pretty intense and aggressive. Oliver Gavin I like to think I’m reasonably smooth and aggressive when I need to be. I’m not a hothead in the car but I’m not going to be pushed around. Colin Braun I have a strong desire to win races, so I guess that would make me aggressive. Olivier Beretta A mixture of technical, aggressive, patient, smooth and persistent. In the 2000 Daytona 24 (which Beretta won), I had chicken pox. I needed all these qualities to finish. Wolf Henzler I am very patient besides the race track. My racing style can be described as safe but aggressive and persistent. I never give up and always fight hard till the checkered flag. Tommy Kendall Some would say that my personal style is wildly unsophisticated, yet unrefined—Oh!—you meant in the race car? I would say my overall style is smooth, but I aim for my personality in the car to be calculating. Chris Dyson I have a fairly aggressive, direct and humorous personality…my driving style is actually in a lot of ways a counter-programmed version of my personality! Tommy Milner Kamikaze! Seriously, I would say that I’m generally calculating and consistent.
OLIVER GAVIN
CHRIS DYSON
When the fire suits and helmets go on, drivers may look similar, but teams, families and insiders know that each has their own personality and style that shows both in and out of the race car.
What’s my
STY WHAT REPRESENTS YOUR STYLE?
Tommy Kendall On the personal side, I owe a lot to my dual inspiration of Hooters and the Beverly Hillbillies. In racing, I would have to say the one driver I most aspired to be like was Rick Mears. Marc Goossens I try to bring calmness into the team. Hopefully it works now and then. Patrick Long The beach or the lake is where I want to be away from my job, that’s the laid back, fun side. The track is where I’m most comfortable in life; it’s where I’ve been since I was six years old. I share a common passion that a lot of racers share - having coffee with your crew guys at 6 a.m. on race day is one of my favorite parts of the job. Ryan Dalziel I think tennis players are a lot like drivers. Colin Braun Pit bulls? Doberman Pinschers? Olivier Beretta Miami – it has the sea, sunshine, it’s fun and in the USA! Guy Smith I think my whole Dyson Racing team share the same style, attack, race hard and never give up and try to do it with a smile on your face!
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The Alley asked a number of ALMS drivers and a few team principals about their own style, influences, all-time favorite drivers and their ultimate co-driver. Here is what we found:
PAT LONG
GUY SMITH
GIL DE FERRRAN
AYRTON SENNA
TOMMY MILNER
OLIVIER BERETTA
YLE WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE DRIVER? Matteo Malucelli Michael Schumacher. Kuno Wittmer Gilles Villeneuve is probably the one person that sticks out in my mind. I am a strong supporter of my country, Canada, and what Gilles did in his career, pretty much put Canada on the Formula One map. Chris Dyson I’m clearly biased, but for out and out thrill, you can’t look any further than James Weaver. Derrick Walker Jim Clark, he was the best. Bryan Sellers Gil de Ferran. He is the driver I based my whole career off of. I used to love watching him drive in Champ Car. He was the picture of a well-balanced driver and that’s what I wanted to be. Dominik Farnbacher When I was a young racer, I was very aggressive and often hurt the car. When driving with Wolf Henzler, he taught me how to drive with my brain. AYRTON SENNA was the favorite driver for: Olivier Beretta, Colin Braun, Marc Goossens, Tommy Kendall, Jonathan Bomarito, Ryan Dalziel, Guy Smith and Jan Magnussen.
WHO IS YOUR ULTIMATE CO-DRIVER? Derrick Walker Danny Sullivan, because if he spun we would just keep going and win. Jonathan Bomarito Kimi Raikkonen because he is incredibly fast and off track would be entertaining I’m sure. Oliver Gavin Ayrton Senna or Gilles Villeneuve – although, it would be pretty demoralizing because they would be so fast and you’d think, I can’t do any of that. Patrick Long Mark Donohue -- because of the way he pushed the envelope in everything he did. Kuno Wittmer Co-driving with a Le Mans winning countryman like Ron Fellows would have been a trip. Ryan Dalziel I think to race alongside one of your mentors is always special. I have been lucky to run with Allan McNish. Antonio Garcia Alain Prost in Formula One. Tommy Kendall Driving with two legends in Mark Martin and Paul Newman in winning the 1995 Rolex 24 was as close to a dream outing as one can get. Matteo Malucelli Olivier Beretta! He’s won 41 times in the ALMS and driven at Le Mans 19 times…what better co-driver could I have? Tommy Milner Phil Hill – he was successful in sports cars, Formula One…everything. Dominik Farnbacher Oh, maybe one race together with James Hunt…just to party after a race would be awesome.
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Dijyano DID YOU KNOW “Antonio operates a bit under stealth. He is an assassin who creeps up on you, bangs you over the head and passes you.” Oliver Gavin on Corvette Racing teammate Antonio Garcia. News From The
Wow!
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is earning plenty of praise from participants, fans and even grizzled media types impressed by the significant improvements made under the track’s new ownership group. Modernizing the facility and adding new amenities while preserving the character and traditions of the track is a tough balancing act and Ron Fellows is proving to be an excellent guide through the motorsport jungles.
HOT STUFF! The recent ALMS round at Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park may not have officially been the hottest race in ALMS history, but the combination of heat and humidity took its toll. P2 class winner Scott Tucker, who spends an hour behind the wheel of each of the two Level 5 cars, wobbled to the pit wall after completing his final stint and he was not alone as the medics were at one point treating four drivers at once for heat exhaustion.
Alley Live www.michelinalley.com Keep up to date with the latest in the American Le Mans Series with Michelin Alley online - featuring race insights, interviews, videos, photos and highlights from all 2013 ALMS events.
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Long Beach 2013
Rock Park 2013
S OF SECRET B E A C H L O N G
Series - Sebring
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Michelin’s The Alley trackside newsletter is on quite a roll. In its first four issues AUDI’S of 2013, The Alley has featured Audi at FINAL SEBR ING POSTCA RD Sebring, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing at Long Beach, Corvette Racing at Laguna Seca and BMW Team RLL at Lime Rock. Each has taken a big win at that race. The SRT Viper is on the cover here.
The Americ an Le Mans
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BMW Mazda Racewa y Laguna
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Seca 2013
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BAR1 Motorsports PC Class team will have the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park fans support as both of its drivers call Canada home. Kyle Marcelli hails from Barrie, Ontario and his codriver, Chris Cumming, is from Vancouver, British Columbia. BAR1 Motorsports finished second at the Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Last year at Mosport, Extreme Speed Motorsports was declared the GT class victor after the winning Flying Lizard Porsche failed the post-race technical inspection. The class win was the first for the team but they were not able to properly celebrate from the top spot of the podium. Extreme Speed continued their strong season in 2012 with a victory at Petit Le Mans and a switch to the P2 class has not slowed them down this year as they finished 1-2 at the Long Beach Grand Prix.
O Canada
A proper Celebration
Catch the ACTION Weekend Schedule Friday, July 19, 2013 4:15 pm - 4:45 pm
Promoter Test - ALMS (GT/GTC)
4:45 pm - 5:45 pm
Promoter Test - ALMS (All Classes)
5:45 pm - 6:15 pm
Promoter Test - ALMS (P1/P2/PC)
Saturday, July 20, 2013 8:00 am - 8:30 am
Qualifying - Pro Mazda
8:45 am - 9:15 am
Qualifying - IMSA Lites
9:30 am - 10:30 am Practice #1 - ALMS (All Classes)
American Le Mans Series Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport broadcast and digital schedule: Live streamed coverage of the American Le Mans Series Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and qualifying can be viewed on ESPN3.com with TV coverage on ESPN2, Sunday, July 21 at 1:00 pm (EDT). The full broadcast will be available on demand on ESPN3.com for three weeks and on ALMS.com after that.
10:45 am - 11:15 am Qualifying - GT3 Cup Canada 11:40 am - 12:10 pm Race #1 - Pro Mazda 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm ALMS Autograph Session 1:20 pm - 2:05 pm
Race #1 - GT3 Cup
2:20 pm - 3:20 pm
Practice #2 - ALMS (All Classes)
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Qualifying - ALMS (GTC)
3:50 pm - 4:05 pm
Qualifying - ALMS (GT)
4:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Qualifying - ALMS (PC)
4:35 pm - 4:50 pm
Qualifying - ALMS (P1/P2)
5:10 pm - 5:40 pm
Race #1 - IMSA Lites
6:05 pm - 6:50 pm
Race #1 - GT3 Cup Canada
7:10 pm - 7:55 pm
Race #1 - MX-5 Cup
Sunday, July 21, 2013 9:10 am - 9:35 am
Warm Up - ALMS (All Classes)
10:00 am - 10:45 am Race #2 - GT3 Cup Canada 12:00 pm - 2:45 pm Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport Race for the ALMS (Round 5) - 2 Hours 45 Minutes 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
RACE #2 - GT3 Cup
4:20 pm - 4:50 pm
Race #2 - Pro Mazda
5:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Race #2 - MX-5 Cup
2013 ALMS Schedule 16 March
Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sebring, FL
20 April
Long Beach Grand Prix, CA
11 May
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA
6 July
Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, CT
21 July
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Canada
11 August
Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
31 August
Baltimore Grand Prix, Baltimore, MD
21 September Circuit of the Americas, Austin, TX 5 October
Virginia International Raceway, Danville, VA
19 October
Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, GA
ALMS TV and Online Schedule Sat. July 20
ESPN3.com Live Qualifying (3:20 pm – 4:50 pm EDT)
Sun. July 21 ESPN3.com Live Streamed Race Coverage (11:45 am – 3:00 pm EDT) Sun. July 21 ESPN2
Televised Race Coverage (1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT)
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Fan Favorites PORSCHE
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Long/Kimber-Smith Michelin CORE autosport Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
Smartphone scan code here Check out this video review of CORE autosport’s first GT podium at Lime Rock Park.
HPD - HONDA
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Graf/Luhr Michelin Muscle Milk Pickett Racing • HPD ARX-03a
LOLA MAZDA
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Dyson/Smith Michelin Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 Mazda
HPD - HONDA
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Sharp/Cosmo Michelin van Overbeek/Brown Extreme Speed Motorsports • HPD ARX-03b
P1 CLASS
CORVETTE
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Magnussen/Garcia Michelin Gavin/Milner Corvette Racing • Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1
PORSCHE
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Henzler/Sellers Falken Team Falken • Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
BMW
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Auberlen/Martin Michelin D.Müller/Edwards BMW Team RLL • BMW Z4 GTE
P2 CLASS
Michelin North America, Inc • One Parkway South, • Greenville, SC 29615 • TEL: 1-800-458-5000 www.michelin.com • Printed in USA, July 17, 2013 • Volume 7, Issue 5 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2013 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SRT - VIPER
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Goossens/Farnbacher Michelin Wittmer/Bomarito SRT Motorsports • SRT Viper GTS-R
PORSCHE
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Miller/Holzer Michelin Paul Miller Racing • Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
FERRARI
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Malucelli/Beretta Michelin Risi Competizione • Ferrari F458 Italia
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