Dempsey’s racing dream RACING IS NOT AN ACT FOR PATRICK DEMPSEY
News From the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship - Virginia International Raceway 2014
michelinalley.com
GT aces chase the win at VIR
2
RACING IS NOT AN For Patrick Dempsey
3
P
atrick Dempsey is a race car driver. And a racing team co-owner. And a three-time veteran of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. While celebrities periodically appear like comets on the international motorsport stage, the daunting realities of competition, combined with the time, financial and travel commitments, and inherent risks of the sport soon dissuade most. It is here where Dempsey takes the path rarely trod, not dissuaded, but rather, fully committed. “When I grow up I want to be a race car driver,” said Dempsey. It is tough for some tender Hollywood egos to accept that in racing, talent is objectively measured. Once the helmet goes on, stars become anonymous drivers whose performances are measured by data feeds and timing and scoring screens. “Patrick is a fantastic student because he takes direction for a living. He’ll always do what you ask,” said Joe Foster, his racing coach and co-owner of Dempsey Racing. “He’s incredibly intent on winning, so he’s actually a much better driver, much more competitive than many years ago when we started this process.” As Foster sees it, the challenge now is the level of competition has grown as well, at the same time it’s much more difficult to be competitive. ‘The closer you get to the top, the harder you have to try. It’s like an asymptote in math, the closer you get to the line, the further up the other line goes. Patrick’s got to push, push, push that much harder to get the last few tenths of a second,” said Foster. And the last few tenths are what separate the winners from the also-rans in TUDOR Championship competition. As Foster now sees it, Dempsey has progressed to a point where it is now simply a question of time and more sponsorship money to get him that last little bit of lap time. “He’s quite close,” said Foster, who began working with Dempsey in 2007.
ACT
The team has made strong runs for GTE-Am class honors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in each of the past two seasons, finishing fourth in 2013 and fifth this past June, while leading the class at various stages in both years. More recently, Dempsey decided to swim with the racing sharks, entering the mega-competitive Porsche SuperCup at Germany’s Hockenheimring alongside the German Formula 1 Grand Prix. The races are flat-out sprints. There are no pit stops. There are no co-drivers. “Patrick wanted to know, ‘where am I at?’” said Foster. “Well, that’ll tell you. Good, bad or indifferent. It may be a tough hit on the ego, but he’s at the point where he just wants to get better and the only way to do that is to be with the best in the world. “For a Porsche driver, the Porsche SuperCup is certainly a crucible venue to learn from the best.” Here in North America, Dempsey Racing competes in the GT Daytona (GTD) class, the largest of the four classes in the TUDOR Championship with a Porsche 911 GT America. Sportsmen drivers like Dempsey, who is teamed with Georgia’s Andrew Davis, are paired with pros aboard specially prepared Porsche 911, Audi R8, Ferrari 458, BMW Z4, Aston Martin V12 Vantage and Dodge Viper entries. With top teams like Alex Job Racing, Riley Motorsports, Flying Lizard, Magnus Racing, Fall-Line Motorsports, Turner Motorsports, TRG-Aston Martin Racing, AIM Autosports and Scuderia Corse, Snow Racing, Paul Miller Racing, GB Autosport and Park Place, the entry list reflects the quality, depth and experience in the field. On the driver side, there are familiar top shoes like Marino Franchitti, Townsend Bell, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Damien Faulkner, Andy Lally, Leh Keen and Spencer Pumpelly. The races often see the gentlemen drivers who in many cases provided key funding, start, then give way to the pros after the starters have met their minimum drive time. Since the cars and the pro drivers are all fairly equal, pit stops, race strategy and the performance of the sportsmen relative to their direct competitors frequently determine the outcome of the race. And as he gains experience and whittles away on his lap tines, the competition and fans can clearly see that Patrick Dempsey is growing up as a race car driver.
4
T
here are few things that race drivers like more than winning their class, so the top drivers in the featured GTLM class of the TUDOR Championship are virtually licking their chops at the rare opportunity to race for the overall win here at VIR. One of the most competitive classes on the international motorsports scene, the GT Le Mans class features ultra-high performance production based cars in the GT or Grand Touring tradition. Drivers are all proven winners and champions. The top factory teams; BMW Team RLL, Corvette Racing, Dodge Viper SRT, Porsche North America and top independents, including Falken Porsche and the Road America winning Risi Competizione Ferrari are ready to take full advantage of the unique race format at VIR. “No prototypes! It’s going to be a fun race,” said Dodge Viper’s Jonathan Bomarito, who has teamed with co-driver Kuno Wittmer to claim podiums in the last four consecutive events, including a win at Indianapolis. “Now we can just focus on going ahead,” said Bomarito. “We are not going to be checking our mirrors (for prototypes and PC cars) on the exit of every corner. “We can just really put our heads down and focus on the task at hand. It’d be nice to get an overall win.” Corvette Racing and Dodge Viper both have overall victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in earlier days.
A number of the current GTLM drivers, including Corvette’s Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, BMW’s Bill Auberlen and Porsche’s Patrick Long have all scored overall wins in prototypes in either the former GRAND-AM Rolex Series or American Le Mans Series. The two series were merged to create the new TUDOR Championship for 2014, making this the first opportunity for a GT overall race win. Here at Virginia International Raceway, Corvette Racing took GT honors in the first American Le Mans Series race in 2012 as Brit Oliver Gavin and his American teammate Tommy Milner claimed the win and clinched their 2012 ALMS Manufacturer, team and drivers titles. In 2013, it was the Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 Italia driven by Olivier Beretta and Matteo Malucelli claiming the GT class honors. “I’m really looking forward to just having the GT classes. That’ll really be a tight battle between us without anything else potentially affecting the race,” said Road America GTLM pole winner John Edwards of BMW Team RLL. “VIR is a fun track, but I’m curious to go there with the new changes that they’ve made. We’ve been quick there in the past so it should be good,” said Bomarito. And it seems clear that every GTLM driver agrees. They just all foresee themselves as the likely winners.
MAN vs MAN W
hen the cars in the Prototype Challenge (PC) class take to the grid for a pair of prototype events here at Virginia International Raceway, the only things distinguishing the cars will be their graphics and personnel. PC is the only class in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship that does not rely on performance balancing to assure close competition. With identical cars, engines, gearboxes and tires, there is nothing left on the technical side for the rule makers to balance. That means it is clearly the people on each team who make the difference. With a professional and an amateur co-driver in each entry, the performance of the drivers, pit crews and race strategists are all essential to success. One team that has found the winning combination is the Rock Hill, SC based CORE autosport team that has taken the PC class championship in each of the past three seasons. Team owner Jon Bennett and star co-driver Colin Braun have already claimed four class victories in 2014 and currently lead the class championship. The appeal of racing identical cars in tight competition on the TUDOR Championship’s schedule of prestigious events on highly favored tracks has drawn a number of top shoes to the
class. Professional drivers who can deliver race performance and help the co-driver are especially prized. Top pros like former IndyCar drivers Bruno Junqueira and Alex Tagliani, sports car veteran Gunnar Jeannette, Dutch star Renger van der Zande, former American Le Mans Series stars Luis Diaz and Tom Kimber-Smith all bring speed and vast experience. The level of competition in PC is quite high and the battles inevitably carry to the final lap. Selected appearances by a number of American and European stars like Jack Hawksworth, Conor Daly, Rob Huff and Sam Bird adds spice to the mix. Driving for the Fort Lauderdale based Starworks Motorsports team; van der Zende has claimed victories in Monterey and Road America and stands second in the driver championship with just three races remaining. Junqueira and the Lansing, Michigan based RSR team claimed the victory at Indianapolis. With all of the cars operating on equal terms, team engineers and designers work diligently to extract every ounce of performance as the slightest advantage can pay big dividends. Even the slightest gains on pit stops or through creative race strategies can also lead to victory. On a fast, high character circuit here at VIR, the PC cars and their humans will all be at full throttle.
5
6
FAST FACT Watch us now on Fox All the action of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship races from Virginia International Raceway circuit can be seen flag to flag on the FOX Sports 1 network. International fans will also be able to see the race live on IMSA.com. August 24 Virginia International Raceway 4:00 – 7:00 pm (EDT) on FOX Sports 1 (Live)
GTLM baby boom GTLM drivers and their wives are certainly doing their part to assure a new generation of sports car fans…literally. Corvette’s Antonio Garcia’s baby girl arrived during Le Mans race week and Porsche’s Nick Tandy’s baby girl arrived last month. Dodge Viper’s Kuno Wittmer’s new son was due to arrive between the checkered flag at Road America and the green flag here at VIR. Falken Porsche’s Bryan Sellers and his wife, FOX Sports reporter Jamie Howe are also on the baby countdown. Not to be outdone, Dodge Viper’s Marc Goossens and his wife are expecting twins. That’s six new arrivals from the 10 cars in the class.
2014 Schedule January 25-26
Rolex 24 at Daytona
March 15
Twelve Hours of Sebring
April 12
Long Beach (P and GTLM only)
May 4
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
May 31
Raceway At Belle Isle Park (P, PC & GTD only)
June 7
Kansas Speedway (PC only)
June 29
Six Hours of The Glen
July 13
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
July 25
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 10
Road America
August 24
VIR (GTLM/GTD race; PC race)
September 20
Circuit of The Americas
October 4
Petit Le Mans
Crazy Eights! Through the first eight races of the season, eight different drivers - Dodge Viper’s Marc Goossens and Kuno Wittmer, Porsche’s Michael Christensen, Corvette Racing’s Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, BMW Team RLL’s Andy Priaulx and John Edwards and Risi Ferrari’s Giancarlo Fisichella have each won a 2014 TUDOR Championship GTLM class pole. There have also been eight different drivers setting the fastest GTLM race laps. Will VIR make it nine for nine?
TS
“I think if we can qualify up there, then we can stay up there at Virginia International Raceway.”
7
BMW Team RLL’s John Edwards, pole winner and runner-up (with co-driver Dirk Mueller) at Road America.
One and Only And then there was one. With Ferrari’s Giancarlo Fisichella’s win at Road America on the heels of first wins for Kuno Wittmer and Jonathan Bomarito at Indianapolis, BMW Team RLL’s Andy Priaulx is now the only regular in the TUDOR Championship GTLM field without a win in the series or the predecessor American Le Mans Series. Priaulx, a three-time world champion in the FIA World Car Championship and co-driver Bill Auberlen have three podiums in this, Priaulx’s first season here.
Friday, August 22, 2014 10:45 am -11:45 am
Practice #1 - TUDOR (PC/LITES)
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm
Practice #1 - TUDOR (GTLM/GTD)
3:35 pm - 4:20 pm
Practice #2 - TUDOR (PC/LITES)
5:40 pm - 6:40 pm
Practice #2 - TUDOR (GTLM/GTD)
Saturday, August 23, 2014 8:15 am - 9:45 am
Practice #3 - TUDOR (GTLM/GTD)
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Race #1 - Maserati - 30 Minutes
10:50 am -11:10 am
Qualifying - TUDOR (LITES)
See you next year
11:15 am -11:30 am
Qualifying - TUDOR (PC)
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Qualifying - Lamborghini
12:30 pm -12:45 pm
Qualifying - TUDOR (GTD)
12:50 pm - 1:05 pm
Qualifying - TUDOR (GTLM)
The 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship schedule has been announced and VIR fans will see the return of the series here August 23, 2015. The season will open with the traditional Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 24-25. Fox Sports will broadcast all the 2015 events.
2:05 pm - 4:35 pm
Race - CTSC - 150 MINUTES
5:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Race - Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR for the TUDOR PC/LITES (PC Segment 1/ LITES Rnd 11) - 45 Min.
6:30 pm - 7:20 pm
Race #1 - Lamborghini - 50 MINUTES
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Race #2 - Maserati - 30 Minutes
Jan. 24-25:
Daytona International Speedway – All classes
March 21:
Sebring International Raceway – All classes
Sunday, August 24, 2014
April 18:
Long Beach Street Circuit – P/GTLM
8:15 am - 8:35 am
Warm Up - TUDOR (GTLM/GTD)
May 3:
Mazda Raceway – P/GTLM and PC/GTD
8:50 am - 9:10 am
Warm Up - TUDOR (PC/LITES)
May 30:
Detroit Belle Isle – P/GTD
10:45 am -11:30 am
June 28:
Watkins Glen International – All classes
July 12:
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – P/PC/GTLM
Race - Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR for the TUDOR PC/LITES (PC Segment 2/ LITES Rnd 12) - 45 Min.
July 25:
Lime Rock Park – PC/GTD
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Race #3 - Maserati - 60 Minutes
Aug. 9:
Road America – All classes
1:05 pm - 1:45 pm
TUDOR Autograph Session
Aug. 23:
Virginia International Raceway – PC/GTLM/GTD
1:45 pm - 2:35 pm
Race #2 - Lamborghini - 50 MINUTES
Sept. 19:
Circuit of The Americas – All classes
4:05 pm - 6:50 pm
Oct. 3:
Road Atlanta – All classes
Race - Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR for the TUDOR GTLM/GTD - 2 Hours 45 Minutes
Fisichella/Kaffer Risi Competizione • Ferrari F458 Italia GT Le Mans
FAN FAVORITES
62
8
Michelin
Smartphone scan code here
Relive Risi Competizione’s victory at Road America by watching the race broadcast. Scan above.
CORVETTE
3
Magnussen/Garcia Corvette Racing • Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GT Le Mans Michelin
PORSCHE
Sellers/Henzler Team Falken Tire • Porsche 911 RSR GT Le Mans
17
Falken
55 06
BMW
Priaulx/Auberlen BMW Team RLL • BMW Z4 GTE GT Le Mans
Michelin
DODGE VIPER
93
Wittmer/Bomarito SRT Motorsports • Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R GT Le Mans Michelin
PORSCHE
912
Long/Christensen Porsche North America • Porsche 911 RSR GT Le Mans Michelin
PORSCHE
27
Dempsey/Davis Dempsey Racing • Porsche 911 GT America GT Daytona Continental
ORECA
52
Montecalvo/Jeannette PR1 Motorsport • ORECA FLM09 Chevrolet PC Continental
ORECA
54
Braun/Bennett CORE autosport • ORECA FLM09 Chevrolet PC Continental
ORECA
08
Hawksworth/Cumming RSR Racing • ORECA FLM09 Chevrolet PC Continental
Michelin North America, Inc • One Parkway South, • Greenville, SC 29615 • TEL: 1-800-458-5000 • www.michelin.com • Printed in USA, August 20, 2014 • Volume 8, Issue 9 No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. • Copyright © 2014 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed on recycled paper • 10% Total Recovered Fiber • All Post-Consumed Fiber