ALMS Utah *spoiler*

Test session is just about over for all classes - it was P1,P2 - combined - GT1, GT2. The two Penske Spyders top the chart with Audi #1 in third, Dyson Spyder, Audi #2, etc. GT2 is PWL F430 with Enge (so nice to see Tomas back so quickly), Risi #62 with Jaime, Flying Lizard #45, Tafel (Street Sense owners), Tafel other Porsche - Risi #61 is 6th, Corsa F430 is 9th in GT2. Jaime was only .113 back from Tomas. Two hour test session just ended.

This promises to be a great race on a very interesting track. Tomorrow is qualifying; race is at 5:05 pm MDT Saturday. After this race the selected teams are off to France for the events leading up to the LeMans 24 Hour.

Carol

 

Hi Joe - great track map you posted. Thanks for the notice of the party but . . we won't be in Salt Lake City until 10:30 Saturday morning (early flight out of DFW via DEN). I just pulled out the sked for the weekend - looks like your race #2 is at 3:30 Saturday? Send a pm with the info where to find your team!

GT3 qualifying looks to be at 12:30 tomorrow - I'll catch it on the IMSA site at 12:30. Tell me who I'm suppose to cheer for!!!

Best of Luck to you guys.

Regards,
Carol

 

they run Porsches -> I do not remember Joe's team:-(

“IMSA is delighted to announce the formation of the GT3 Cup series,” said Tim Mayer, IMSA COO. “As an organization we are dedicated to the promotion of motorsports at all levels and the GT3 Cup has proven worldwide to create great racing for the fans and for the competitors.”

As part of the announcement IMSA announced that Michelin has agreed to be the title sponsor of the series. Michelin will be providing the spec tire for all competitors.

“As part of our racing heritage Michelin is proud to be a part of the first GT3 Cup Challenge in North America,” said Amanda Head, Michelin Motorsports Marketing Manager. “Michelin is associated with the GT3 Cup worldwide as part of our commitment to high-performance tires.

The racing partnerships Michelin has with Porsche and other OEMs helps us develop ultra-high performance tires that excel whether on the track or on the street.”

The purpose-built race cars, based on the Porsche 996 body style, will have sealed engines and transmissions, providing for close racing where the driver’s talents are exemplified. PMNA will provide technical support for the series with personnel, parts and expertise both away from and at the track.

Their first race will be on IMSA live timing today.

Carol

 

Amen to that!! The excitement of the four classes running together is about as good as one can get with racing. The neatest thing about the ALMS, LMS is that you are actually part of the event - being in the paddock with the cars, on the grid just prior to the start (it was included in the package we got from the LMS folks), the autograph sessions, in general FAN FRIENDLY. I usually check out the FIA-GT site always happy to see Scuderia Ecosse do well. We went to the LMS race at Monza last month - fantastic race with an enormous grid and kept an eye on the 908's the the GPC 430 that will be replacing PWL at Le Mans this year (Risi's competition). We're headed to Le Mans again this year - I think if we had to only pick one race to attend that's definitely it. Not that we haven't pulled the curtain on F1 but, well you know . . .we'll still go to Spa and hopefully Imola will be back next year.

We saw Tomas in the pits in Houston - got a thumbs up and big smile from him. It was great that the team had in Czech and English - "Hurry Back, Tomas". A very likeable guy. PWL certainly had quite an introduction with their two 430's. . . probably more than they anticipated especially coming from Porsches.

We will be at Lime Rock and will definitely have to meet you and your son.

I'm hoping for an Audi #1 (Allan and Dindo) overall for this weekend but in the test session last night the Penske's were quite fast. As Michael said in an earlier post, I wonder if we will see some "competition adjustments" from IMSA this year. I like the way FIA-GT has the handicap weights for the various placings.

Don't forget to catch everything on the IMSA site and from the link to Hindy on Globecast Radio. This race is another of those to be aired a week or so later.

Always glad to chat with you on here.

Have a great day and terrific weekend.

Carol

 

Practice recently completed. The two Penske Spyders again 1 & 2, AGR, Fernqandez, Dyson, Dyson, Highcroft, Emmaule Pirro, Allan, etc. Hopefully the Audi's will come up with the right equation for qualifying. In GT2 it was Turner for PWL, Henzler (Tafel), Flying Lizard, Mika, Risi #61, Corsa 430. Qualifying is this afternoon.

Carol

 

tape delayed on CBS - May 20 at 11 am MDT

live timing and commentary found on www.imsaracing.net for qualifying and the race

Carol

 

Thanks ! very much appreciated. I guess I must have had a brain fart as I totally forgot about XM radio - here's more helpful info:

We don't cover test sessions although we were up at the track and we would have broadcast them as an addition at most other tracks. Unfortunately as per last year, MMP does not have the ISDN lines we need for transmitting high quality audio. I'll apologise for the loss of quality in advance - we are using a standard phone line to send the audio to London so there's nothing we can do I'm afraid.

We will be doing the practices and qualifying today and the grid and race Saturday - we'll be missing warm up too for the same qaulity issue reason - Check out www.0157 for the schedule including the Saturday repeats of practice and qualifying - so if you have to miss it live due to w**k (sofry can't bring myself to type that word!) you can do catch up before the race... cool huh!

Don't forget that in addition to all the usual places the ALMS Radio Network takes over XM Sport Nation on channel 144. It's only for the race - they will be up about five mins before race start and stay on around 10 mins after the chequered flag.

It's important that you get the word out about this and make sure that this experiment is considered a success by those that matter. You never know where it might go from here if it all works out!

By the way to answer another question that we have been getting - Radio Le Mans will not be linking to Speed TV for their 'insomniacs coverage' this year. Speed are taking a full compliment of announcers so they will be doing all the coverage themselves.

Hindy

 

Hope you got some good photos. BTW, who's silver Enzo was parked next to Dyson?

Tomas Enge - PWL
Jaime Melo - Risi #62 - back .315
Bergmeister - Flying Lizard - back .621
Milner - RLR
Henzler
Aguas - F430
Pechnik
Maxwell
Healarey - Risi #62 - what happened to this car, the sesson was stopped for a short time for this car
Farnbacher
Borcheller
Auberlen

GT2 is definitely going to be a great class tomorrow!

Carol

P1 & P2 qualifying underway right now

 

WOW - what the heck happened to Audi?

Penske
Penske - .680
Lowes - 1.315
Dyson - 1.989
Highcroft - 2.261
AGR - 2.520
Dyson - 2.592
Dindo - Audi #1 - 2.915
Pirro - Audi #2 - 3.222
Devlin (P2) - 6.795
Field (P1) - 11.445
Lewis (P1) - 17.046

Wonder if competition adjustments will come into play for the P2 cars - weight balancing??? Perhaps it's time for Ulrich to have a word or two about the subject.

Carol