Congrats Seth on your Watkins Glen win!

Thanks Rob. It was a fantastic weekend that I wasn't sure how it would end. The first practice session my car had a low oil pressure warning going off and nothing we did would remedy the situation. Come to find out it was an oil pressure sensor. Thank goodness. After that everything got better and better. The car was fast in practice but qualifying is where it really shined. My teammate (James Clay) gave me a draft down the front straight and through the esses. I knew this was going to be a good lap when I came through the busstop. The predictive was showing a faster lap than anybody had gone all weekend. And when I crossed the line it stuck. So I had pole position! And the race was very similar with lots of action going on behind me that allowed me stay out front. The interesting part about the race was that every lap was very close to a qualifying effort. Charles Espenlaub and I talked after the race with both of us saying every lap of the race was just like qualifying. Fast lap after fast lap. 10/10ths the whole time.

This race will be televised on July 22nd on Speed at 2PM. Watch it as I promise it will be fun.

http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?ID=1354

 

Congratulations from me also - Looking forward to watching it!

I was once sent to the parts store to pick up six "****ed it light switches" - "You know, the sensor that turns on the ****ed it light!"

Cheers,
Ian
PS - I was going to "bark" at Rob for the spoiler title! [Auto ban if you do that in the F1 section!....]

 

Hey Seth - Great job!
You deserve it, you're good driver who's workin' hard. Nicely done!!


Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

I just set my DVR for the race. Watkins Glen is my favorite track in U.S, the whole thing is amazing, I ran my GT3 a few times there.

Congratulations Seth, it takes a lot of commitment to win at the Glen, 10th/10th at the Glen with no run-off must be Nirvana.

 

Hey guys. Thanks again for the congratulations and well wishes. This race win was very important to me as I have been working on this for a long time. Peter Krause (proCoach) can attest to this as I have known him since I first started racing in the amateur ranks. To win at Watkins Glen is amazing but to do it in the fashion we did with all the great competition in our series makes it one of my most important racing memories.

A few weeks ago we were posting about driving at 10/10ths and what each person thought about that. This whole race was driven at 10/10ths by both Charles Espenlaub and myself. Lap after lap we were setting qualifying lap times. When my in-car video becomes available I will post it up so you guys can see what I am talking about. And maybe it will help some of you out if you ever go to the Glen!

http://bimmerworldracing.com/news/viewer.php?load=7709_BimmerWorldsThomasEarnsPoleLea.php

Photos: http://bimmerworldracing.com/media/wgi09.php

All three BimmerWorld/GearWrench cars in the top-10 as Seth Thomas takes his second win of the year, Nick Esayian gets 4th for his best finish of 2009 and James Clay takes 9th.


After taking his breakthrough series win at Round 1 in Sebring, Florida this year, BimmerWorld/GearWrench driver Seth Thomas proved that win was only the first of many to come.

After a light-to-flag victory at the famed Watkins Glen circuit on the Fourth of July, the Georgian confirmed he's driving better than ever.

"This was just a magical day for all of us. To win a race on Independence Day is incredible, and to do it like we did, with a strong car expertly prepped by the BimmerWorld crew, this is one I'll cherish. I'd also like to thank my wife who's busy taking care of our new daughter Adelyn. This is my first win as a father!"

Thomas made the most of the event, taking pole position and then leading every lap on his path to the win.

"That's about as complete a weekend's work as you can have in this business. I know Nick (Esayian) and James (Clay) weren't far behind, and that's a testament to how hard the BimmerWorld team's worked in the six weeks between races. These guys never stop trying to improve our cars, and the win and all three of us in the top-10 is the result of everybody that works for BimmerWorld."

Thomas crossed the finish line 1.118 seconds ahead of Charles Espenlaub after the Mazda driver spent the entire race following in Thomas' footsteps.

Teammate Nick Esayian in the #34 Debt Cures/SOWF BMW E90 took a close 4th place, just 2.195 seconds behind Thomas at the end of the twenty lap race. Esayian ran as high as 3rd, but settled for 4th after a lively battle with Espenlaub and Andrew Aquilante towards the end of the race.

"After a simply awesome launch and a fast/consistent race I really thought I had a 2nd or 3rd in the bag. I could catch Espenlaub but couldn't pass him. He would get away and pressure Seth and when I would get in his mirrors he would fall back a bit. It was amazing to watch. We were running a qualifying pace for almost 50 minutes. The Subaru ran us down and got by me...it was really surprising. I got along side him a few times on the last lap but without making contact, I couldn't make the pass stick. Overall it was a great race for our hardworking team and my hat's off to Seth for running that pace for the whole race with no mistakes."

Esayian's support of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation also carried added motivation for the World Challenge veteran. "We had two families of injured SF guys that were to attend this weekend that couldn't make the three hour drive. They were with us in spirit and I had a phone conversation with one of the guys after the race. They listened to the live audio streaming and watched the online timing and scoring. Although their injuries precluded them from making the drive I knew they were there in spirit. These guys are tough and never quit so to have them thanking ME for what I was doing was a bit embarrassing but I was proud to give the American flag a tour around the track on their behalf prior to the race."

BimmerWorld team owner/driver James Clay had the most frantic day of the three BMW E90s entered. After a stellar start moved Clay up to 4th, he raced in 5th place for the majority of the race. The Virginian would eventually feel the heat from Acura's lead drivers in the latter stages of the race.

"I had to fight it out a little at the start with Kleinubing and Aquilante and came out in front in 4th place. I was happy to see the two of them scrapping in my mirrors, which afforded me a bit of a gap behind. Unfortunately, the time I spent with them made me lose touch with the top-3 and while I could maintain the front gap, I was using my tires up to do it."

Once Clay's tires had passed their useful stage, fending off the cars chasing his BMW E90 became challenging. "The tires gave up their grip, my times started to slow, and the Subaru blasted past me. Then I saw Cunningham and Kleinubing getting closer and closer in the rearview mirror and working in tandem, so I knew I was never going to be able to make the car wide enough to keep them behind me. This was the toughest World Challenge race I have run and while 9th isn't where I want to be, the depth of the talent in the field here is amazing and I can't be overly upset."

While his own race wasn't as solid as he'd hoped, the combined efforts of the team left Clay feeling incredibly proud.

"I could see Seth and Nick up ahead and knew they had the goods today. The team was keeping me updated on their progress and I don't mind playing the role of tail-gunner if it means our hard work keeps paying off like this. All the credit goes to our crew chief Jason Marks and our BimmerWorld technicians.

"Thanks to Seth, we get to have two Fourth of July celebrations today. This will be one to remember!"

The impressive Watkins Glen results for the BimmerWorld/GearWrench team elevated Thomas to 3rd in the championship points standings, just six markers out of the lead. Nick Esayian holds 8th and James Clay holds 9th.

 

LOL those guys are great guys. Next time you see Foss give him a kick in the nuts. Tell him it is from me and it is because he is the guy that got me started racing in the first place.

 

Seth, I'm so proud of your win because, as it should be, your effort yielded equivalent results!

You're a winner, always have been, and it takes that building on everything you've done before to get there.

I'm honored that you should think of me, as I think of you often and pull for you every moment you're out there. Your ears were no doubt burning as we talked about the difference between yours and Clay's style in the Club Racing School at VIR! <grin> That said, he made the right choice at the right time in qualifying. He is to be congratulated also. Thanks for "taking me along for the ride" towards your success. I'm enjoying it as much as you are!

 

peter, you are a class individual!! nice words to seth.

pcb