September, 2006› Page 2
Mazda, B-K Banking on Reliability in Petit Return
The high-pitched wail that personifies rotary power is set to return to the 2006 American Le Mans Series … and beyond. B-K Motorsports is preparing for its first Series race – Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda CX-7 – since a heavy crash at Lime Rock Park in July sidelined the team for the past four rounds.
Heading North of the Border For American Le Mans Action
The American Le Mans Series headed north of the border for it’s only visit to Canada this year. Unfortunately, those traveling north for the race with the hidden hope of getting out of the way of Tropical Storm Ernesto, only had it follow them to the Toronto area. Saturday found a day of rain and cold conditions with the series canceling qualifying as conditions worsened throughout the day. However, the start of the race on Sunday brought clear skies as the cars hit the track on this high-speed circuit.
Champions: McNish, Capello Win at Mosport
Another championship performance by Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello has delivered just that. The two Audi factory drivers clinched the American Le Mans Series’ LMP1 championship with a victory Sunday at the Grand Prix of Mosport, their sixth of the season.
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Stride-Rite
Guy Smith and Chris Dyson enjoyed their best finish of 2006 with second place in today’s Mosport Grand Prix. Twenty seconds down with thirty-three laps remaining, the #20 Lola/AER finished less than three seconds in arrears, with Smith breaking the track’s lap record ten minutes from the checkered flag. Joining Smith and Dyson on the podium was the third place pole- winning #16 machine of James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger. They led fifty-two laps including the first twenty-six.
Risi Competizione Ferrari Team Finishes 1-2 At Grand Prix of Mosport
Two Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT race cars finished first and second in class in the Labour Day Grand Prix of Mosport American Le Mans Series Race held at the Mosport race track in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. It was a historic day for Ferrari in the ALMS series as Risi Competizione won their third race of the season with the number 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari driven by Stephane Ortelli and Johnny Mowlen; their teammates, Toni Vilander and Maurzio Mediani drove the Number 61 Ferri Competizione/Ferrari of Silicon Valley F430GT to second place.
Audi Claims American Le Mans Series Title
With victory in the eighth race of the season at Mosport (Canada), Allan McNish (Scotland) and Dindo Capello (Italy) in their Audi R10 TDI clinched the LM-P1 title in the American Le Mans Series ahead of time. With their fifth outright race victory of the season, the two Audi “works” drivers now have an unassailable championship lead with the final two races at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca remaining. The Audi R10 TDI, that celebrated a race-winning début at Sebring in March and then won the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, remains unbeaten and is the first diesel-powered sportscar to win an important championship. After the success with the legendary R8 it is the seventh title in the prototype class for Audi. While Allan McNish was already ALMS champion in 2000, his co-driver Dindo Capello wins the championship for the first time on this occasion.
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Flying Lizard Third and Seventh in Hard-Earned Podium at Mosport; Retains GT2 Championship Lead
The Flying Lizard No. 45 and No. 44 Porsches finished third and seventh, respectively, in today’s Labor Day Grand Prix of Mosport. It was another tough race for the Lizards, who watched the No. 45 car start from third, then rocket to first and hold the lead for two-thirds of the race with Marc Lieb at the wheel. But their hopes for a win were dashed when a flat tire and unscheduled pit stop set the No. 45 back far down in the field. Teammate Johannes van Overbeek, who is leading in the ALMS GT2 drivers’ championship, was able to battle back to finish third in class and set the fastest race lap of any GT2 Porsche. Sister car No. 44 finished seventh after a solid race by Seth Neiman and Lonnie Pechnik.
Pirro, Audi Fastest on Wet Mosport Morning
Emanuele Pirro turned in the fastest time during a damp 30 minutes Sunday morning at Mosport International Raceway as the rain continued to fall prior to the Mobil1 presents Labour Day Weekend Grand Prix of Mosport. The defending Series LMP1 co-champion posted a lap of 1:25.205 in the No. 1 Audi R10 TDI.
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GT1 Front Row for Aston Martin Racing at Mosport
Aston Martin Racing will form the front row of the GT1 starting grid for the Grand Prix of Mosport on Sunday 3 September. Continue Reading…
Ernesto Reins
Dyson Racing won its third consecutive Mosport Grand Prix pole and its fourth of the season today. Qualifying was rained out, so the grid was set by the quickest practice time. James Weaver beat the track record this morning with the weekend’s fastest time. Chris Dyson and Guy Smith will start fourth in the # 20 Thetford/Norold entry. Dyson won the pole here last year.