October, 2006› Page 3
Corvette Racing Finishes on Podium at Petit Le Mans
The Battle of Atlanta was fought over hill and over dale today at Road Atlanta as Corvette Racing finished third and fourth in the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans endurance race. The penultimate round of the American Le Mans Series saw intense wheel-to-wheel combat between the Corvette C6.Rs and the Aston Martin DBR9s. Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Jan Magnussen finished third in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R behind the No. 007 and No. 009 Aston Martins. Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell and Max Papis were fourth in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R.
Petersen/White Lightning Captures Second-Straight Petit Le Mans
It took an effort that put two laps on the American Le Mans Series GT2 class field but Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing captured their second consecutive Petit Le Mans today at Road Atlanta. As late as the sixth hour of the 10 hour or 1,000 mile race, the No. 31 MMPIE/PAWS/Michelin Porsche 911 GT3 RSR languished a lap behind the class leaders. All of that had changed as the car crossed under the checkered flags in just over nine hours to complete 1,000 miles one lap ahead of the field. Persistent and aggressive driving by Jörg Bergmeister (Langenfeld, Germany) and Patrick Long (Las Vegas, Nev.), key strategy decisions by team manager Dale White (Bozeman, MT) and what are now being called “White Lightning” quick pit stops, the Michael Petersen-owned team rallied to their third Series class victory of the season. In the process, the Las Vegas-based team cut the driver championship lead to four points and added a ninth career Series victory to their tally.
Flying Lizards Finish 5th and 7th at Petit Le Mans
Flying Lizard Motorsports No. 45 and No. 44 Porsches finished 5th and 7th, respectively, in today’s 1000-mile Petit Le Mans endurance race. Eight of the 10 GT2 cars finished the race: quite an accomplishment in a contest of attrition like Petit. The Lizards still retain the drivers’ championship (Johannes van Overbeek is 4 points ahead of Jorg Bergmeister of Petersen White Lightning) but they are now second in the team championship (Risi Competizione now leads by six points).
Risi Competizione Ferrari Takes Second at 2006 Petit Le Mans
A Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT, driven by Marino Franchitti, Maurizio Mediani, and Anthony Lazarro, recovered from a first hour setback to move all the way from 10th to second place in the GT2 class in the 2006 Petit Le Mans endurance race. The race runs for 10 hours or 1000 miles, whichever comes first. This year, it was the 1000 miles, as the overall winning LMP1 Audi finished the 1000 miles in 9 hours, 16 minutes, and 48 seconds.
First and Second for Aston Martin DRB9 at Petit Le Mans
Aston Martin Racing came first and second at the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans on Saturday 30 September. Tomas Enge and Darren Turner taking the top GT1 honours in their 007 Aston Martin DBR9.
Short Day’s Journey Into Night
That is what separates racing from every other sport – in other forms of competition, you know how long your event will last, whether it be nine innings, four quarters, or eighteen holes. But racing is not as benevolent. You transport your team, 100,000 pounds of cars and equipment - test, practice and qualify, but there is no guarantee you will be there at the end.
Audi R10 TDI Also Wins “Petit Le Mans”
For the first time, a diesel-powered sportscar has won the American Endurance classic “Petit Le Mans”. With victory at Road Atlanta (US state of Georgia), Audi prematurely clinched the Manufacturers’ Championship in the LM P1 “top class” of the American Le Mans Series having already won the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles. The new Audi R10 TDI remains unbeaten in the seventh race of its début season, having now won the third most important Endurance race of the year after the 12 Hours of Sebring in March and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
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