Virginia Is For American Le Mans Series Sports Car Racing Lovers

Picturesque and challenging Virginia International Raceway. Image Credit:American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron

Virginia Is For American Le Mans Series Sports Car Racing Lovers

Today, the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron announced the addition of the 4.1-mile Grand Course at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) to the 2012 season schedule. The four classes of the ALMS will contest their prowess ... on a course that Car and Driver magazine described as the closest thing in America to a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife ... on Saturday, September 15 with the race to be televised on ESPN2.

The 4.1-mile Grand Course at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Image Credit:American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron

The event weekend will have as its headline a four-hour enduro with the ALMS elite sport cars, with the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda and the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX5 Cup as its supporting cast events.

Track speed records will fall at the hands of the world’s most exotic prototype sports cars and premier production-based GT cars at VIR. Image Credit:American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron

This excerpted and edited from the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón -

ALMS ADDS VIR TO 2012 EVENT SCHEDULE
Series' debut race at Virginia circuit will be on 4.1-mile Grand Course

The first ALMS race at VIR – located in Danville, Va. – also will mark the first competition on the track’s impressive 4.1-mile, 31-turn Grand Course. It’s a safe bet that track speed records will fall at the hands of the world’s most exotic prototype sports cars and premier production-based GT cars.

“For years we have received numerous inquiries from fans and competitors on when we would race at VIR, I’m proud to say that time is now,” said Scott Atherton, ALMS President and CEO.

“Virginia International Raceway is an excellent addition to what no doubt will be a fantastic 2012 season for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Given VIR’s history and acclaim as a world-class road racing facility, this is a natural fit. We look forward to working closely with the VIR team to introduce their fans and lots of new ones to the fastest, toughest and most entertaining competition VIR has witnessed.”

Arial view of the 4.1-mile Grand Course at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Image Credit:American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron

The history book at VIR is ripe with the biggest names in North American road racing. Built in 1957, the track played host to its first race in August of that year – an SCCA event that attracted the likes of Carroll Shelby, Bob Holbert, Carl Haas and more. VIR also played host to the first IMSA GT race in 1971 – Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg drove a Porsche 914-6 to a victory over Dave Heinz’s Corvette. Gregg and Haywood also won in the 1972 IMSA GT race at VIR.

Competitors over the years have heaped praise on the circuit. Paul Newman once opined that “if there’s a heaven on Earth, it’s VIR.” Car and Driver named it one of the six best road courses in the U.S..

“The list of drivers and manufacturers who have achieved success at VIR is a storied one,” Atherton said. “We are thrilled at the prospect of ushering in a new era of competition at VIR as the first series to run its Grand Course. The sights and sounds of our prototype and GT cars racing at high speeds around such a demanding and picturesque layout will create a spectacle no one should miss.”

The track closed in 1974 but reopened in 2000 after New York real estate developer and vintage racer Harvey Siegel acquired the track property in 1998. In addition to a repaving and widening of the circuit, VIR added resort facilities that include three hotel and multiple dining options. The track plays host to numerous events during the course of a season including sports cars, motorcycles and karting.
[Reference Here]

Tickets for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón race at VIR on Sept. 15 will be available at VIRnow.com beginning Feb. 1.

The 2012 American Le Mans Series season gets underway with the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on March 17. It also will mark the first race of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship. Visit sebringraceway.com for details on tickets and accommodations.

The annual Sebring Winter Test is scheduled for Feb. 8-9 at Sebring International Raceway. Tickets are $10 with no paddock access granted.

... notes from The EDJE



-Article first seen as Virginia Is For American Le Mans Sports Car Racing Lovers at Technorati-

First Lotus Indy Engine Test Goes Without Incident - Need Track Engineer

Simona de Silvestro rolls onto the track at Palm Beach International Raceway in the new HVM Racing, Lotus liveried, Dallara DW12 outfitted with the Lotus/Engine Developments Ltd. (JUDD) twin-turbo V6. This is the new look and sound of IZOD IndyCar for 2012 ... and with this specific livery, this is what the look of the car Sebastien Bourdais will drive for Dragon Racing for the season. Image Credit: indycar.com

First Lotus Indy Engine Test Goes Without Incident - Need Track Engineer

It is easy to be curious about the fortunes of the most new manufacturer/player in the IZOD IndyCar Series for the 2012 season - Lotus and its four team works effort.

This week (Jan. 12 - 14), HVM Racing turned in the first laps with the Lotus Indy full package for 2012 as Simona de Silvestro took the Dallara DW12 outfitted with the Lotus/Engine Developments Ltd. (JUDD) 2.2-liter, twin turbocharged V-6 engine that is fueled with E85 at Palm Beach International Raceway. According to information provided in a report at indycar.com, Simona was able to put on at least 162 laps (329.5 miles) for the full test by the end of the day, Saturday.

Testing continues Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 16 - 17) at Sebring International Raceway, where the Lotus program will join Chevrolet and Honda teams. Engineers from Lotus engine designer, Engine Developments Ltd., and personnel from Bryan Herta Autosport, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and HVM Racing (it is assumed that the fourth Lotus works team, Dragon Racing ... announced this week, is not ready) intend to run the same engine at Palm Beach and Sebring and use the spare engine from the four initial days as the test engine Jan. 23-24 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A quick search at Twitter turned up this "Tweet" of note posted on January 11, one day before any of the first laps of track testing by HVM Racing had started ... and the offer will end on January 18, one day after the first days of testing have been completed ... according to the listing at RaceStaff.com.

Race_Staff Russell at RaceStaff

Engine Developments Ltd (JUDD) are looking for an experienced track engineer, full details at RaceStaff.com

11 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply

Sorry, but this timing request seems a little odd, why not have this person in place before any track laps take place? This seems like a program of "catch-up" as opposed to one of intention put in place by an organization that was formed back in May 2011.

Jus' sayin'.

... notes from The EDJE



- Article first seen as First Lotus Indy Engine Test Goes Without Incident - Need Track Engineer at Technorati -

Lotus Indy Taps A Penske To Make 2012 A 4 Team Challenge

Sebastien Bourdais going through turn 9 at the end of the back straight driving the Boy Scouts of America sponsored Dale Coyne Racing Dallara during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. "Sea Bass" will join Katherine Legge to create a two car IZOD IndyCar team for Lotus Dragon Racing in 2012. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Lotus Indy Taps A Penske To Make 2012 A 4 Team Challenge

No ... it is not the first Penske that comes to mind but Dragon Racing IndyCar team owned by Jay Penske – Chairman and CEO of the Penske Media Corporation, and son of US racing legend Roger Penske joins the Lotus-powered IZOD IndyCar Series challenge for 2012. "Lotus Dragon Racing" (LDR) will be an official Lotus team, racing in the black and gold colors that are shared by the marque’s Formula One program.

Dragon Racing debuted in 2007 and promptly picked up a fifth-place at the Indy 500, straight out of the box, with Ryan Briscoe at the wheel. In 2009, its first full season, Dragon driver and ChampCar alum, Raphael Matos took the Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2012, the Lotus Dragon Racing line up is a particularly strong one featuring a couple of ChampCar World Series (CCWS) alums with winning traditions: Brit, Katherine Legge, the first female driver to win a major open-wheel race in North America, and four-time CCWS champion and former F1 racer Sebastien Bourdais (SeaBass).

Lotus Dragon Racing joins Bryan Herta Autosport, Dreyer & Reibold Racing, and HVM Racing to make it a four team Lotus-powered front in an effort to capture the first IZOD IndyCar Series championship of the fully unified modern era of American open wheel racing.

Group Lotus Director of Motorsport - Claudio Berro: "We are very pleased to be able to announce this new and exciting partnership with Dragon Racing today, a team which has demonstrated its potential and which we believe will achieve great success thanks to the Lotus IndyCar engine and the security of a major backer. Last year was Lotus' first foray into this prestigious open-wheel series since Jim Clark won the Indy 500 back in 1965. We have a tremendous legacy in this sport, and are determined to become winners again. The American market is one of the most important to Lotus in terms of road car sales, hence our aggressive marketing strategies through US auto racing. We believe Lotus Dragon Racing and our other partner teams will give us the best opportunity to achieve our ambitious goals."


Image Credit: Group Lotus

This excerpted and edited from Group Lotus -

INDIANA CLONES AND THE FAST CRUSADE
Press Release from Group Lotus

In 2012 no less than four teams with an anticipated minimum eight cars will be packing Lotus power in the IZOD IndyCar Series. The company’s all-new twin-turbo V6 has its first shakedown today at the Moroso circuit in Jupiter, Florida , with Lotus HVM driver Simona de Silvestro working the loud pedal. The engine program, which was announced in November 2010, has come together quickly without teething problems, and fire-ups away from the track have ticked all the boxes. Lotus Dragon Racing, Lotus HVM Racing, Lotus Bryan Herta Autosport, and Lotus Dreyer & Reinbold Racing are all confirmed as engine partners.

Claudio Berro, Group Lotus Director of Motorsport: “The engine has performed extremely well so far, and we and our partners are very pleased with the results. We had our first fire-up in a Dallara chassis in Palma, Italy on 21-23 December, then the engine was sent to America, and today we’re having our first on-track shakedown, at Moroso, which is very exciting. On January 1st we opened a Lotus facility in Indianapolis which will be our US engineering and logistics hub, so it’s all go. We’ve still got a lot of work to do before the start of the season, but I couldn’t be happier with the progress we’re making.”
[Reference Here]

2012 will prove to be a truly breakout year ... being the first year in a dynamic formula (multiple engine manufacturers and a potential of variance in aero-parts to be employed on a new Dallara DW12 chassis), and a fresh look at competition rules with the appointment of a new race director (also a CCWS alum) in Beaux Barfield.

... notes from The EDJE




Article first seen as Lotus Indy Taps A Penske To Make 2012 A 4 Team Challenge at Technorati

Bryan Herta Autosport Signs Alex Tagliani As Driver To Lotus Partner Effort

"Tags" shows off his Lotus logo emblazoned helmet before he is scheduled to go testing the Bryan Herta Autosport, Lotus-powered, Dallara DW12 for the 2012 season. Image Credit: Bryan Herta Autosport (2012)


Bryan Herta Autosport Signs Alex Tagliani As Driver To Lotus Partner Effort

Bryan Herta Autosport brings on Alex Tagliani (Tags) to test and drive the Lotus-powered, Bowen & Bowers Motorsports packaged, Dallara DW12 for the IZOD IndyCar Series for the 2012 season. The timing on this union will lend experience, technical ability, and overall proficiency in the race car during the Lotus engine on-track testing program.

The 2012 Lotus-powered package is scheduled to commence the on-track engine development Jan. 13-14 at Palm Beach International Raceway. It is assumed Bryan Herta Autosport and "Tags" will join HVM Racing and Simona de Silvestro in the two day test.

HVM manager Vince Kremer told IndyCar.com that his one-car team is working with other Lotus connected squads, Dreyer & Reinbold and Bryan Herta Autosport, in an effort to make up the ground lost by the lack of track time. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing owners Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl have not issued any statements as it relates to their direct involvement on the engine development tests to date. If Dreyer & Reinbold Racing participates at Palm Beach, Justin Wilson's "hands on" driver/engineer expertise would certainly be a welcomed add to the mix.

"[The testing schedule] is quite ambitious, and that's just the on-track," HVM's Vince Kremer said. "We haven't talked about any off-track testing, seven-post shaker rig testing or twisting the chassis. The good thing is we're working as a cooperative group with Dreyer & Reinbold and Bryan Herta [Autosport], and we seem to be working quite well together.

"Palm Beach will be more of an engine shakedown test. We're not really concerned about how many miles we run. Sebring will be getting more into developing the engine on the track."

The Lotus-powered partner teams will join Chevrolet and Honda engine aligned teams Jan. 16 in the IZOD IndyCar joint manufacturer 2012 pre-season testing at Sebring International.
(ht: Bryan Herta Autosport, indycar.com, Racer.com)

... notes from The EDJE

Bryan Herta Autosport Signs Alex Tagliani As Driver To Lotus Partner Effort at Technorati>

Stairway To Heaven Begins With Background In ChampCar

IMSA/ALMS 2011 Race Director Beaux Barfield, left, with IMSA/ALMS 2011 Clerk of the Course, Paul Walter looking on.Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Stairway To Heaven Begins With Background In ChampCar

In American professional exotic automobile racing, the path to on-track race management begins with an extensive history associated with ChampCar.

Announced this week were the appointments of two long time alums of ChampCar to top series race control and management - Beaux Barfield to IZOD IndyCar Series open-wheel racing and Paul Walter moving up to replace Beaux at the IMSA helm for American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón class-based sports car racing.

Last year, we had the pleasure of meeting both men at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in the race control center on the North side of the Start/Finish line when the ALMS showed up for its annual six-hour race. The tour of the IMSA operation and staff was very eye-opening and left us with these insights after interviewing Beaux Barfield for a feature posting. Read Beaux Barfield interview here (9-21-2011): http://motorsportsunplugged.com/f1/?p=801

Beaux Barfield in the Race Control tower with the Mazda Raceway Laguna Raceway front straight behind him. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

This excerpted and edited from YouTube (Edmund Jenks) -

Beaux Barfield & The ALMS/IMSA Race Control Team At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
September 17, 2011 - Video and Description by Edmund Jenks

If the IZOD IndyCar Series needed to update its approach to Race Control, they could not do any better than to adopt the approach used by Beaux Barfield and the ALMS/IMSA Race Control team.

The 2012 season with its introduction of the new Dallara (renamed the DW12 in honor of Dan Wheldon upon untimely his passing) requires a Race Control template that can deal with technology dynamics that will present themselves on the track.

The ALMS has four classes, running at various speeds and handling capabilities, on the track for many hours at a time. The new Dallara (DW12) will have three engines and the potential of many different body aero-package set-ups so a Beaux Barfield understanding, experience, and type of team approach might be just what the doctor would order for the future of the IZOD IndyCar Series Race Control management template.
[Reference Here]

In the YouTube referenced above, one could clearly see Paul Walte working shoulder-to-shoulder with Beaux Barfield in the Race Control tower above the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca track.

Walter is the perfect choice with an equally strong background in open-wheel racing through ChampCar and its evolution.

Here, Paul Walter flips through a technical information catalog just before the ALMS cars get the Green Flag to race. Notice the display at the bottom of the photo - the race car transponders show the field just going through turn five at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

This excerpted and edited from American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón news release -

IMSA PROMOTES WALTER TO ALMS RACE DIRECTOR
From: American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón

A new season for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón also will see a new Race Director. Sanctioning body IMSA announced today that Paul Walter will take over as the lead official for the ALMS, starting with the 2012 opener at Sebring.

Walter – from Columbus, Ohio – has been an IMSA official since 2005, with his most recent duty as Clerk of the Course. In his new role, Walter will be responsible for all officiating during ALMS races, qualifying and practice sessions. He also will conduct driver and team manager meetings on event weekends.
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In addition to his duties in IMSA race control, Walter also serves as Race Director for the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda.

His background includes a variety of top-level motorsports championships including CART and Champ Car, Formula BMW and the North American Touring Car Championship. Walter also was involved on the team level at CART as team manager for Tasman Motorsports Group.
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“Paul was the obvious choice to take over race control,” said Scot Elkins, COO of IMSA. “Our competitors know him very well as he has been the de-facto Assistant Race Director for the last three years. His knowledge of the series and the ALMS rulebook is better than anyone, and the consistency he brings to Race Control will help us continue building on what was a fantastic 2011 season.

“We’re extremely proud of the group we have at IMSA and glad to have Paul taking this leadership role within Race Control,” Elkins added. “We appreciate the time Beaux Barfield spent with us and are very proud that IndyCar recognized the level of talent we have within IMSA. We see that as a compliment to our organization and our approach. We wish Beaux the best and look forward to moving into the future with Paul.”

The 2012 American Le Mans Series season gets underway with the 60th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh from Florida on March 17.
[Reference Here]

Score a one, two punch for ChampCar racing culture and competition in American professional exotic automobile racing! Congratulations to both Beaux Barfield and Paul Walter ... long may they rein.

... notes from The EDJE



<Article first seen as Stairway To Heaven Begins With Background In ChampCar at Technorati>

An American President's Christmas Message From America To All

An American President's Christmas Message From America To All

It may amaze one to ponder that only 30 years ago (December 23, 1981), a President of the United States felt it was his leadership duty to speak directly about the reason for the season and assure all, whether they believed in Christianity or not, that our country and its citizens were protected here as one, under "Faith and Freedom" ... regardless of belief or circumstance.

May God bless the memory of Ronald Reagan. A message as poignant and timeless in 1981 as it is here in 2011.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

"Senna" Bestowed MPG's Best Of The Year Dean Batchelor Award

John Bisignano, former ESPN motorsport journalist during Senna's timeframe, accepts the Dean Batchelor Award on behalf of Asif Kapadia and Manish Pandey for the documentary, "Senna". Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


"Senna" Bestowed MPG's Best Of The Year Dean Batchelor Award

"Senna" ... the critically acclaimed documentary about the racing spirit and history of F1 driver Ayrton Senna just won the overall "Best Of The Year" Dean Batchelor Award - Excellence in Automotive Journalism for 2011!

Established by the Motor Press Guild in 1995, the Dean Batchelor Award recognizes excellence in automotive journalism as exemplified by the man it is named after – Dean Batchelor.

The Award singles out individuals demonstrating outstanding achievement in the profession of automotive journalism. Each year MPG presents the Dean Batchelor Award to the journalist judged to have produced the single piece of work which best represents the professional standards and excellence demanded by Dean Batchelor during his life as an editor, writer, and chronicler of the automotive industry.

The product of years of archival research, "Senna" traces the life and career of Brazilian racer and three-time Formula One champion Ayrton Senna, and his death at Tamburello corner while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Italy. The film was released overseas in 2010 and made its U.S. debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011, where it won the Audience Award. It has also taken awards at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, and the Adelaide Film Festival, and won the Motor Press Guild’s Best Audio/Visual Award for the Sept. 2010 to Sept. 2011 qualifying period before being bestowed the 2011 honoree as best out of four Dean Batchelor category award winners.

Catagory winners as follows (honored December 13, 2011):

Best Audio Visual: Senna, by Asif Kapadia and Manish Pandey

Image Credit: Working Title


Best Book: "Elva, The Cars, The People, The History" by Janos Wimpffen

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Best Article: "Questor Grand Prix" by Tom Stahler

Image Credit: VINTAGE MOTORSPORT


Best Photography: "Everybody's a Photographer" by Reinhard Klein

Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Basically, the highest award gearheads could bestow on a work of art and/or communication dedicated to motor culture in these four categories.

All hail "Best Of The Year" Dean Batchelor Award - Excellence in Automotive Journalism for 2011 to the documentary movie ... "Senna"!

... notes from The EDJE


<Article first published as "Senna" Bestowed MPG's Best Of The Year Dean Batchelor Award on Technorati>