Latest News
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
MORNING BREW
Yesterday I went over to Kowloon Tong for a chat on air with Phil Whelan of Hong Kong's RTHK Radio 3. We talked about the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Spandau Ballet... Click here to listen.
Labels: D24 2009, Matthew Marsh
Saturday, January 31, 2009
TV HIGHLIGHTS FROM SPEED - of car 86
Leading the GT class in the Rolex 24 led to plenty of coverage on SPEED. They also captured the nasty pitlane accident which injured our mechanic Steve Gysin. Despite heavy bruising he carried on working until the end of the race.
Friday, January 30, 2009
ROLEX 24 at DAYTONA - INTRODUCTION FILM
We've re-loaded this in widescreen format (as it was supposed to be) and because some of you might have missed it in the flood of Rupert Lloyd Thomas's material over the race weekend.
Watch this film to see Matthew interviewing such stars as Juan-Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Darren Turner, Antonio Garcia and Max Angelelli.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A LAP OF DAYTONA
A gentle lap of the circuit on board car 86, the Flex-Box Porsche GT3
Labels: D24 2009, Flex-Box, Matthew Marsh, Porsche, Wheel Enhancement
Monday, January 26, 2009
MADE IT
The #86 Flex-Box Porsche finished 13th overall and 5th in GT in the Rolex Daytona 24 Hours at Daytona International Speedway, Florida, 24/25 January 2009.
Congratulations to drivers Matthew Marsh, Dominik Farnbacher, Eric Lux and Kevin Roush.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
COMING UP SHORT
The Flex-Box Porsche #86 came up short at about 10:40 this morning appearing on the TV monitors on the end of a tow rope. The car is dropping down the leader board - the problem appearing while Kevin Roush was in the car. More to follow.
Update: Not quite out it seems - new driveshaft for #86 Porsche and the car is back out with Kevin Roush in 14th place. No banana or Rolex!
Update: 13:00 hours and Matthew Marsh is driving the Flex-Box Porsche which has completed 611 laps and is in 14th place overall and running fifth in the class, eleven laps behind the GT leader.
Update: 14:15 Dominik Farnbacher is back at the wheel of #86 and charging hard with the slim hope of catching the cars in front which have slackened their pace.
Shortly before the breakdown Matthew Marsh spoke to Rupert Lloyd Thomas about the race for the GT lead:
ROLLING THE DICE
This race may very well be decided on the pit stops with a caution period coming at the right time to deliver a decisive advantage to one team or another. After eighteen hours of racing just over a minute separates the top three in GT.
Update: Andy Lally has moved to second in GT as Kevin Roush joins the fight in car #86.
Update: Andy Lally vaults into the class lead in car #67.
HOUR EIGHTEEN: MORNING RUSH
Matthew Marsh in the Flex-Box #86 Porsche is in a hurry as he tries to close the gap to car #66 and driver Richard Lietz.
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Richard Lietz is in car #66 and leading the class. Matthew Marsh is in car #86 about a minute behind while Andy Lally is a further 20 secs back in car #67.
HOUR SEVENTEEN
Emmanuel Collard has taken the class lead back again as Dominik Farnbacher pits and Matthew Marsh is now in car #86. The gap following the pitstop is 1:03.627. Like at the front of the race there is a titanic struggle going on for the GT class win - with #66, #86 and #67 all in with a shout.
HOUR SIXTEEN APPROACHES
Emmanuel Collard is shown as leading the GT class on 457 laps with Dominik Farnbacher 34.972 secs back on 457 laps.
Update: Dominik Farnbacher back in the lead in GT in 8th overall - Collard now 52.185 secs back in #66 and ninth place. Jorg Bergmeister is also on the lead lap in #67.
Update: Max Angelelli leads the race overall in the Suntrust Dallara on 500 laps. A dogfight is going on at the front with five DP cars on the lead lap.
FIFTEEN HOURS
Dominik Farnbacher is back in the GT lead just after 15 hours into mission, having passed Justin Marks on the restart following a caution period. The lead is shown as 8.495 secs on lap 433.
Emmanuel Collard has jumped up to second in class, 11.444 secs off the lead on lap 434. Farnbacher has punched in a lap at 1:50.829 to fend off his pursuers.
FOURTEEN HOURS
The #86 Flex-Box Porsche leads the GT class here in Daytona, Eric Lux resisting pressure from Patrick Long, the gap extending to 18.366 secs on lap 404. He is currently eighth overall. Jimmie Johnson is running in 11th position.
Update: Eric Lux pitted to hand the #86 car over to Dominik Farnbacher, who resumed in second position in GT in pursuit of Patrick Long, the gap being 1 mins 12.382 secs on lap 418. A full course caution on lap 421 for #86 looks set to close up the field once more. Dominik Farnbacher is back in first place in GT and eighth overall on lap 422. Justin Marks is now at the wheel of car #67.
THIRTEEN HOURS
Kevin Roush is resisting pressure from Pat Long in the #67 TRG Porsche retaining a lead of 1 min 13.109 secs on lap 374. Now showing as 8th overall on lap 375 in car #86.
Update: Eric Lux is in the #86 car now and Pat Long is pressing, running some three seconds back in car #67. 389 laps completed.
HALF WAY HOME
At the half way mark the Flex-Box Porsche #86 leads the GT category here in the Rolex 24. Not one of the fancied runners at the outset the car has run consistently at or close to the front of the GT field. The car has broken into the top ten, now in ninth and has a lap advantage over the #67 TRG Porsche currently driven by Andy Lally.
In DP the overall leader is the Suntrust Dallara Ford of Taylor/Angelelli/Frisselle/Lamy.
ELEVENTH AT ELEVENTH HOUR
Matthew Marsh is knocking on the door of the top ten running in eleventh place overall on lap 316 - Marsh came to pit road to hand over to Kevin Roush who was back on track on lap 317. Richard Lietz is now in the #66 TRG Porsche and has a 1 mins 39.993 secs advantage over Roush.
Update: Roush jumps into the lead with Andy Lally following in second place in the #67 Porsche, Lietz third in #66. #86 now tenth place overall.
Update: Lally in hot pursuit but now 36.246 secs back on lap 327. By lap 333 the lead has stretched out to 39.896 secs.
Car #86 now ninth overall.
TEN HOURS
Matthew Marsh has taken the #86 Flex-Box Porsche back into the GT class lead in the Rolex 24. Some two seconds adrift is Emmanuel Collard in the #66 TRG Porsche. On lap 296 Collard took the lead with a gap of 4.422.
At two o'clock the Collard car was running in 11th position with Matthew Marsh running twelfth 11.699 seconds behind. Both car are appearing on the illuminated scoreboard here at Daytona.
MARSH STAYS IN TOUCH
On lap 283 Matthew Marsh has closed the gap on Emmanuel Collard to 14.843 secs at the head of the GT class.
NINE HOURS
Overall leader was the Dixon/Franchitti/Lloyd/Pruett #02 Lexus Riley followed by France/Barbosa/Borcheller/Haywood in #59 Brumos Porsche. Third is the Pruett/Rojas/Montoya/Dixon Lexus Riley. Fourth was the Briscoe/Bernhard/Dumas Penske Porsche Riley.
FARNBACHER LOLES TEAM NOTES II
Farnbacher Loles Racing led the GT class for most of the first six hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona on Saturday. Dominik Farnbacher, Matthew Marsh and Kevin Roush all led in the #86 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, alternating the lead with their teammates Leh Keen and Wolf Henzler in the #87 Porsche. The #85 and #88 Porsches maintained a top-10 pace through the first quarter of the 24-hour race
ONE THIRD DISTANCE
Dominik Farnbacher is running second in class in GT at one third distance, about one minute behind the leader Spencer Pumpelly. Farnbacher is running consistently quicker than Pumpelly and closing the gap.
Midnight: Farnbacher has been charging to make up time lost in a pitstop gone wrong - he arrived at the pits with the crew unprepared and went straight back out. The lead has been whittled down to some 37 secs on Lap 245.
Update: The gap is down to 33.508 on lap 249.
Update: Matthew Marsh in the #86 at 12:15. At 260 laps he is chasing Emmanuel Collard in the TRG #66 Porsche. The gap is 27.448 secs. Patrick Long is riding in third. Marsh now cuts the gap to 26.779 on lap 261. Down to 23.557 secs on lap 264. 22.324 secs on lap 265. 18.680 on lap 266. A nice sequence as the #86 reels in the TRG car. Eases to 19.267 on lap 267. To 22.022 on lap 269.
FLEX-BOX LEADS IN ROLEX AFTER 7½ HOURS
Dominik Farnbacher is back in the lead in GT in the Rolex 24 inheriting first place as Paul Edwards pitted in #07 Pontiac. #86 is in 15th place overall, 220 laps.
Scott Dixon took the lead in the DP Class and overall at 22:00 hours in the Ganassi Lexus-Riley. Greetings to Jo in NZ.
Update: Spencer Pumpelly #66 to the class lead on lap 222. Farnbacher second.
FARNBACHER LOLES TEAM NOTES
Corporate headquarters: Danbury, Connecticut.
Race shops: Braselton, Georgia, and Sonoma, Calif.
Website: farnbacherlolesracing.com
Team:
owner, principal partner Gregory Loles
owner, technical director Horst Farnbacher
team manager Frank Resciniti
race engineer Horst Farnbacher (86)
strategist Michael Spinti (86)
Car: GT class, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
HOUR SEVEN
Dominik Farnbacher is back in the Flex-Box Porsche #86 at 10:20 as we approach the seven hour mark, taking over from Eric Lux, who double stinted. The car is now in second position in the class after seven hours, behind car #07, the Pontiac of Paul Edwards. #86 16th overall.
Splendid firework display at 22:00.
The #52 and #56 Ferrari 430 Challenges have returned to competition after lengthy visits to the garage.
HOUR SIX
The race has been under caution at the six-hour mark. Eric Lux is double-stinting in #86 Porsche, running 4th in class after the restart with Jan Magnussen, Richard Westbrook and Richard Lietz ahead. #86 is nineteenth overall.
FIVE HOURS IN
#86 with Eric Lux at the wheel is in 2nd place in GT, at 153 laps, running behind the Pontiac of Jan Magnussen. We have just gone under full course caution at 20:49 local time after five hours running and change. The Farnbacher Loles Porsche is running well with Dominik Farnbacher due in the car next, when he has finished sewing the badges on his overalls. RLT.
HOUR FOUR
#86 has led the class for much of the way. There was an incident in a pitstop when the front wheel-changer on car #86 was hit by another competing car #87. Kevin Roush was quickly back on track and back on the pace - the car was third in the class at the fourth hour headed by the #7 Pontiac of Edwards/Collins/Magnussen and the #33 Porsche of Martien/Zacharias/Maassen/Pilet.
Update: Kevin Roush back to the GT2 class lead on lap 131. 18th overall.
Update: 213 drivers, 49 cars, 19DP, 30 GT.
Jo in NZ asks us to put a local time/race time on our reports: The race started at 15:30 local time and the hourly updates are on the half hour, internet permitting.
[Note: we lost the internet connection for a spell.]
TRADING PLACES
Matthew Marsh has swapped places with Leh Keen in the #87 Porsche and is now running 2nd in the class 0.533 seconds adrift on lap 86.
Update: Marsh retakes the class lead on lap 87 by 0.620 secs. Keen back to the lead by 0.662 secs on lap 88. Keen retains lead on lap 89 by 0.846 secs. Ding dong. Lap 90 the gap is 0.631.
OFF THE WALL
Photo: Colin Marsh.
Matthew Marsh goes over the wall to start his first driving stint in the Rolex 24, taking over from Dominik Farnbacher in the GT2 class-leading Flex-Box Porsche.
TWO HOURS: #86 LEADS THE CLASS
David Donohue in the Brumos Porsche #63 leads overall. Michael Valiante in the Michael Shank Racing Ford/Riley is second.Despite a brief spin Dominik Farnbacher remains at the front in GT, 20th overall and pitted from the class lead. Matthew Marsh in the car at 17:25 for the first time. A twitch on pit lane as he took to the circuit.
Update: Matthew Marsh running second in the class, 21st O/A, 66 laps, 3.722 seconds behind the class leader #87 Porsche.
Update: At lap 70 the gap to car #87 is 1.331 secs behind. Matthew Marsh to the class lead on lap 71. Rock and roll.
Update: Matthew Marsh still leads the GT class here in Daytona by 2.357 secs on lap 77. Lap times vary in the traffic but his pursuers are running no quicker. 19th overall.
ONE HOUR GONE: PORSCHE RULES
Dominik Farbacher is still in car #86 and running first in GT at one hour gone - a very encouraging start for the Flex-Box team. 20th overall - 3 laps off the lead car. Timo Bernhard is the overall leader in the Penske Porsche Riley. Followed by David Donohue.
Update: There are three Porsche cars on the at the front of GT2: Dominik Farnbacher #86; Dirk Werner #87, Andy Lally #67.
Update: Porsche 1-2-3 at the front in DP. 1-7 in GT.
Update: There are three Porsche cars on the at the front of GT2: Dominik Farnbacher #86; Dirk Werner #87, Andy Lally #67.
Update: Porsche 1-2-3 at the front in DP. 1-7 in GT.
Update: Farnbacher spins but continues. Mazda #70 back on track shortly before 17:15.
FLEX-BOX FLASH 1
The race is underway here in Daytona. Dominik Farnbacher started the #86 Flex-Box Porsche and moved up to 5th in class in the early going running in 23rd position.
Update: Farnbacher to 2nd in class after 10 laps behind Sylvain Tremblay in the Mazda, so a great start for the Flex-Box Porsche.
Update: Shortly before 16:00 Farnbacher to lead in GT, Tremblay in the paddock for repairs. There is a long way to go!
Update: #86 still in the GT class lead. Farnbacher still in the car on Lap 20. Sylvain Tremblay has gone 12 laps down in the Mazda and looks to be out.
Update: Porsche 1-4 in GT. Farnbacher still in front. Class leaders lapping in the 1 mins 52 secs bracket.
BRIAN REDMAN: GRAND MARSHAL
Brian Redman, racing driver of renown and Grand Marshal of the Rolex 24, addresses the drivers meeting prior to the start of the big event. He later issued the famous command "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!"
GENTLEMEN START YOUR PENS
Photo: Rupert Lloyd Thomas.
Autograph hunters apply here: Kevin Roush, Matthew Marsh, Eric Lux and Dominik Farnbacher sign a photograph of the #86 Flex-Box Porsche in the Fan Zone at Daytona International Speedway before the start of the Rolex 24. In the background ace photographer Colin Marsh.
TEAM TALK II
Photo: Rupert Lloyd Thomas.
Alan Mackay from Hong Kong is in Daytona with Flex-Box Racing to enjoy the week-end here in Florida. He chats to Matthew Marsh and the other #86 drivers at the autograph table prior to the start of the Rolex 24.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
DRIVER PROFILES FOR FLEX-BOX CAR #86
Matthew Marsh
Born September 24, 1968 in Welwyn, England
Residence: Hong Kong
Family: wife Jessie
Website: matthewmarsh.net
race highlights
1998 Caterham championships – four poles, 11 wins
2000 24h-Rennen Nürburgring – class podium; 24 Hours of Spa; Coys Festival –
class win, third overall in 1968 Brabham BT31 Formula One car
2002 Bathurst 24 Hour class winner, fifth overall; Asia Formula 2000
2003 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – one pole, two podiums; Merdeka Millennium
Endurance race leader; Asian Touring Car Series – one podium
2004 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion – four wins, six podiums; Zhuhai
1000km Endurance Race – second; Trofeo Vodafone Maserati race winner;
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
2005 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – one win, four podiums; Asia GT Challenge – two
wins in two races; Le Mans Endurance Series
2006 24h-Rennen Nürburgring SP6 – second; Le Mans Classic; Porsche Carrera
Cup Japan – second; Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – five podiums
2007 24 Heures du Mans GT2; 24h-Rennen Nürburgring SP7
2008 Rolex 24 At Daytona GT; 24h-Rennen Nürburgring SP8 winner; World
Touring Car Championship Independent Trophy – three podiums, only Hong Kong driver to score an FIA championship point; Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – 10 top-six finishes
other highlights
only driver who has competed in the Porsche Supercup and Carrera Cup series in Asia, Great Britain and Japan
ESPN Star TV guest commentator and Formula One World Championship presenter; automotive and motorsport writer
Dominik Farnbacher
Born: September 26, 1984 in Ansbach, Germany.
Residence: Ansbach, Germany
Family: single
Website: dominik-farnbacher.de
race highlights
1992 – 1999 karting and motocross racing
2000 – 2001 Formula ADAC
2002 – 2003 Porsche Carrera Cup
2004 Porsche Supercup – seventh; Porsche Carrera Cup – eighth
2005 Rolex 24 At Daytona GT winner; Porsche Carrera Cup – fourth, two podiums
2006 24 Heures du Mans GT2 – second; Rolex 24 At Daytona GT – fifth; American
Le Mans Series GT2 – Petit Le Mans; Le Mans Series GT2 – one top-five,
two top-10 finishes
2007 Rolex 24 At Daytona GT – led 113 laps; Rolex Series GT – two podiums;
American Le Mans Series GT2 – fifth, two podiums including Petit Le Mans
2008 American Le Mans Series GT2 – second, one record pole, four wins, seven
podiums, one record fast lap; 24 Hours of Spa GT2; Rolex Series GT – three
top-10 finishes
other highlights
earnings go to building a family dealership in Germany
enjoys handball, soccer, volleyball, mountain biking and electro-music
Eric Lux
Born: March 22, 1988 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Residence: Jacksonville, Florida.
Website: ericlux.com
race highlights
2001 – 2004 karting – numerous podium finishes
2005 Historic Sportscar Racing – eight wins; first 16-year-old to finish a Rolex
24 At Daytona and to compete in a Grand-Am Cup race
2006 Rolex Sports Car Series GT – one podium, five top-five, 13 top-10 finishes;
Grand-Am Cup GS – one win, two podiums
2007 Rolex Sports Car Series DP – Sunchaser 1000 fourth, first DP race; Rolex
Sports Car Series GT – one podium, four top-five, seven top-10 finishes
2008 Rolex Sports Car Series GT – one pole, one win, two podiums, five top-five
finishes
other highlights
both parents raced, father still competes in historic sports cars
gave up professional snowboarding and coaching for racing
enjoys boarding, surfing, rock-climbing and mountain-biking
studying marketing and communications at Jacksonville University
Kevin Roush
Born: September 12, 1963 in Ontario, Calif.
Residence: Upland, California.
Education: bachelor of science degree in environmental sciences
Family: wife Tammy
race highlights
2001 Porsche Owner's club V3/R5 – one win, two podiums
2002 – 2003 Porsche Owner's Club V3/R5 champion – 16 wins
2004 Porsche Owner's Club V3/R5 – third
2005 Rolex 24 At Daytona GT; IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge – second, three poles,
two wins in five races; Porsche Owner's Club V3/R5 champion – eight wins in
10 races, driver of year
2006 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge – third, three wins, five podiums
2007 Rolex 24 At Daytona GT – 10th; IMSA GT3 Cup – five wins, seven podiums;
Rolex Sports Car Series GT – two top-10 finishes
2008 Rolex 24 At Daytona GT – drove to third in second hour; Rolex Sports Car
Series GT – one top-five, four top-10 finishes
other highlights
owns GAS Motorsport, a Porsche performance preparation and race shop
top-level mechanic and driving coach – has designed, built, serviced and campaigned winning Porsche 911 race cars
accomplished skier, alternative sports participant, skateboarder and motocross rider
[With thanks to Sylvia Proudfoot of Farnbacher Loles Racing. RLT.]
DAYTONA 24 ON ESPN STAR TV HONG KONG
For those of you without microscopic eyesight the start of the Rolex Daytona 24 will be shown on ESPN STAR TV Asia at 04:30 local time Sunday in Hong Kong.
For local TV listings check out http://www.espnstar.com/tv-listings/
Lookout for Matthew Marsh of Hong Kong driving the #86 Flex-Box Porsche.
Message from Matthew: "Checked their website. They're showing the start of the race at 0430hrs thru 0530hrs Sunday 25th and the finish from 0230hrs thru 0500hrs Monday. Mega."
FLEX-BOX and Matthew Marsh at the Rolex 24
Check out our preview film including interviews with Juan-Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon.
Labels: Antonio Garcia, D24 2009, Dario Franchitti, Darren Turner, Flex-Box, Juan Pablo Montoya, Matthew Marsh, Max Angelelli, Porsche, Scott Dixon, Wheel Enhancement
CLOCK TICKING FOR #86 AT ROLEX
Photo: Colin Marsh.
On-track practice for the Rolex 24 is over here at Daytona. Teams are now discussing tactics, and maybe practicing driver changes, ahead of the big race, which starts at 15:30 on Saturday. Matthew Marsh and crew will be attending a dinner this evening, hosted by Henrik Nielsen, generous sponsor of the Flex-Box Porsche, to welcome team guests in Daytona for the big event. Simon Harrison will premiere a much-anticipated short film of the build-up to the race which showcases the #86 Flex-Box entry and gives a sneak preview of the footage due to be shown on STAR TV Asia shortly, on the Engine Block programme. RLT.
DOMINIK FARNBACHER AT DAYTONA 2009 - talks to Rupert Lloyd Thomas
Labels: D24 2009, Flex-Box, Wheel Enhancement
TEAM TALK
With little in the way of on-track running today the drivers of car 86 have time to talk to Rupert Lloyd Thomas about prospects for the race.
Labels: D24 2009, Flex-Box, Wheel Enhancement
Friday, January 23, 2009
INTO THE DARK
Pic: Bob Chapman, autosport image.
The final act of day one here in Daytona, now underway, is the two hour free practice under the lights, with the first sight of the cars on the banking at night. Viewed from the pits they make a spectacular sight with the Daytona Prototype cars generally passing the slower cars on the high side as they come past the pits. This practice provides more opportunities for the pit crews to limber up and the drivers to get used to the circuit under the most challenging of circumstances. Tomorrow further opportunities for practice are rounded out by the KONI Challenge Fresh From Florida 200 at 13:45, which has a 3 hour time limit.
Update: Dominik Farnbacher in the #86 Flex-Box Porsche was back on the pace in night practice with a time of 1 mins 49.914 secs, within 0.5 secs of the pole time set by Sylvain Tremblay in the Mazda RX-8.
DAVID DONOHUE DELIVERS AT DAYTONA
David Donohue will start the Daytona 24 Hours from pole position having set a time of 1 min 40.540 secs in his Brumos Porsche Riley. Ironically forty years after his father, Mark Donohue, won this event for Roger Penske in 1969, his chief rival for the pole was Timo Bernhard in a Penske Racing Porsche Riley.
Labels: D24 2009
MAZDA CLIMBS TO GT2 POLE
Sylvain Tremblay driving the #70 Castrol Syntec Mazda RX-8 snatched the GT2 class pole here at Daytona late in the session. On the outside front row will be Andy Lally in the #67 TRG Porsche.
Dominik Farnbacher in the #86 Porsche experienced clutch problems during the session and did not feature in the qualifying shoot-out. The pole position is useful for publicity purposes but is not greatly significant in a 24 Hour race.
Dominik Farnbacher experienced some niggling problems, now being resolved in the garage, after qualifying ninth in 1 mins 50.234 secs.
Pic: Bob Chapman, autosport image.
DAVID HOBBS: RACING LEGEND
David Hobbs, former racing driver and SPEED TV F1 commentator, talks to Matthew Marsh about the history of the Daytona 24 Hours. David can remember when this event was a three hour race back in 1962, launched to jump start an international reputation for Daytona and attract competitors from Europe. The first 24 Hour event was held in 1966.
Labels: D24 2009
BANKED TRACK MASTERCLASS
Dario Franchitti, from Scotland, talks to Matthew Marsh about tackling Daytona from the perspective of a man who has won here and also in the Indianapolis 500, in the wet.
Labels: D24 2009
JUAN PABLO AT EASE
JPM or Juan Pablo Montoya, NASCAR superstar, Indy 500 winner and F1 enigma, talks to Matthew Marsh about the prospects for the Daytona 24 Hours. He knows how to win here.
JUSTIN BELL: FAMILY TRADITION
Justin Bell, SPEED TV presenter and former pilote talks to Matthew Marsh about Daytona; providing colour for Asian racing fans.
Labels: D24 2009
#86 A BANKER BET
Fourth fastest in first practice the #86 Porsche of Farnbacher/Lux/Marsh/Roush at speed on the front stretch at Daytona. Fastest were team-mates #87 Porsche of Keen/Werner/Henzler/Westbrook, in a time of 1:49.852, followed by the TRG Porsche #67 of Marks/Lally/Valentine/Bergmeister. Third was the Mazda interloper of Haskell/Tremblay/Ham/Bomarito.
Update: In second practice the #86 Porsche of Farnbacher/Lux/Marsh/Roush was once again fourth overall in the GT class with a time of 1mins 50.680 secs.
Labels: D24 2009, Flex-Box, Wheel Enhancement
LUX WAITS FOR #86
A pensive Eric Lux waits his turn at the wheel of the #86 Porsche in the pits at Daytona.
Labels: D24 2009
PITSTOP PRACTICE
Eric Lux exits the #86 Porsche at Daytona during pitstop practice. Just visible behind is Matthew Marsh who is assisting with the changeover just prior to climbing aboard. RLT.
Labels: D24 2009, Flex-Box, Wheel Enhancement
MARSH ON STAR TV ASIA
Matthew Marsh chats to Simon Harrison, cameraman for Star TV Asia, at the first practice sesssion for the Daytona 24 Hour sports car race. The footage is scheduled to appear on an upcoming edition of the show Engine Block.
The pair have been interviewing the superstars of this race including three-times NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, who graciously conceded he was a one-time wheel polisher for Simon in his race driving days.
Labels: D24 2009, Flex-Box, Macau 2008
Thursday, January 22, 2009
DAYTONA '09: LET BATTLE COMMENCE
As first practice gets underway here in Daytona, the buzz is beginning to build for the 24 hour race which starts here at 15:30 on Saturday. Eric Lux from Jacksonville, Florida is now on track in the #86 entry The six-car Farnbacher Loles Porsche squad was previously arrayed in the pit garages in the morning sunshine with introductions being made, contacts exchanged and cries of "its our year!"
The drivers of car #86 Porsche GT3 give their views on the race to come:
Matthew Marsh, Hong Kong:
"Back home in Hong Kong, people are impressed when they hear I'm competing in the Rolex 24 hours. Like Le Mans or Monaco, the word Daytona has gravitas even outside the motorsport world. Daytona scores extra points by its unique attributes: a round-the-clock race in winter time, the widest variety of drivers, the closeness of the racing, the chance to win a Rolex and, of course, the banking of the Speedway. All of these are wow factors. Obviously, it's an honor to race at Daytona; more importantly, it's a pleasure."
[Note: This is Matthew Marsh's second appearance at Daytona. He competed last year in the #56 Mastercar F2 Motorsport Ferrari 430 which retired just after the two hour mark, while Matthew was at the wheel. The car succumbed to a massive tyre failure at speed on the back stretch which tore the fuel tank from its mountings and resulted in the total loss of the fuel pump. ]
Eric Lux, Jacksonville, Florida:
"This will be my fifth Rolex 24 hours of Daytona and my second with Farnbacher Loles Racing. [Team owner] Greg Loles has given us a great Porsche for this race including a strong driver line-up. I have been training hard for this race and hopefully the fifth one will be the charm! I can't say enough about the team and how much I'm looking forward to this race. I truly hope I will be able to find sponsorship to be able to compete in the rest of the Grand-Am season!"
Kevin Roush, Upland, California:
"To get another real chance at winning the Rolex 24 is a dream come true. I have to give a big thank you to Wheel Enhancement and Farnbacher Loles for giving me such a great opportunity that all we drivers have to focus on is taking care of the car. I came here once as a spectator in 1996 and could barely take sitting and watching those cars racing throughout the night. Each time I hit the banking in turn six, I think back to those days and how stoked I am to be here."
Dominik Farnbacher, Ansbach, Germany:
”It is nice to come back for the 24h race this year again, after competing since 2004. In 2005, I won the race and I want to have another victory this year. We had a great test in early January and it showed that our team and the new Porsche are well-prepared for the long race. So my goal is to drive consistently fast lap times and make no mistakes throughout the race, and that will bring us a good result at the end. My teammates are also very strong and it will be pleasure to drive with them and compare our cars to all the great makes and drivers out there."
RLT with thanks to Sylvia Proudfoot at Farnbacher Loles Racing.
Labels: D24 2009, Flex-Box, Wheel Enhancement
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
BACK ON THE BANKING
Hong Kong racing driver Matthew Marsh hopes to return home from Florida next week with a new wristwatch. The winning drivers in this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona (January 24/25) each receive a rare timepiece from the race title sponsor - and the kudos of victory in one of the classic round-the-clock sports car events.
Marsh, the 2004 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion, will share driving duties of the number 86 Porsche GT3 with Dominik Farnbacher, Eric Lux and Kevin Roush. The car, entered by 2007 GrandAm Rolex GT champions Farnbacher-Loles Racing, set the fastest time at the official test days for the 24-hours earlier this month.
"Like Le Mans or Monaco the word Daytona has gravitas even outside of the motor sport world,” says Marsh who became in 2007 the only Hong Kong driver to have raced in the prestigious Le Mans 24-hours. “Daytona scores extra cool points for the variety of drivers it attracts and the unique nature of the track.”
This year’s Rolex 24 will star ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, three-times NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti. IndyCar star Danica Patrick is back for her second attempt as is actor-turned-racer Patrick Dempsey. In 1995 the legendary Paul Newman scored a class victory at Daytona at the age of 70 (having taken up racing aged 43 and then finishing second at Le Mans in 1979).
The 5.7 kilometre Daytona International Speedway combines the oval circuit used for NASCAR’s Daytona 500 - corners banked at 31-degrees - with an infield section. By the finishing time of 3:30pm on Sunday the winning car will have covered approximately 690 laps and 3900 kilometres.
Friday, January 09, 2009
IS THAT A 935?
The new front bodywork on the 2009 GrandAm Porsche GT3 is reminiscent of the 935 from 1976 - a classic Porsche. See these photos from Bob Chapman which shows the front wheel arch extensions. Very nice!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
TOP OF THE CLASS IN FLORIDA
The following is a press release from Sylvia Proudfoot, on behalf of Farnbacher Loles Racing:
Farnbacher Loles Racing set the fastest GT lap during three days of testing for the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Dominik Farnbacher of Ansbach, Germany, lapped the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway infield road course in one minute 50.881 seconds on Monday afternoon, edging the GT field by two-tenths of a second. He is driving the No. 86 Flex-Box/Wheel Enhancement Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car with Eric Lux of Jacksonville, Fla., Matthew Marsh of Hong Kong and Kevin Roush of Upland, Calif.
"We did a qualifying simulation," Farnbacher explained. "We tried different things during the day – we went from the maximum on one side to the maximum for the other side. We had ups and downs and some big time differences, but we found a good solution for the car.
"We took the best of the three days and tried to make it even better. Horst [Farnbacher, team co-owner and technical director] and the mechanics did a great job on the 86 car. It feels like a street car! It's so easy to drive, you don't have to be afraid that the car will snap out. It gives me a lot of confidence. That's what made us fast today and it will be a key factor for the long race."
Farnbacher Loles Racing is supporting six Porsches in the 24-hour race, set for Jan. 24 and 25 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The team's international roster includes drivers from eight countries and six continents.
"We are very pleased with the outcome of the test weekend," team owner Gregory Loles said. "We gathered valuable information on setup that will make the race weekend much easier, but most importantly, we leave with six unscathed cars so congratulations to our drivers for an outstanding job. The next two weeks will be very busy making the cars as bulletproof as possible for this year's 24-hour race."
Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler of Nürtingen, Germany, will qualify and start the No. 85 Children's Tumor Foundation Porsche that he is sharing with Richard Campollo of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Michael Gomez of Madison, Ala., Daniel Graeff of Miami, and Ron Yarab Jr. of Poland, Ohio.
Henzler will also join Leh Keen of Charleston, S.C., Dirk Werner of Kissenbrück, Germany, and Richard Westbrook of London, England, in the No. 87 Porsche.
Westbrook will also team with Steve Johnson of Bristol, Va., Dave Lacey of Toronto (born in Durban, South Africa), Robert Nearn of London, England, and James Sofronas of Newport Beach, Calif., in the No. 88 Porsche.
The team's No. 89 Orsogril / Rofinco Porsche is driven by Giacomo Petrobelli of Padona, Italy; Robert Renauer of Jedenhofen, Germany; Giacomo Ricci of Baveno, Italy; Gabrio Rosa of Bergamo, Italy; and Allan Simonsen of Melbourne, Australia (born in Odense, Denmark).
Farnbacher Loles also supports the No. 64 JLowe Racing Porsche for drivers Jim Lowe of Bryn Mawr, Pa.; Jim Pace of Ridgeland, Miss.; Tim Sugden of Leeds, England; and Johannes van Overbeek of San Francisco.
See: http://www.farnbacherlolesracing.com
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
CAR 86 ON THE BANKING
It's the final session of the Roar Before the 24 and the Flex-Box Farnbacher-Loles Porsche has just set the fastest time of the weekend in GT class: 1:50.881 (Dominik Farnbacher at the wheel).
Monday, January 05, 2009
ROAR BEFORE THE ROLEX 24
Matthew Marsh is in Daytona Beach, Florida for the January Test Days at Daytona International Speedway, in preparation for the Rolex 24 Hours which takes place January 24/25 and forms part of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.
Testing continues Jan 3-5, on the 3.56-mile, 12-turn speedway road course.
Day 1: 23rd O/A, #86 GT, 6th in class: Farnbacher/Lux/Marsh/Roush; Farnbacher Loles Racing/Porsche GT3; 1:52.345, 114.077.
Day 2: In GT Dominik Farnbacher topped the morning times with a lap of 1:51.424 at 115.020 mph in the #86 Farnbacher Loles Racing Flex-Box/Wheel Enhancement Porsche GT3. Next up was Sylvain Tremblay, 1:51.471 in the #70 Castrol Syntec/SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, followed by Andy Lally, 1:51.540 in the #67 TRG Porsche GT3.
Day 3: Morning session:
18th fastest and first in GT class #86 Farnbacher/Lux/Marsh/Roush; Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche GT3; 1:51.486, 114.956.
Second: #30 Cameron/Peterson/Sellers/von Moltke; Racers Edge Motorsports Mazda RX-8; 1:51.643, 114.794.
Third: #65 Holzer/Miller/Potter/Stanton; TRG Porsche GT3; 1:51.758, 114.676.
See: http://www.grand-am.com/
Drivers: Dominik Farnbacher of Ansbach, Germany; Eric Lux of Jacksonville, Fla.; Matthew Marsh of Hong Kong; Kevin Roush of Upland, California.
Sponsors: Flex-Box, Wheel Enhancement.
Farnbacher Loles press release here. RLT.
Friday, December 05, 2008
WTCC Macau - Simon Harrison's film
Simon Harrison sets high standards for production of motor sport films. His latest effort is a four-and-a-bit-minute summary of my FIA World Championship point scoring weekend with City of Dreams and Wiechers-Sport at the Macau Grand Prix. Take a look (and click on High Quality)...
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
PHOTOS FROM MACAU
Finally I have uploaded a selection of photos from the Macau Grand Prix. They can be viewed by clicking here. There is also the option to watch a slideshow of the pictures.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
HONG KONG IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
My eighth place finish in Sunday's final round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship made history: the point scored was the first ever by a Hong Kong driver in an FIA World Championship.
Additionally I scored 36 points for the Independents' Trophy. This put me in ninth place of the 26 drivers who scored points this year.
And all this with a car which was carrying the maximum success ballast (as a non-series registered car). Car 88 weighed 70 kilos more than my team mate's machine!
It was a good weekend!
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
KUNIMOTO CONQUERS MACAU
Keisuke Kunimoto of Japan has won the Macau F3 Grand Prix. Driving a Dallara TOM'S-Toyota he survived a safety car period to come home ahead of Edoardo Mortara of Italy in a race littered with crashes.
Provisional results:
1 #2 Kaisuke Kunimoto
2 #7 Edoardo Mortara
3 #5 Brendon Hartley
4 #9 Mika Maki
5 #16 Renger van de Zande
6 #30 Laurens Vanthoor
Fastest lap: Hartley 2:12.565
RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008
LETS GET THE PARTY STARTED
Matthew Marsh celebrates with Dominik Greiner and Wiechers-Sport team personnel after finishing second in the Independents class in the WTCC Guia race second leg.
A crowd of photographers and spectators gathered as Matthew posed with the Hong Kong flag and the City of Dreams girls for a seemingly endless photo opportunity, as everybody enjoyed the first world championship point for a Hong Kong driver achieved by finishing eighth overall in the Guia race. Picture Colin Marsh. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
MARSH EIGHTH OVERALL, 2ND IN CLASS
Hong Kong driver Matthew Marsh acquitted himself well at international level with eighth overall in the Guia race leg two and second overall in the class. All the hard work is justified as Matthew delivers on the streets of Macau. A cracking professional performance in a strange car, he kept his head when others around him were losing the plot. He came from seventeenth on the grid to eighth overall at the end.
Pic by Philip Newsome. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
GUIA RACE TWO GOES TO GRID
After a fifteen minute break the second leg of the Guia race will shortly be underway. Matthew Marsh came to pitlane for a well-deserved drink of water and the competitors are back on track forming up on the race two grid. Another nine laps of the gruelling Guia circuit in hot sunny still conditions are in prospect.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
TOP THREE FOR MARSH IN GUIA LEG ONE
Matthew Marsh finished seventeenth overall and third in the Independents class in leg one of the World Touring Car Championship held on the Guia circuit here in Macau. He set a best race lap of 2mins 38.379 seconds, moving up from 22nd on the grid to seventeenth overall position. The objective of getting cleanly through to race two has been achieved.
The Independents class was won by Sergio Hernandez of Spain in a BMW 320si, followed home by Franz Engstler of Germany. BMW finished 1-2-3 in the class. Overall winner was Alain Menu in a Chevrolet Lacetti. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
GUIA GOES TO GRID
We are underway in the first leg of the Guia race here in Macau. Everybody appears to have got through Lisboa and San Francisco successfully on the first lap.
Pic by Phil Newsome. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
SMOKY PITSTOP FOR LAU
The Porsche #78 of Ross Bernard Lau blows smoke in the pitlane during the GT race at Macau. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008
DARRYL TOPS THE SHOW
Darryl O'Young on pole position on the grid for the GT race in Macau. The champion in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for 2008 he is leading the GT race here in Macau in a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup car.
Update: Darryl O'Young has won the GT race in Macau. After a safety car period he stroked home by 2.1 seconds from Danny Watts in another Porsche. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008
ADVANTAGE MARIENESCU
Mihai Marienescu of Brasov, Rumania has won the Formula BMW race in Macau. In a race that finished under the red flag he won on the countback. After a problematic season in Europe with the Fisichella Team he achieved a great result by standing on the top step of the podium here in Macau.
Pic: Macau Grand Prix. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008
42nd Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix results
1 #3 Stuart Easton GBR Honda
2 #200 Michael Rutter GBR Ducati
3 #2 John McGuiness GBR Honda
4 #14 Luis Carrera POR Suzuki
5 #34 Michael Barnes USA Honda
6 #11 Stephen Thompson GBR Honda
Hi to Paul Kelsall in the UK - thanks for getting in touch. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008
ALAIN MENU GRABS TOP SPOT
Alain Menu of Switzerland will start the Guia race from pole position in his RML-run Chevrolet Lacetti. He pipped Andy Priaulx of Great Britain in a BMW with a time of 2 mins 30.285 around the Guia circuit. The car is pictured at the Melco hairpin. Pic: Chevrolet. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
THIS IS THE WARM-UP
Sunday morning 07:50 - Matthew Marsh is now on track in the warm-up for the FIA WTCC Canon-Guia Race of Macau at the Macau Grand Prix meeting. He is taking it easy to make sure the car is in one piece for the race which starts at 11:55 with two races of nine laps each.
Described in the South China Morning Post as the only Hong Kong driver to qualify for the World Touring Car Championship he will start fifth in the Independents class. His best lap time in the session was 2 mins 38.887 seconds.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
CITY OF DREAMS AT THE MACAU GRAND PRIX
A short film introducing the City of Dreams team at the Macau GP 2008
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
IT'S A TOUGH LIFE
Saturday in the Macau GP paddock with the (City of) Dream(s) girls...
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
MACAU F3 QUALIFICATION RACE
Unofficial results:
1 #7 Edoardo Mortara
2 #2 Keisuke Kunimoto
3 #11 Roberto Streit
4 #3 Oliver Turvey
5 #21 Sam Bird
6 #4 Jaime Algersuari
7 #17 Stefano Coletti
8 #6 Marcus Ericsson
9 #28 Daniel Campos-Hull
10 #24 Kei Cozzolino
Labels: Macau 2008
MATTHEW MARSH AND THE CITY OF DREAMS GIRLS
Saturday lunchtime media scrum as Matthew Marsh fronts a promotion for sponsor City of Dreams in the Macau Grand Prix paddock. Pics by Colin Marsh.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
DIGGING DEEP IN QUALIFYING
Hard on the throttle at Fisherman's Bend.
Pitlane debrief following qualification frenzy.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
QUALIFYING DEBRIEF
No more damage to the BMW but Matthew's hair shows the strain.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
FROM THE PITS
Matthew talks about the Free Practice sessions at the Macau Grand Prix
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
MARSH IN THE SHOW
Matthew Marsh has qualified fifth in the Independents class of the WTCC in an unofficial time of 2 mins 36.897.
Overall a good day at the office! Pic above: Create Images
Labels: Macau 2008, PCCA 2008
VAN DAM MUSCLES HIS WAY TO THE FRONT
Carlo van Dam of Holland, in car #1, is the 2008 pole sitter for the Macau F3 Grand Prix. He set a time of 2:11.846 in the dying minutes of the final session.
Labels: Macau 2008
Former Macau GP winner offers advice
.
Matthew Marsh chats to fellow Guia race competitor Andre Couto of Macau.
Pic: Macau GP website
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
GUIA RACE: FREE PRACTICE 2
The second session is currently red-flagged for debris on the circuit. Accident for Tom Coronel. No representative times have been set.
Session resumed.
Matthew Marsh, car #88, hit the barrier at marshal post #5, that is Lisboa Corner, towards the end of the session while on his last flying lap. The car was craned off and delivered back to the paddock. The driver is OK but fed up, the car is relatively unscathed. Matthew had taken Mandarin Oriental bend faster than ever but then slid into the barriers at the 90-degree right at Lisboa.
Independents Class, unofficial practice results:
31 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport, Sergio Hernandez (ESP) BMW 320si, 2:35.502
17 Wiechers-Sport, Takayuki Aoki (JPN) BMW 320si, 2:37.087
29 Russian Bears Motorsport, Jaap van Lagen LADA 110 2.0, 2:37.452
88 Wiechers-Sport, Matthew Marsh (HKG) BMW 320si, 2:39.085
43 Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Andrey Romanov (RUS) BMW 320si, 2:40.195
45 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport, George Tanev (BUL) BMW 320si, 2:40.699
Pictures by Colin Marsh. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
GUIA RACE: FREE PRACTICE 1
Independents class top six:
42 Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Franz Engstler (GER) BMW 320si, 2:35.000
31 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport, Sergio Hernandez (ESP) BMW 320si, 2:35.708
17 Wiechers-Sport, Takayuki Aoki (JPN) BMW 320si, 2:36.040
43 Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Andrei Romanov (RUS) BMW 320si 2:38.474
29 Russian Bears Motorsport, Jaap van Lagen LADA 110 2.0, 2:38.657
88 Wiechers-Sport, Matthew Marsh (HKG) BMW 320si, 2:38.825
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
You're a star in Hong Kong, You're a star in Macau...
Matthew Marsh talks to Simon Harrison on the pitwall of the Guia circuit in Macau.
Pic by Colin Marsh. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
Carlo van Dam's TOM'S-Toyota tames Macau
One of the favourites in the Macau F3 Grand Prix Carlo van Dam, in car #1, at speed in practice between the armco barriers. Picture by Philip Newsome. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008
ALORS TARQUINI!
Gabriele Tarquini in the SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI. Pic: Philip Newsome.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
GLORIOUS GUIA
A thousand thank yous to Macau historian Philip Newsome for this shot from 1960 of American George Baker in the V8-engined "Beast." Baker was an ex-fighter pilot who chewed on a cigar while piloting this fearsome device. The layout of the circuit has changed little down the years. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008
GUIA GOSSIP II
Friday morning 08:45, Guia circuit: For Matthew Marsh a season that started out at Daytona in January racing a Ferrari against the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya, Helio Castroneves and NASCAR-champion Jimmie Johnson has come down to a contest in Macau in the World Touring Car Championship against the likes of Andy Priaulx, Alessandro Zanardi and Tom Coronel.
The challenge for Matthew today is to further adapt his driving style from the Porsche he customarily drives in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia to the Wiechers-Sport BMW 320si, sponsored by City of Dreams and Flex-Box. The BMW requires more aggression on entry to the corners, needing to be driven hard into the turns and late on the brakes, and slower on exit. From analysing data on other faster cars this approach is shown to be quicker overall and to produce better overall lap times.
We are currently waiting for first Friday practice for the FIA WTCC Canon - Guia Race of Macau to start with the timetable as follows:
08:45-09:15 - Practice
12:15-12:45 - Practice
15:50-16:35 - Qualifying
This event provides plenty of opportunity to adapt to the Guia track in the BMW, with three practice sessions, qualifying and two 9-lap races. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
FIRST PRACTICE TIMES
Picture by Create Images.
Testing - Independents class top six:
31 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport, Sergio Hernandez (ESP) BMW 320si, 2:36.031
42 Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Franz Engstler (GER) BMW 320si, 2:36.201
17 Wiechers-Sport, Takayuki Aoki (JPN) BMW 320si, 2:39.129
88 Wiechers-Sport, Matthew Marsh (HKG) BMW 320si, 2:39.701
27 Russian Bears Motorsport, Kirill Ladygin (RUS) LADA 110 2.0, 2:42.204
45 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport, George Tanev (BUL) BMW 320si, 2:44.516
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
THIS IS THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALLING
Matthew Marsh talks to Rupert Lloyd Thomas about the difficulties of tackling the Guia circuit in the City of Dreams WTCC BMW 320si.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
STREET FIGHTING MAN
Matthew said:
"It is so difficult. When its starts to slide it goes away. The quick guys are floating. I think to be quick you have to get it sliding all the time. I followed Zanardi with his rear end alive."
Tyre warmers, slicks and a street circuit: the ingredients for a classic Guia race are in place. Photo by Phil Newsome.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
MARSH AT THE MELCO
Matthew Marsh at the Melco hairpin on the Guia circuit. Fantastic photograph by Philip Newsome.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
GUIA RUNNERS
2008 FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Rounds 23 & 24 - MACAU, November 16, Entry List:
1 BMW Team UK, Andy Priaulx (GBR) BMW 320si
2 BMW Team Germany, Jorg Muller (GER) BMW 320si
3 BMW Team Germany, Augusto Farfus (BRA) BMW 320si
4 BMW Team Italy-Spain, Alessandro Zanardi (ITA) BMW 320si
5 BMW Team Italy-Spain, Felix Porteiro (ESP) BMW 320si
6 Chevrolet, Nicola Larini (ITA) Chevrolet Lacetti
7 Chevrolet, Robert Huff (GBR) Chevrolet Lacetti
8 Chevrolet, Alain Menu (SUI) Chevrolet Lacetti
9 SEAT Sport, Jordi Gene (ESP) Seat Leon 2.0. TDI
10 SEAT Sport, Rickard Rydell (SWE) Seat Leon 2.0. TDI
11 SEAT Sport, Gabriele Tarquini (ITA) Seat Leon 2.0. TDI
12 SEAT Sport, Yvan Muller (FRA) Seat Leon 2.0. TDI
13 Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport, Ibrahim Okyay (TUR) BMW 320si
15 N.technology, James Thompson (GBR) Honda Accord Euro R
17 Wiechers-Sport, Takayuki Aoki (JPN) BMW 320si
18 SEAT Sport, Tiago Monteiro (POR) Seat Leon 2.0. TDI
20 SUNRED Engineering Development, Tom Coronel (NED) Seat Leon 2.0. TFSI
27 Russian Bears Motorsport, Kirill Ladygin (RUS) LADA 110 2.0
28 Russian Bears Motorsport, Viktor Shapovalov (RUS) LADA 110 2.0
29 Russian Bears Motorsport, Jaap van Lagen (NED) LADA 110 2.0
31 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport, Sergio Hernandez (ESP) BMW 320si
42 Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Franz Engstler (GER) BMW 320si
43 Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Andrey Romanov (RUS) BMW 320si
45 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport, George Tanev (BUL) BMW 320si
66 N.technology, Andre Couto (MAC) Honda Accord Euro R
69 Thunder Asia Racing, Melvin Choo Kwok Ming (SIN) BMW 320si
80 Chevrolet, Manabu Orido (JPN) Chevrolet Lacetti
81 Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Masaki Kano (JPN) BMW 320i
88 Wiechers-Sport, Matthew Marsh (HKG) BMW 320si
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
CITY OF DREAMS
Matthew Marsh limbers up for first practice in the 2008 edition of the Canon - Guia Race of Macau. Photo: Colin Marsh
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
GUIA GOSSIP
Greetings to Henrik Nielsen, sponsor of car #88, the City of Dreams Flex-Box Wiechers-Sport BMW 320si entered in the World Touring Car Championship, driven this week-end by Matthew Marsh on the Guia circuit. The Canon-Guia Race of Macau consists of two races of 9 laps each, with a 15 minute break between the two legs, starting at 11:55 on Sunday 16th November. RLT.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
TOP THIRTY IN THE BIG CASINO - by Rupert Lloyd Thomas
Some thirty top drivers are entered in the 2008 Windsor Arch F3 Macau Grand Prix. Here is my advice to those racers facing the Guia street circuit for the first time. In these troubled economic times it is best to make the most of the opportunity. Do not crash the car in practice before you have learned the track. Having travelled so far it could ruin your week-end. The car needs a compromise set-up giving speed on the seafront straight but with good handling for the twisty stuff in the town. Take care of your tyres. Watch out for the ever-present armco barriers, track debris, safety cars and gung-ho competitors, who want to keep the tow-truck drivers busy. Navigate these hazards and you could win the 55th edition of the Macau Grand Prix. Add a dose of luck and a career in big-time motor racing beckons.
In car #1 is Carlo van Dam, from the Netherlands, in the TOM'S Team Dallara-Toyota. He is the reigning Japanese F3 Champion with a winning habit, nine victories in the series achieving a 50% win average. Never off the podium this year, don't bet against Van Dam in Macau. He is ably backed by Kaisuke Kunimoto who finished runner-up in the Japanese series in 2007. The TOM'S Team got the job done in Macau last year, finishing 1-3, and boast a record of success at the Guia track.
Jaime Alguersuari, from Spain, is the youngest ever British F3 champion. With a victory in the second street race in Bucharest, Rumania, he came from behind to grab the Champion's laurels with a double-win at Donington Park in October. The Red Bull-supported Alguersuari has come into form at the right time for Macau. Oliver Turvey, a Cambridge University engineering undergraduate, is also aboard a Carlin Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes. His British F3 campaign was supported by the Racing Steps Foundation, but the title slipped through his fingers at the last round, leaving him second overall. The two other drivers for the crack Carlin squad are New Zealander Brendon Hartley, third overall in the UK, and Marcus Ericsson from Sweden, fifth. Team owner Trevor Carlin cleaned up in the British series finishing 1-2-3-5.
Returnee Italian Edoardo Mortara, in the Signature-Plus Dallara-Volkswagen, was a winner this year at the difficult street circuit in Pau, France, which suggests a credible challenge here. The Signature-Plus team is rounded out by local driver Frankie Cheng Cong Fu and Mika Mäki, from Finland, runners in the Euroseries. Jules Bianchi, in an ART Grand Prix Dallara-Mercedes, won the Masters at Zolder and the first event at Le Mans-Bugatti. Bianchi is the grandson of Mauro Bianchi, winner of the Macau G.P. in an Alpine sportscar back in 1966. Can history repeat itself? Team-mate James Jakes, from Leeds, England, was also a winner in Pau in the Euroseries. Nick Tandy, from Bedford, is the joker in the pack aboard the French-built JTR Marshall Westland Mygale-Mercedes, in a gallant attempt to break the Italian Dallara stranglehold, a longshot at this level.
From Italy comes the Prema Powerteam with a brace of Dallara-Mercedes for Dutchman Renger van der Zande, 17th in Macau last year, and Stefano Coletti who lives in Monaco and describes himself as Monégasque-Italian, yet to make an impact in the Euroseries. Atte Mustonen, from Heinola, Finland, pilots the Räikkönen Robertson Racing Dallara-Mercedes after a season in British F3. Let us hope he gives team boss Kimi Räikkönen something to smile about. Also with 'Double R,' under the watchful eye of Anthony Hieatt, is Roberto Streit, from Rio de Janeiro, who was 5th in Macau last year, and steps down here from a season in the more powerful Formula Nippon car. They are joined by the experienced home-town favourite Michael Ho, who races for Macau.
Young Max Chilton comes to Macau with a Hitech Racing Dallara-Mercedes, after a season in British F3 where he finished in 10th place overall, and also set fastest lap at the Masters. Chilton is partnered by Walter Grubmuller, from Austria, who finished 18th in the Macau Grand Prix last year. In the third entry from David Hayle's team is Roberto Mehri, from Spain, a winner in Eurocup Formula Renault. Japan-born Italian Kei Cozzolino brings his NOW Motorsport Dallara-Toyota TOM'S to Macau, having made the podium on his debut at Fuji Speedway back in April. Koki Saga, in a Denso Team Le Beausett Dallara-Toyota TOM'S, is a runner in the Japanese Championship.
Masaki Matsushita finished third in the Japanese series and here switches to an Ombra Racing Dallara-Mugen Honda, accompanied by James Winslow, who won the Australian F3 Championship, despite money troubles, and also makes a one-off appearance for this Italian team. Sam Bird, from Roehampton, England, is driving for John Booth's Manor Motorsport in a Dallara-Mercedes; he was 2nd in the feature race in Barcelona in September and top rookie in 6th in Macau last year. He must be aiming to move nearer the front this time. He is joined at Manor Motorsport by Kazuya Oshima, the Japanese Formula 3 champion of 2007 and third in Macau last year, a man who has already seen the view from the podium. Jon Lancaster drives the third Manor Dallara-Mercedes; highlights of his year include 3rd in the Masters at Zolder and a win at the Nurburgring in the Euroseries in July. Manor Motorsport were second here last year and will be a threat this time, having already assisted 2008 F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton on his road to the top.
Two team HBR Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes come from Austria for Daniel Campos-Hull, from Spain, a top-ten runner in Europe and Basil Shaaban, from the Lebanon. Laurens Vanthoor, from Belgium, races an RC Motorsport Dallara-Volkswagen; aged only 17, he has been running in the German ATS Formula 3 Cup, winning at the Sachsenring in September and again at Oschersleben in October. This Milan-based team completes the four-car “powered by Volkswagen” entries.
A notable absentee is Nico Hülkenberg, the Euroseries F3 Champion, not wishing to repeat the disappointment of 2007.
Labels: Macau 2008
Macau Grand Prix
Hot on the heels of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia finale in Bahrain comes the Macau Grand Prix - and my second FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).
The photograph shows Macau drivers Joe Merzei (left) and Lei Kit Meng with Alex Zanardi at the drivers' briefing this evening (Wednesday).
Today was spent preparing for the weekend.
The nice people from City of Dreams visited the pits and inspected their hospitality area.
Billy Au (from EDJ Karting) assisted the Wiechers Sport team in the preparation of their two BMWs. This included heading into town with a front bumper over his shoulder to find a repair shop where it was repainted (to replace the one damaged in Okayama).
Meanwhile I joined in the fun at a basketball competition between teams from the WTCC, the motorbike GP, the F3 GP and from Fisherman's Wharf (where the competition was held). I am hopeful that my performance on track this weekend will be somewhat more promising than this afternoon 'on court'...
Stay tuned for regular updates from the pits as the weekend develops.
Labels: Macau 2008, WTCC 2008
Saturday, November 08, 2008
PCCA Bahrain - Race 2
Results:
1. Christian Menzel - 24:46.097
2. Darryl O'Young - 24:49.040
3. Tim Sugden - 24:54.598
4. Marchy Lee - 24:54.622
5. Matthew Marsh - 24:57.825
6. Dilantha Malagamuwa - 25.07.993
7. Weng Sun Mok - 25:15.557
8. Alain Li - 25:19.331
9. Ringo Chong - 25:31.564
10. Danny Chu - 25:31.574
Darryl O'Young is the 2008 champion.
Labels: PCCA 2008
PCCA Bahrain - Race 1
Very annoying! I made a good start from fifth on the grid and was third into the first turn. Sadly Christian Jones then drove into me at turn three, destroying my bumper (see photo) and spinning me around. I restarted 18th and spent the 17 lap race catching and overtaking. I finished seventh.
The race was won by Darryl O'Young from Christian Menzel and Tim Sugden. Christian Jones (boo!) was fourth, Marchy Lee fifth and Dilantha Malagamuwa finished sixth.
Race two coming soon...
Labels: PCCA 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
PIT BOX CONFIDENTIAL - BAHRAIN
Matthew talks to his race engineer Patrick de Groot and Stuart Parker (Tim Sugden's engineer) after qualifying
Labels: PCCA 2008
PCCA Bahrain - Qualifying
Results:
1. Christian Menzel 1:25.4296
2. Darryl O'Young 1:25.7806
3. Christian Jones 1:25.8758
4. Tim Sugden 1:26.1008
5. Matthew Marsh 1:26.1742
6. Marchy Lee 1:26.4395
Please excuse the timing to four digits - the timing is being done by the Aussie V8 guys. (I'm saying this to annoy Christian Jones).
Labels: PCCA 2008
Porsche Carrera Asia - Bahrain; Free Practice
Porsche Carrera Asia - Bahrain; Free Practice, originally uploaded by Matthew Marsh - racing driver.
We're in Bahrain for the final rounds of the 2008 PCCA. Sadly we're using only two-thirds of the Grand Prix circuit - missing the best corners. There are four drivers fighting for the title: Christian Jones, Darryl O'Young, Tim Sugden and Christian Menzel.
The times in the second free practice were as follows:
1. Menzel 1:26.6
2. Sugden 1: 26.9
3. Jones 1:27.0
4. Marchy Lee 1:27.5
5. Marsh 1:27.5
6. O'Young 1:27.63
The photo shows Stuart Parker (left), Patrick de Groot (right) and Sander van Hintem (standing) - the race engineering mafia.
Labels: PCCA 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
WTCC - Podium Finish in Independents' Class
Well... not exactly a podium because only the top three overall and the best Independents' Trophy driver actually go to the podium - but I did finish third on the Independents' class in Sunday's second race. This is very encouraging as we look towards the races in Macau on November 16th.
Labels: WTCC 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
WTCC Okayama - Race 2
Mega! I started 21st and finished 14th - and enjoyed a good battle with Alain Menu. The conditions were very tricky and I was helped by a number of drivers choosing to start on slick tyres. Sadly the car was damaged by James Thompson using me as a kerb on about lap three but I was lucky not to get caught up in a number of other incidents.
Also mega was that Tom Coronel won the race. A brilliant result for him. It was Tom who suggested I drive with the Wiechers Sport team. Good advice!
A final word of respect for Alain Menu who was faster than me but stayed patient behind - and alongside - me during our battle. I feel privileged to have raced against him.
Labels: WTCC 2008
WTCC Okayama - Race 1
Eventful! As usual the first race had a rolling start. Mine was acceptable until the hairpin at the end of the long straight where someone spun me around. I re-started in last place. I then made some progress to catch Kano in the Engstler BMW. I made life difficult by two trips through separate gravel traps but finally caught him on the last lap. We battled through the final turns where he eventually spun letting me through to 22nd position.
My fastest lap time was a 1:55.4 which was about 1.4 slower than team mate Aoki and 2.2 from race winner Rickard Rydell (SEAT).
Labels: WTCC 2008
Friends in High Places
A visit to the Wiechers Sport garage this morning from the President of the Hong Kong Automobile Association, Wesley Wan. Mr Wan is a member of the FIA's Touring Car Commission, under Jonathan Ashman, and is one of the three stewards observing the WTCC event in Okayama this weekend.
Labels: WTCC 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday Reflections
Tune in to Matthew Marsh as the Wiechers Sport crew remove gravel from his car!
Labels: WTCC 2008
WTCC Okayama - Qualifying
The good news is that I have started to get a feel for how the car needs to be driven - which was the whole point of this exercise, of course. The bad news was that I ended-up in the gravel trap about half-way through the session! I was on my second three-lap qualifying run (of three scheduled).
The performance on new tyres and with some detailed set-up changes was good and I benefited from some time studying the data-logging with Wiechers Sport's technical director Thomas Schiemann.
My best time was a 1:39.914 which puts me 7th in the Independents' class and 24th overall. My team-mate Takayuki Aoki set a 1:37.937 for 3rd in class and 15th overall.
Next is a warm-up session on Sunday morning and then two races with a short gap between them. Nelson Pang reports from Macau that the live video streaming on the WTCC website (click here) works well.
Labels: WTCC 2008
WTCC Okayama - Free Practice 2
Disappointing. We ran the first 15 minutes with the old tyres and then put on new ones for a qualifying simulation. My best time - 1:40.666 - was still two seconds slower than team-mate Aoki. It left me 23rd overall and 7th in class.
Qualifying later this afternoon...
Labels: WTCC 2008
WTCC Okayama - Free Practice 1
Improving... slowly. After being 3.5 seconds off the fastest Independent runner yesterday I was 'only' 2.4 off this morning (and 2.2 from my Wiechers Sport team mate Takayuki Aoki). I was 7th of the 12 Independent runners and 24th overall of 29 entries. We have another free practice session at 1200hrs then qualifying in the afternoon.
Labels: WTCC 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Pit Box Confidential
Matthew speaks about his first experience of the Wiechers-Sport BMW 320si in the World Touring Car Championship at Okayama - whilst team boss Dominik Greiner runs away from the camera!
Labels: WTCC 2008
WTCC Testing - this is difficult!
Getting used to 280bhp rather than 420 - and a load less grip - is taking a little time. In today's 30-minute testing session on the 3.7 kilometre Okayama circuit I was 28th quickest (of 30 cars) and 3.5 seconds from the quickest Independent (Sergio Hernandez's BMW). Yes - 3.5 seconds!
Tomorrow (Friday) we have two more 30-minute sessions before qualifying.
Labels: WTCC 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Bauhinia at Okayama
We're all ready for Friday's free practice session and the sign above our pit shows Hong Kong's Bauhinia flag.
The circuit looks challenging. Many 2nd- and 3rd-gear corners and a lot of hills. We think it will suit the BMW.
And it's stopped raining!
Labels: WTCC 2008
SETTING-UP
Here's the City of Dreams Mean Machine in the pitlane at Okayama International Circuit. It's been raining for the past 18 hours...
Labels: WTCC 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
On the way to Okayama
I flew today to Osaka and met there the Wiechers-Sport team. They had flown from Germany via Dubai with Emirates. "The best entertainment system ever!" enthused team manager Dominik Greiner.
The picture shows Dominik about to have his first meal in Japan. We're on our way to the Okayama International Circuit for this weekend's World Touring Car Championship event - my debut in the series.
Labels: WTCC 2008
