Latest News
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
