Laura

Below is a link for the qualifying session of the first IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge at Road Atlanta. Track time was short due to an incident with one of the Fornbacher cars, but as you can see times were pretty close for the majority of the drivers. I was told tech was rough for many of the teams and crews were busy adressing issues all morning. There should be some good close racing tomorrow afternoon.
http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/event...ta05/GT3_Q.pdf

carreracup21

Anything in the 1:29's is considered very fast by PCA standards. 1:26.47 is insane fast.

Mike in Chi

And more than 2 seconds faster than the next car. Vici Racing, say hello to the Scruts.

Interesting to see a name that kicked butt in E and F back in mid-pack.

Yeah, that should be some good racing, and no 13s

Thanks for the update Laura.

Laura

That first guy has some Porsche Supercup experience in Europe and along with Brent Martini are on a race by race evaluation. Compare the next 10-12 guys and the times are within a hiccup. More entries in this race than the ALMS !

carreracup21

While having the Euro supercup guys in there goes somewhat against the spirit of the series, I think it will be great experience for the other drivers to race with them. It will elevate the whole field.

Nordschleife

Not actually Supercup. Renauer came 12th in the German Carrera Cup, an amateur driver, so he fits the profile. He did not drive in the Supercup that I can recall, and certainly did not figure in the Supercup results at season end.

I would expect DE Carrera Cup drivers to take a little time to adjust to the more restrictive rules as to acceptable on track behaviour (lol).

A quick check of the just published series regulations indicates that Renauer is NOT eligible to race, he has driven in too many DE Carrera Cup races in the 2004 season. So if I were competing, I would protest against his admission to the series. Either the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, or there has to be some deeper reason for admitting the guy in the first place.

Personally, I believe that if they allowed guys like Wolf Henzler and Patrick Long to drive it would set a standard to aspire to. Beating amateurs is one thing, beating professionals is really satisfying.

R+C

Laura

Renauer is shown on numerous websites as participating in 2004 Porsche Supercup and German Porsche Carrera Cup, and in 2003 German Carrera Cup. (one example: http://www.speedsportmag.de/motorspo...=r&driver=3004, Maybe the information supplied on those websites is incorrect. I searched for some info about him after questions were going around the paddock about who the hotshot was. Whatever his history is, he put down some very hot laps and had crews shaking their heads. He may be classified as a "guest" driver and not be awarded points for the series ?

Patrick can stay over on his side, that kid is an awesome driver. If yuo ever get the chanc to just sit at an event and watch him drive, follow him around a complete race, you will be very impressed. He has lots talent and is very enjoyable to watch and talk to.

Nordschleife

Renauer did not qualify for points in the 2004 Supercup, which is why I forgot him, he was a guest participant at indianapolis, Hungary and Hockenheim.
As far as watching Patrick Long drive, yes, I've done that when he was driving with Mike R in the Porsche Junior team.
In 2004 in the DE Carrera Cup Renauer did the whole season for a 12th overall best result 6th at the Nuerburgring (9 races), 9 races in 2003 for 15th overall, in 2004 drove in 4 races as a guest in the Supercup. He is driving in the DE Carrera cup in 2005.

Now from the IMSA regulations -

Amateur or Semi-Professional Driver – For the Championship is a driver who:
a. Does not now and has not recently made his/her primary living though
motor sports or driving ; or
b. Has not in the last two years been in the top tier of a professional
championship; or
c. Has not, in the past five years, participated in more than three official
Carrera Cup races in any one calendar year, or more than two Michelin
SuperCup races in any calendar year; or
d. Has not in the past five years possessed an FIA grade A or higher license;
and
e. Provides a significant portion of the funding for the entry; and
f. Other criteria as IMSA may in its sole discretion determine

so he fails under C and should be protested - by the other competitors and by the Cup specialists who would otherwise drive.

why was he allowed to enter?

R+C

analogmike

I'm having a tough time!

Our cars all needed to be raised/less shims/etc for tech.
Makes them handle worse too

I needed a new helmet and drivers $uit

My car does not feel as good as it did at the PCA race and I can't match my 1 good lap time from the PCA club race. I am getting more comfortable in the car but not enough to really push it to the limit in the fast turns yet and that's really hurting lap times here.

Had 3 clear laps in qualifying (30 minutes, much spent in pits to clear one of our cars which was damaged on the warmup lap) and each of the 3 laps had mistakes...
will see if I can pass some cars in the race and get a good lap time to redeem myself a bit.

competition is really tough - these guys are really fast. I cant believe how fast the supercup kid is. Defied physics...

Let's wish Wolf Henzler some good luck in his race, he has had engine problems all week but qualified 4th.

have fun!

Premier Motorsp

Interesting. My car was nowhere near in minimum ride height or the max allowable camber shims for the PCA weekend. Do you think the additional lowering and camber helps?

Chris Cervelli
Premier Motorsports

carreracup21

Good luck Mike !!

Laura

Mike, Quite a few teams were having problems with ride height. We had spent many hours fine tuning before we sent the car back and it paid off. Driver and crew were pleased with the setup,and since our tech appt wasn't until 8:30 this morning we had no time for changes before qualifying.

Good Luck, have a safe race.

93 FireHawk 968

Is this being televised on SPEED or any other network?

Laura

Not that I know of. I saw a blurb somewhere that before the next televised ALMS race, they would show 1 minute of highlights.

JasonAndreas

AnalogMike,
Did Farnbacher open a shop out here in Connecticut?