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Friday, 09 May 2008 |
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BMW Racing News -
2007 Grand Am Cup
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Written by Jeff
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Wednesday, 27 June 2007 |
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LEXINGTON, Oh – Automatic Racing unleashed “Fruit and Vegetable Fury” in Saturday’s KONI Challenge Grand Sport race at Mid-Ohio, earning top-five finishes for the Fresh from Florida BMW M3s, including a third place for Jep Thornton and Jeff Segal.
The podium finish is the second in a row and third of the season for Thornton and Segal, who co-drive the No. 09 Automatic/Fresh from Florida BMW. In addition to the taste of champagne and the thrill of standing on the box, the pair also gained valuable ground in the driver championship hunt. Not only did they maintain their second-place standing, but they shrank the gap to points leader Joe Foster and are now just five points in arrears.
“It’s all about consistency now, more than getting on the podium,” said Thornton. “If we can bring home a top-five finish every weekend, we have as good of a shot as anybody in the points.”
During his stint, Thornton found himself in a tough situation when a car ahead of him spun. He was forced to dive to the edge of the track, where the dirty surface sent him into a spin. “It was a freight train of cars passing me, and I had to work my way back up,” Thornton said. “We got a yellow about an hour in, so I pitted and Jeff did the rest. The strategy was great and (crew chief) Joe Varde built us a killer car.”
Segal agreed that the podium was even sweeter this weekend than it was two weeks ago at Mosport. “The last time we got lucky, but this one we earned,” commented Segal. “The guys never stopped working on the car. We finally got a good car in morning warm-up before the race.”
Tom Long and David Russell finished fifth in the No. 99 Automatic/Fresh from Florida BMW, their first top five of the season. Long and Russell have been consistently fast all year, but bad luck has kept them from earning a finish indicative of their potential.
At Mid-Ohio, though, the bright green BMW stayed at the front of the pack all day. Russell earned a front-row start in qualifying, and from there the No. 99 pushed on for a strong finish.
“Our car was fast and we had a great setup right off of the trailer,” remarked Russell. “In fact, we had time to try a different setup that we wound up using in the race. Our brake package didn’t work quite as we’d planned, but we definitely had one of the strongest cars on track this weekend.”
“David did a great job running in the top three before he handed over to me,” said Long. “At the end Jeff and I were running nose-to-tail and we got to work through the traffic together. I had a great battle for fifth after our last restart. It was a fun race.”
The No. 91 BMW M3 of Tim George, Jr. and Conrad Grunewald had an early end to a strong race after contact put them out of contention. The No. 90 of Jon Miller and Serge Glazunov also retired early because of contact, after running in the top ten.
Automatic Racing has just one weekend at home before hitting the road for New York, where they will compete in the KONI Challenge race at Watkins Glen.
News and information about Automatic Racing can be found at www.AutomaticRacing.com. More information about Fresh from Florida, a campaign of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, can be found at www.Florida-Agriculture.com.Write Comment - 0 Comments so far. |
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BMW Racing News -
2007 Grand Am Koni Challenge
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Written by Jeff
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Thursday, 21 June 2007 |
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Turner ST drivers hold the Championship lead for most of the first half of the season.
MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Bowmanville, ON, Canada - June 21, 2007 - For the third-straight race, the #97 H&R Springs/Turner Motorsport BMW M3 led the Koni Challenge field from the pole position. And the drivers in the #95 H&R Springs/Borla Exhaust BMW 330i defended their Championship lead in the Street Tuner class.
Trevor Hopwood and Adam Burrows have emerged as the duo to beat in the Koni Street Tuner class (ST). From the wheel of the #95 H&R Springs/Borla Exhaust BMW 330i, the Hopwood-Burrows team has finished each race in the top ten. This past weekend they started from the front row and scored their third podium of the year but nearly pulled out their first win were it not for a last-lap pass for the lead by the #76 Acura. They retain first place in the ST Championship by one point.
Trevor Hopwood, pilot, #95 H&R Springs/Borla Exhaust BMW 330i:
"I was able to hold him off up until Turn 5 on the last lap and we came out of there side-by-side. We raced hard and came together and we both got sideways but he gathered it up better than I did and that closed the deal for him. We were right there and we definitely touched but it was just good, hard racing."
In 2007 the #97 M3 has found its way to the pole spot at Iowa Speedway and Lime Rock Park. This time it was Don Salama who brilliantly put the Turner M3 on its third straight pole with a final lap around the 2.5 mile Mosport circuit. During the race, Salama put in a strong performance in the M3 and pitted the car from the lead to change drivers, tires, and to add fuel. The TMS crew blazed through the stop and Will Turner entered the race still in P1. But tragedy struck only a few laps later when debris punctured the oil cooler while Turner was still leading.
"This bad luck is really over-shadowing the great job our team has done this year. You just have to look at how well the #95 330i is doing in the ST class to see that. The #97 car has been on the pole for three-straight races and the #96 M3 has one win so far this year. The performance is there but our luck simply has not held."
Similar luck spread to the #96 Motul Lubricants/StopTech Brakes BMW M3. After winning the race at Lime Rock Park three weeks ago, Bill Auberlen, Chris Gleason and the rest of the team were thinking big thoughts heading into Mosport. But after qualifying in the top half of the field and an excellent pit stop, engine problems stopped short a promising run to the checkered flag.
The Turner Motorsport BMW team enjoys the support of some fantastic automotive companies - H&R Springs, StopTech Brakes, Borla Exhaust, Motul Lubricants, Pagid Racing, and Piloti Driving Shoes. Each is a world-renowned champion in their respective fields and their contribution to the Turner Motorsport team is invaluable.
The Koni Challenge series is back on track again this weekend with a return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car course in Ohio for Round #7. Write Comment - 0 Comments so far. |
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BMW Racing News -
2007 Grand Am Cup
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Written by Jeff
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Monday, 18 June 2007 |
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BOWMANVILLE, Ontario – Automatic Racing’s Jep Thornton and Jeff Segal drove to their second podium finish of the KONI Challenge season during Saturday’s Grand Sport race at Mosport International Raceway. Their third-place finish in the No. 09 Fresh from Florida BMW M3 has given them plenty of momentum heading into this weekend’s race at Mid-Ohio.
Thornton started the race, working his way up to third during his stint and staying out of the pits longer than the other teams. The late pit stop to hand over to Segal was just enough to get the No. 09 BMW to the finish line without an additional stop for fuel.
“It was a bit of a surprise. We weren’t the fastest car on track because we had some setup issues, but my late pit allowed Jeff to stay up front,” said Thornton. When asked about his and Segal’s second-place points standing, just 18 points behind driver championship leader Joe Foster, Thornton remarked, “We never use the ‘c’ word! We’ll let Joe do that in his press releases.”
“I didn’t know if we’d make it to the end,” said Segal of the team’s fuel gamble. “After the flag I didn’t even know if we’d make it to impound. We got really lucky with a late-race caution. I’m excited going into Mid-Ohio because it’s one of the best tracks we go to for the M3. Hopefully we’ll gain some ground in the points.”
Thornton and Segal were not the only Automatic Racing drivers to earn strong finishes over the weekend. The No. 90 BMW M3 of Jon Miller and Owen Trinkler finished seventh, marking the duo’s best finish of the season. Write Comment - 0 Comments so far. |
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BMW Racing News -
2007 Grand Am Koni Challenge
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Written by Jeff
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Saturday, 16 June 2007 |
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TMS holds Championshio lead in ST; Spirits are high after GS win at Lime Rock
MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Bowmanville, ON, Canada - June 15, 2007 - Fresh from a GS-class win at the last round and with a firm lead in the ST class, Turner Motorsport rolls into Mosport Raceway in Ontario for Round 6 of the Grand-Am Cup Koni Challenge sports car series.
The #95 H&R Springs/Borla Exhaust BMW 330i, in the capable hands of Trevor Hopwood and Adam Burrows, sits atop the overall Championship strandings in the Street Tuner (ST) class. The former Club Racing champions have scored top ten finishes in each of the five races so far this year - including two podiums at Miami-Homestead and Iowa Speedways.
In the GS class, Chris Gleason and Bill Auberlen scored their first wins of 2007 at the last round held at Lime Rock Park. That win joins two other podium finishes this year from the #96 Motul Lubricants/StopTech Brakes BMW M3. With plenty of sports car experience at Mosport between them, the duo have a strong chance at scoring another podium or win.
Will Turner and Don Salama are also hunting for valuable points in their return to Mosport. They sit in eighth place in the overall Championship, driving the #97 H&R Springs/Turner Motorsport BMW M3. Turner, who earned the pole position at Lime Rock two weeks ago, is looking forward to the fast and challenging Mosport circuit.
Will Turner, team owner, pilot #97 H&R Springs/Turner Motorsport BMW M3
"Mosport is a track where every part of the car matters. It's not like other tracks where a singular advantage wins the race. Mosport is a challenging track and you can't leave anything out. I think we'll be strong contenders here because we have a well-balanced car thanks to H&R, our brakes are superior thanks to StopTech, and our engines are strong thanks to Motul. We have a really great driver line-up in all three of our cars. And the Turner crew anchors the team. I feel good about this weekend and the next one at Mid Ohio."
The GS race is at 1:15pm on Saturday with qualifying in the morning.
Qualifying for the ST race is Sunday morning at 9:00am with the race shortly after at 1045am. Write Comment - 0 Comments so far. |
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BMW Racing News -
2007 Grand Am Cup
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Written by Jeff
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Tuesday, 12 June 2007 |
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BOWMANVILLE, Ontario – In 2003, Automatic Racing was at the top with a class pole during the KONI Challenge round at Mosport International Raceway, eventually finishing fifth. Two years later, handling and setup issues relegated the team to a finish of 11th.
Now, with another two years of experience under their belts and the determination to continue a solid season, Automatic Racing returns to Mosport for this weekend’s KONI Challenge Grand Sport race.
All four of the team’s BMW M3s will be competing for top honors, but only two current drivers have competed at Mosport under the Automatic Racing banner in previous years. One of those is Jep Thornton, who will be co-driving the No. 09 Automatic Racing/Fresh from Florida M3 with Jeff Segal.
“We’re confident going into Mosport,” said Thornton. “The cars are sorted and the team is clicking. This is the fist time for some of our drivers, so it will be a little bit of a learning experience for some on the team.”
Thornton and Segal are currently second in the driver championship, and the car is second in team points. With the Mustangs ahead of them, Thornton is optimistic about their chances on Mosport’s 2.459-mile course. “It’s a pretty even track versus the Fords – a little in their favor because of the long uphill, but we are looking forward to a good race,” he said.
David Russell is the other Automatic Racing driver who has visited Mosport with the team, and he is anticipating a solid weekend for himself and Tom Long in the No. 99 Fresh from Florida BMW M3.
“Mosport is my favorite track,” commented Russell. “We’ve also got a lot of good momentum after our race at Lime Rock. I led there for 40 laps, the longest I’ve ever led a race.”
Tim George, Jr. and Conrad Grunewald will be co-driving the No. 91 Automatic Racing BMW, and the No. 90 M3 will have Jon Miller and Owen Trinkler behind the wheel.
The 400-kilometer Grand Sport race will get the green flag on Saturday, June 16 at 1:15 p.m.
Fans can keep up with Automatic Racing at www.AutomaticRacing.com. More information about Fresh from Florida, a campaign of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, can be found at www.Florida-Agriculture.com.Write Comment - 0 Comments so far. |
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BMW Racing News -
2007 Grand Am Koni Challenge
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Written by Jeff
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Wednesday, 06 June 2007 |
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Watch the Turner BMWs Shine on The Speed Channel - Sunday, June 10 at 3:00pm ET
LIME ROCK PARK, Lakeville, CT - June 6, 2007 - Turner Motorsport BMW M3s took home top honors this past Memorial Day at the Koni Challenge (Grand-Am Cup) races at Lime Rock Park. Local hero Will Turner scored the pole position in the #97 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs BMW M3, setting a new lap record in the process. But it was Bill Auberlen and Chris Gleason in the #96 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs/Motul Lubricants BMW M3 that crossed the finish line in first – claiming their 3rd podium in 5 races. It has been four straight years of wins for Turner Motorsport at Lime Rock. Watch the race yourself this Sunday! It will be televised on The Speed Channel at 3:00pm ET.
The #96 Turner Motorsport/Stoptech Brakes BMW M3 started the race from 14th on the grid but moved into the top ten in the hands of Chris Gleason. After 45 laps, Gleason handed the wheel over to Bill Auberlen, who continued the charge towards the front. Auberlen drove flawlessly and capitalized on a mistake by the #49 Porsche to take the lead. But the BMW-Porsche battle intensified as the race wore on with Auberlen fending off multiple challenges from the Porsche.
Bill Auberlen, #96 Turner Motorsport/Stoptech Brakes BMW M3:
"We had a killer car here this weekend and a lot of support from the Turner team. The M3 may have been a little down on horsepower compared to the #49 Porsche, but Turner Motorsport does a fantastic job setting up the BMW for the corners. Turner Motorsport earned this win just as much as Chris or myself. A big thank you to H&R Springs, Stoptech brakes, and Motul Oil as well for all their support. We could not do it without them."
This was the fourth win in a row for the Turner Motorsport BMW's at Lime Rock Park, and the fifth win at Lime Rock since 2001.
Will Turner, in the #97 M3, led from pole position and it was a close battle among the Porsches, Mustangs, and other BMWs for the entire race. Turner led the first five laps but then had to come in the pits for a "stop and go" penalty for jumping the start. This, and an unexpected pit stop by Turner to change a flat tire, presented a challenge to co-driver Don Salama. He cut through the field after the pit stop to finish a respectable eleventh.
Will Turner, #97 Turner Motorsport/H&R Springs BMW M3:
"We sort of had the opposite happen to us as our sister car, the #96 M3… They had good luck and we had bad luck but it was still a positive result and a good weekend all around. My co-driver did an amazing job at getting the car back up towards the front. You have to take the good with some bad and hopefully next time it will be our turn to triumph."
The Turner Motorsport team is supported by many key sponsors and technical partners: H&R Springs, StopTech Brakes, Borla Exhaust, Motul Lubricants, Pagid Brake Pads, and Piloti Driving Shoes. Their assistance is invaluable in a championship-winning team.
All six of the Turner Motorsport pilots retain top positions in their respective season Championships. In the ST Championship, Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood lead the class by four points. Chris Gleason is in sixth place overall in the GS class with co-driver Bill Auberlen in seventh. Will Turner and Don Salama occupy eighth in GS.
The next race in the Grand-Am Koni Challenge is at Mosport Raceway in Ontario, Canada, June 15-17. Write Comment - 0 Comments so far. |
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