24.08.2005 EARLY BATH FOR NATHAN SWARTZBAUGH IN THE XM SATELLITE RADIO VICI RACING PORSHCE GT3 CUP AFTER A PRACTICE SESSION ACCIDENT

Nathan Swartzbaugh and XM SATELLITE VICI RACING headed to Road American for the penultimate round of the inaugural IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup last week. After an early race tangle last time out at Portland prematurely brought his race to a conclusion, 20-year-old Nathan was seeking a good result over the weekend to keep him in the title hunt.

Buoyed by some excellent testing progress made - prior to the Portland race - during a two day test session at the Willows Springs racetrack in California, Nathan took full advantage of the addition three practice sessions which the IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup organisers laid on for the 20 drivers at Road America on Wednesday, to learn the characteristics of what would be a completely unfamiliar track.

The inaugural IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup features purpose-built racecars manufactured in the Porsche factory on the same assembly line which turns out Porsche's complete line of sportscars for the consumer. The IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge car is based on the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup street car (Type 996), while the Porsche Michelin Supercup series - which runs alongside the FIA Formula One World Championship around the world - has moved to the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car based on the newly-introduced 997 model. The 997 version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racer will be eligible for the 2006 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge series, for which the schedule is expected to be announced shortly.

The competitors run with sealed engines and transmissions, providing for close racing where the driver's talents are exemplified. Porsche Motorsport provides technical support for the series with personnel, parts and expertise both away from and at the track, while Michelin provide the control specification tyres for all competitors.

However it all went swiftly wrong for Nathan in the first of the two free practice sessions held last Thursday, which preceded Friday's official qualifying. After immediately posting what would be an unbeaten 6th fastest time, the young Californian driver hit the wall at turn two after 3 laps, causing significant damage to the Porsche GT3 Cup racer.

"Prospects don't look very good", commented Freddy Renauer once the damaged race car had been returned to the XM SATELLITE RADIO VICI RACING pit. Freddy Renauer 'senior' is one of the Florida-based team's veteran engineers - he was in fact a key member of the crew for VICI RACING's first ever race in the United States, the 1993 Daytona 24 Hours - scene of one of the team's most famous victories. Not to mention that he is the father of rapid twins - Alfred and Robert - two youngsters who are both looking set for successful sportscar racing careers.

Nathan Swartzbaugh and VICI RACING now look forward to the final IMSA Cup race which will be held at the Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca, 14/16th Oct.

The car was not deemed repairable at the track, and so it was to be a very disappointing early end to proceedings. "You take the rough with the smooth in motor racing," said Team President Ron C. Meixner, "accidents do happen. We now have to focus on the last race and look to pull a good result out of the bag to round this first IMSA Cup season off."

Nathan Swartzbaugh and VICI RACING now look forward to the final race of the IMSA GT3 Challenge Cup, the Monterey Sportscar Championships, which will be held at the Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca, 14th-16th October.