Utah Grand
Prix - Live reporting
from the VICI Racing pits
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4.40 PM
Despite last minute dramas both cars finished in the top ten, a
satisfying result after a challenging day. The team is packing up.
“We had quite a difficult race with a number of set backs, but I’m
pleased that both cars made it onto the final results and that we
were able to step up to running two cars with just a few minor
glitches," says Roland. "However what was most pleasing for me was
the progress we made with the tire development program; Kumho have
worked very hard and we are now starting to see the results. Now we
all have to focus on the next race and move forward." |
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3.09 PM
After 2 hours and 3 minutes of racing Craig is the first to make the
final stop, bringing the #5 in for fuel, tires and to hand back to
Nathan who will steer it to the finish line. |
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3:05 PM Nathan and Francesco wait for their respective cars to arrive
in the pits for the changeover for the final stints. Ambient
temperature is in the 90s now and track temperature is reported at
117, it's hot work for everyone wrapped up in fire suits, but
especially so for the drivers. |
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2:07 PM
Ruben
completes his stint after 28 laps and one hour of race, the
Brazilian diving in for fuel, tires and a change to Nicky; however
pit infringements, including an inaccurate pit lane speed limiter,
during the stops saw both cars incurring time penalties which would
set the team back and end any chance of turning in a fighting
result. |
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1:53 PM
The first stop of the afternoon for VICI Racing gets underway as
Nathan brings the #5 car in for fuel, tires and driver change to
Craig. |
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1:20 PM
At the green flag
both cars made good starts, going up positions, with the #18
temporarily moving into the top ten, and Nathan squeezing past two
GT2 class runners in front of him. Both cars were now setting
similar times as they settled into the planned race strategy with
the VICI Racing cars running 1:54 laps in the opening minutes, but
by lap 4 they were in the 1:52s (1:52.241 for the #18 and 1:52.166
for the #5), while a lap later the cars were into the 1:51s for the
first time and running in line astern (1:51.964 for the #18 and
1:51.608 for the #5). |
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12:58 PM Final seconds to go; Craig and Nathan are
conferring. Both are in an upbeat mood, an exciting fight on the
track up from the back of the grid looks to be in store. |
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12:55 PM The VICI Racing crew members line up as the national
anthem is played, the traditional parachutists descend, and so its
time for the race to get underway with the immortal command:
"Gentlemen start your engines". |
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12:50 PM Meanwhile JC is flying the Kumho flag for the new
#18 car today; and proving as popular with the hordes of fans in
Utah as she ever is. She's come straight in this weekend from a
fashion shoot to support the team as usual. |
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12:45 PM We're on the grid now counting down to the race.
It's getting hot, the fans are streaming onto the track to see the
cars. Two cars mean two 'grid girls' and Aspen is on flag duties
today with the #5 car. Since the last race she's appeared in an
infomercial and had a movie part. She's joined on 'flag waving'
duties by VICI Racing's new 'grid guy' Hari Hinneberg... |
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12:15 PM With just minutes before the cars head for the grid
the final touches are being put to the cars in the garage. With
everything running to schedule this morning Team Manager Tim Bumps
reports no issues of any concern. Everyone is now looking forward to
a clean start and a good race. |
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11:30 AM Some families are quite simply born to go motor
racing, and in the Pastorelli household this is very definitely the
case. Former F3000 champion, and most recently a ChampCar star,
Nicky, is being joined in the #18 car by his younger brother
Francesco who is equally as promising a prospect, and is arriving
this weekend for his first race in the US as a double Formula Ford
title winner last year in his native Holland. |
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11:00 AM At this race we are carrying the Porsche-sponsored
on board camera which is installed on the #18 car. We're looking
forward to some good action footage during the Utah Grand Prix. |
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10:15 AM Porsche has built up a long and very enviable
reputation for supporting its customers, a strategy that, along with
continually producing winning machines, has made it the number one
choice of race teams worldwide. Porsche engineers download the data
after each session and with the #18 car being new this weekend their
are paying close attention to its progress, this weekend Nick Lester
from PNA is keeping an eye on our new car. |
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10:05 AM Strategy is very important here in Utah, and with
the race lasting 2 hours and 45 minutes there is a lot of scope for
tactics to make a real difference. Attention to detail is the key to
winning races and crew member Jody Coenen is draining the tank of
the #18 car. Every drop of fuel comes out and is weighed, and an
exact amount is put back in the tank depending on the race strategy
to be adopted. |
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8:25 AM
The session
finishes. After his installation lap in the #5 car Craig was very
quickly into the groove and turned in his first competitive lap time
after 6 minutes, a 1:55.778. He followed this up with a 1:53.393
next time round, dropping the bar to 1:53.219, and then setting a
1:53 dead. Running very consistently on a track that was starting to
warm up quickly, he post a 1:53.133, before a final tour in
1:58.259. He had a good run yesterday at Laguna Seca and no he's
looking forward to this afternoon. |
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8:20 AM
Ruben has been
entrusted with the #18 car during Warm Up, and he has just run four
laps to check the car over. Following his out lap, the Brazilian
youngster posted a 1:55.211 after 4 minutes of the session,
following this up with a 1:55.778. Another consistent tour and his
final lap was a 1:52.864. With no issues reported he brought the car
back in after just over 9 minutes. “The car feels good,” reports
Ruben, “we scrubbed the tires in, confirmed our set up, and we look
well prepared.”
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8:10 AM
Crew member Rene is preparing the pitboards for the race and it
seems he's pretty upbeat about the #18 car's chances this
afternoon... |
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7:55 AM The #18 and #5 cars are queuing in the pitlane
waiting for the Warm Up to go green. The team is pretty happy with the race
set up planned the new #18 car so just a handful of installation
laps are scheduled to scrub in race tires. For the #5 car, which
missed the qualifying session yesterday afternoon, the Warm Up will
allow set up to be finalised and to give Craig a chance to
acclimatise to the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR on the Utah track as he only
flew in last night after a racing commitment at Laguna Seca
yesterday. |
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7:30 AM Race day dawns early.
We will have a morning 25-minute duration warm up session (8:00-8:25
AM) before the Utah Grand Prix, the fourth round of the 2008
American Le Mans Series, goes to green flag conditions at 1:05 PM.
The race is scheduled to last for 2 hours and 45 minutes with the
checkered flag being waved at around 3:50 PM. And for the first time
this year we will have two cars lining up this afternoon on the
grid. |
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