16.05.2008 VICI RACING HIT THE TRACK AT UTAH TODAY FOR PRE RACE TESTING TESTING SESIONS
 

VICI Racing and Kumho Tires took to the track this afternoon at the Miller Motorsports Park in Utah as the build up to Sunday’s fourth round of the 2008 American Le Mans Series got underway; and boosted by a line-up of two Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs for the first time.

Today’s 90 minutes of track time would comprise of a promoter test session, with the action getting underway at 2:05 PM. The first 30 minutes would be reserved for the GT1 and GT2 cars with the final 90 minutes open to all classes, meaning that the LMP1 and LMP2 cars would be out of the 3.06 mile ‘Perimeter’ circuit which is being used for the first time by the ALMS, on its third visit to this superb facility. A beautiful day, the rolling flat valley is bookended by snow clad mountains, providing an unrivalled setting of racing cars in action in front of glistening white peaks.

For VICI Racing the hour-and-a-half session presented the opportunity to conduct a tire test program, and at the same time allow the trio of drivers in the new #18 car to get used to the machine, as well as shaking down the brand new car. Nicky Pastorelli is limited to a handful of pre-Sebring shakedown laps in the RSR, Ruben turned in half a dozen laps on the streets of St. Petersburg at the beginning of April and Francesco is making the big jump from Formula Ford.

When the test session went green at 2:05PM Nathan (in the #5) and Nicky (in the #18) took to the track on what was rapidly turning into a hot and sunny Utah afternoon. With temperatures rising the drivers bedded in quickly, Nathan posting his first quick lap (1:57.506) after 5 minutes; after 8 minutes he was under the 1:57 barrier with a 1:56.185, and within 10 minutes he was into the 1:54s, with a 1:54.742, followed up quickly by a 1:54.578. Meanwhile, with the #18 turning its wheels in anger for the first time Nicky embarked on a string of installation laps with the team quickly bringing him back into the pits for a quick check over. Back on circuit the Dutch former F3000 champion and ChampCar driver turned in a 1:57.422 after 13 minutes as he dialled the car in.

Nathan came in after 13 minutes and Nicky followed him pitwards three minutes later, both quickly returning to the track, and with Nathan turning in a 1:54.202 after 22 minutes. “These are really our second generation tires,” says Jason Myers, Tire Technician for Kumho Tires, “there isn’t enough time to do everything we want to do today, but we can make good progress. This track is pretty good on tires and with two cars now we can double the amount of feedback we get.”

Nicky is making steady progress settling into the #18 car which is being run today exactly as it came from the factory; the RSR will get a series of changes made to it tonight to set it up for the Utah track. After 25 minutes the highly rated Dutchman turns in a 1:54.467 and after 29 minutes he posts a 1:53.779.
 

Nathan meanwhile is also now running sub-1:54 laps, he sets a 1:53.837 after 26 minutes of running; and after 30 minutes the LMP1 and LMP2 car stream onto the track and it starts to get crowded. Nicky improves the bar to 1:53.265 after 32 minutes, before heading to the pits to let Ruben Carrapatoso take over. “It was pretty good for a first run,” says Nicky, “it was good to get started off on our program straight away. The car felt good and the new tires were good too, we will see how Ruben gets on as he’s trying a different set of tires. I’m confident we are going in the right direction and can bring the times down tomorrow.”

Ruben was very quickly into the groove, his second lap out of the pits (43 mins) is a 1:53.265, an impressive opening salvo bearing in mind his complete absence of knowledge of the circuit and a mere half dozen laps in the 911 GT3 RSR – and these were on the twisty streets of St. Petersburg. The next time round he follows that up with a 1:53.024, with both cars running in the GT2 top ten times at this point. Meanwhile the ALMS radio commentary team are interviewing Nicky. “The most important this is that we didn’t have any issues,” he says, adding that he’s really looking forward to driving in ALMS.

Nathan is staying out in the #5 as he works through the tire program, and after 49 minutes he turns in a 1:52.196 which will stand as his and the #5 car’s best time this afternoon. Ruben meanwhile goes sub-1:53 after 52 minutes with a 1:52.207, and this too will stand as the best time for the #18 car today. After 55 minutes both drivers are in for new tires, and fuel for the #18 which is also handed over to Francesco Pastorelli. Four minutes after coming in both cars are out for the final half hour.

“I like the track,” reports Ruben, "it’s quick but dirty off the line; the car was ok, the tires are getting better, they have good grip in the high speed corners, and we are climbing in a good way. Francesco meanwhile is running very well for his first run in an RSR and in fact on what is a major career step upwards. He sets a 1:56.314 (1 hr 5 mins) after a couple of learning laps and continues to lap in the high 1:50s as he learns the circuit. Meanwhile after 1 hr 6 mins Nathan refuels and the car is checked over by the crew. After 1 hr 9 mins and with just over 20 minutes remaining the #37 prototype blocks the track bringing out the red flag.

The session goes back to green at 1 hr 17 mins and with five minutes remaining Francesco turns in a 1:56.832 followed by a 1:56.969, consistent, solid lapping that has Technical Director Roland Wall happy with his progress. Nathan meanwhile wraps up a long cockpit session with a 1:55.493 and on his last tour, a 1:54.918.

Roland is quietly satisfied with progress. “We tried the new tires that Kumho wanted to work though and bedded in the new car although it isn’t set up for this track, and have got long trouble-free runs on both cars in. We have completed today’s schedule, now we need to study the data and prepare for tomorrow."