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Farnbacher Loles Racing - Rolex 24 final PDF Print E-mail
Sunday, 27 January 2008

Farnbacher Loles Racing showed its championship form during the Rolex 24 At Daytona, although the race didn't go the way they had hoped. The team had the momentum of the 2007 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series GT team and driver championships, a strong 32-man driver lineup and a talented, cohesive crew. But wins at Daytona require an element of luck, as well, and it wasn't with Farnbacher Loles on Saturday and Sunday.

Farnbacher Loles set the two fastest GT laps during the race and led the fast-lap stats for 18 hours of the 24-hour race. 2007 Rolex Series GT champion Dirk Werner posted the fastest lap in the No. 87 (GT Champion) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – one minute 51.240 seconds – at the six-hour mark. He held it until Wolf Henzler, driving the No. 86 (Power) Porsche passed him at 10h15 with a time of 1:51.285.

 

Four Farnbacher Loles drivers (Henzler, Jörg Bergmeister, Leh Keen and Werner) and two cars (Nos. 86 and 87) led the GT class five times during the first half of the race.

 

The race settled down for most of the team cars during the final six hours of the race, but the No. 86 (Power) Porsche was plagued by issues with the car's clutch hydraulic system. The No. 83 (Fitness) car also encountered problems and retired from the race.

 

The No. 87 (GT Champion) Porsche topped the Farnbacher Loles finishers with an eighth-place finish, giving full-season drivers Dominik Farnbacher and Dirk Werner a solid start in Rolex Series GT points. The No. 88 (Doncaster Racing) Porsche demonstrated Doncaster's consistency and finished 12th, with the No. 84 (Team Seattle) car right behind in 13th. The No. 86 (Power) Porsche was a disappointing 19th after a leading performance in the race, and the No. 85 (Team Seattle) car finished 21st. The No. 83 (Fitness) car and the No. 89 (Italian) Porsche retired from the race before the finish.



race positions

 

car             start              6h             12h             18h             24h

 

83               28                 28

84               33                 19

85               30                 20

86               14                   1

87               13                 21

88               10                 31

89               12                 18

 

race report

 

car          time             driver                          action

 

83           start              T Bergmeister

               45m              T Bergmeister               garage – broken driveshaft

               1h20             change                         McCrackin in, back on track

               1h27             McCrackin                    no radio

               1h47             change                         pit – tires, fuel, radio repair attempt

               2h40             change                         pit – Ludwig in, four tires, fuel, radio fuse

               3h44             change                         pit – Walker in, four tires, fuel, radio repair

               4h30             Walker                         pit – fuel, oil

               5h15             change                         pit – Crews in, four rain tires, fuel

 

84           start              Bingham

               31m              Bingham                      pit – fuel

               1h49             change                         pit – Pennington in, fuel

               3h12             change                         pit – Pickering in, fuel, oil

               5h12             Pickering                      fuel

               6h31             change                         pit – Cotter in, fuel, oil

 

85           start              Bentley

               31m              Bentley                        pit – fuel

               1h35             change                         pit – Kitch Jr in, four tires, fuel

               2h50             change                         pit – Miller in, four tires, fuel

               4h08             change                         pit – Pallis in, four tires, fuel

               4h30             Pallis                           pit – fuel

               5h15             Pallis                           pit – fuel

               5h34             Pallis                           pit – clutch adjustment

 

86           start              Henzler

               36m              Henzler                        pit – four tires, fuel

               1h36             Henzler                        class lead

               1h46             change                         pit -  J. Bergmeister in, four tires, fuel

               2h47             J Bergmeister               class lead

               3h58             change                         pit – Keen in, four tires, fuel

               4h19             Keen                            class lead

               5h12             Keen                            pit – four tires, fuel

 

87           start              Werner

               40m              Werner                         class lead

               50m              change                         pit –  damaged left-front control arm; Farnbacher in

               1h7               Farnbacher                   back on track

               1h10             Farnbacher                   pit – alignment adjustment

               1h12             Farnbacher                   back on track

               1h50             Farnbacher                   pit – four tires, fuel, alignment

               2h12             Farnbacher                   pit – alignment

               3h11             change                         pit – Ehret in, four tires, fuel, alignment

               4h10             change                         pit – Bernhard in, four tires, fuel

               4h30             Bernhard                      pit – left-front tire, fuel, alignment

               4h34             Bernhard                      pit – alignment

               5h15             change                         pit – Werner in, tires, fuel, alignment

 

88           start              Stippler

               37m              Stippler                        pit – four tires, fuel

               1h25             change                         pit – Lacey in, four tires, fuel

               2h42             change                         pit – Wilkins in, four tires, fuel

               3h02             Wilkins                        pit – radiator damage

               4h24             change                         pit – Curran in, four tires, fuel

               5h50             change                         pit – Kaffer in, four tires, fuel

 

89           start              Hardt

               1h22             change                         pit – Drudi in, four tires, fuel

               1h56             Drudi                            pit – tires, fuel

               2h15             change                         pit – Giammaria in, four tires, fuel

               3h15             change                         pit – Petrobelli in, four tires, fuel

               4h15             Petrobelli                      roll bar bracket broke

               5h12             change                         pit – Hardt in, fuel

               5h20             Hardt                           pit – four rain tires, roll bar taken off



car             start              6h             12h             18h             24h

 

83               28                 28             31

84               33                 19             12

85               30                 20             21

86               14                   1               7

87               13                 21             13

88               10                 31             16

89               12                 18             out

race report

 

car          time             driver                          action

 

83           6h                 Crews

               7h50             change                         pit – Bergmeister in, four tires, fuel

               9h07             change                         pit – McCrackin in, four tires, fuel

               10h17           change                         pit – Ludwig in, four tires, fuel

               10h28           Ludwig                         pit – check damaged front bodywork, fuel

               10h41           Ludwig                         pit, garage; repaired front bodywork, replaced hose

               11h24           Ludwig                         garage – front bodywork damage

 

84           6h                 Cotter

               6h31             change                         pit – Cotter in, fuel, oil

               7h25             Cotter                          left-front puncture; pit – four tires, fuel

               8h15             change                         pit – Bingham in, fuel

               9h04             Bingham                      pit – four tires, fuel

               10h17           change                         pit – Pennington in, fuel

               10h55           Pennington                   pit – fuel

 

85           6h                 Pallis

               6h41             change                         pit – Bentley in, four tires, fuel

               7h48             Bentley                        pit – fuel

               8h13             Bentley                        pit – fuel

               9h04             change                         pit – Kitch Jr in, fuel

               9h50             Kitch Jr                        garage – radiator replacement

               10h40           Kitch Jr                        back on track; pit – fuel

 

86           6h                 Keen

               6h23             change                         pit – Maassen in, four tires, fuel

               8h10             change                         pit – Lux in, four tires, fuel

               9h04             change                         pit – J Bergmeister in, four tires, fuel; class lead

               9h35             J Bergmeister               60-second penalty for hitting a tire during the pit stop

               10h12           change                         pit – Henzler in, four tires, fuel

               10h18           Henzler                        class lead

               10h47           Henzler                        pit – four tires, fuel, rear lower control arm, brakes

 

87           6h                 Werner                         fastest GT lap (1:51.420)

               7h50             change                         pit – Farnbacher in, four tires, fuel

               8h13             Farnbacher                   pit – fuel

               9h07             Farnbacher                   pit – four tires, fuel

               10h16           change                         pit – Ehret in, four tires, fuel

               10h57           Ehret                           pit – fuel

               11h32           change                         pit – Bernard in, tires, fuel

 

88           6h                 Kaffer

               7h46             change                         pit – Stippler in, four tires, fuel

               9h04             Stippler                        pit – four tires, fuel

               10h16           change                         pit – Lacey in, four tires, fuel

               10h56           Lacey                          pit – fuel

 

89           6h                 Hardt

               6h57             change                         pit – Drudi in, four tires, fuel

               8h13             Drudi                            pit – four tires, fuel, front brakes, front and rear roll bar

               9h05             change                         pit – Giammaria in, rear tires, fuel

               9h48             Giammaria                   hit by another car left right

               9h49             Giammaria                   pit – tires and front bodywork checked, fuel

               10h11           Giammaria                   pit – replaced front bodywork, front tires, fuel

               10h22           Giammaria                   back on track

               10h48           change                         pit – Petrobelli in, fuel, repair shifter cable

               11h09           Petrobelli                      stop/go penalty for pitstop at start of full-course caution

               11h23           Petrobelli                      left-front tire down, damage to radiator, front bodywork,

                                                                      chassis bent – out of race


 

race positions

 

car             start              6h             12h             18h             24h

 

83               28                 28             31               32

84               33                 19             12               15

85               30                 20             21               29

86               14                   1               7               18

87               13                 21             13               10

88               10                 31             16               14

89               12                 18             out

 

race report

 

car          time             driver                          action

 

83           12h               Ludwig

               13h12           change                         pit – Crews in, fuel

               13h50           Crews                          pit – fuel

               14h11           Crews                          pit – rain tires, fuel

               16h09           change                         pit – McCrackin in, rain tires, fuel

               17h01           McCrackin                    garage – tire down, front bodywork

 

84           12h               Pennington

               12h39           change                         pit – Pickering in, fuel

               13h50           Pickering                      pit – four tires, fuel

               13h55           Pickering                      pit – rain tires

               15h00           change                         pit – Cotter in, rain tires, fuel

               16h18           Cotter                          pit – fuel

               16h57           change                         pit – Bingham in, fuel

               17h12           Bingham                      pit – rear suspension

               18h               Bingham                      pit – fuel 

 

85           12h               Kitch Jr.

               12h08           change                         pit – Miller in, four tires, fuel

               13h07           Miller                           garage – left-front tire down, radiator damage

               13h56           Miller                           one lap, back to garage

               14h33           change                         Pallis in; back on track

               16h08           change                         pit – Bentley in, tires, fuel

               16h51           Bentley                        pit – four tires, fuel

               17h56           Bentley                        pit – four tires, fuel           

 

86           12h               Henzler

               13h09           change                         pit – Keen in, four tires, fuel

               13h31           Keen                            pit – rear suspension

               13h47           Keen                            pit – four tires

               14h01           Keen                            pit – rain tires

               15h20           change                         pit – Lux in, rain tires, fuel

               16h12           change                         pit – Maassen in, rain tires, fuel

               16h45           Maassen                      garage – clutch hydraulic failure

               17h30           Maassen                      back on track

               17h56           Maassen                      pit – fuel

                                                                     

87           12h               Bernhard

               12h36           change                         pit – Werner in, four tires, fuel

               13h34           Werner                         pit – right tires, fuel

               14h12           Werner                         pit – rain tires, fuel

               15h00           change                         pit – Farnbacher in, rain tires, fuel

               16h12           Farnbacher                   pit – fuel, dry tires, left front suspension work

               17h16           Farnbacher                   pit – fuel

               17h56           change                         pit – Bernhard in, four tires, fuel

 

88           12h               Lacey

               13h6             change                         pit – Curran in, tires, fuel

               13h52           Curran                          pit – fuel

               15h00           Curran                          pit – rear rain tires

               16h12           change                         pit – Kaffer in, rain tires, fuel

               17h12           Kaffer                           pit – fuel

               17h56           change                         pit – Stippler in, four tires, fuel

 

race positions

 

car             start              6h             12h             18h             24h

 

83               28                 28             31               out

84               33                 19             12               15               13

85               30                 20             21               29               21

86               14                   1               7               18               19

87               13                 21             13               10                 8

88               10                 31             16               14               12

89               12                 18             out

 

race report

 

car          time             driver                          action

 

83           17h01           McCrackin                    garage – out of race (updates previous report)

 

84           18h               Bingham

               18h42           change                         pit – Don Pennington in, four tires, fuel

               20h57           change                         pit – Pickering in, fuel

               22h08           Pickering                      pit – four tires, fuel

               22h50           change                         pit – Cotter in, fuel

               23h57           Cotter                          pit – check tires

 

85           17h56           change                         pit – Kitch in, four tires, fuel (updates previous report)

               18h56           Kitch                            pit – four tires, fuel

               19h15           Kitch                            pit – fuel

               20h07           change                         pit – Miller in, fuel

               21h13           Miller                           pit – fuel

               22h19           change                         pit – Pallis in, fuel

               23h34           change                         pit – Kitch Jr in, fuel

 

86           18h               Maassen

               18h54           change                         pit – Bergmeister in, four tires, fuel

               19h41           Bergmeister                  pit – radiator, fuel

               20h01           Bergmeister                  garage – replace clutch slave cylinder (master cylinder

                                                                      was replaced during 16h75 garage stop)

               20h46           change                         pit – Lux in, four tires, fuel, back on track

               21h13           change                         pit – Farnbacher in, four tires, fuel

               22h21           change                         pit – Ehret in, four tires, fuel

               22h57           Ehret                           pit – fuel, hydraulic pump line adjustment

                                                                     

87           18h               Bernhard

               19h00           change                         pit – Werner in, four tires, fuel

               19h45           Werner                         pit – fuel

               20h14           Werner                         pit – fuel

               21h13           change                         pit – Farnbacher in, four tires, fuel

               22h11           Farnbacher                   pit – fuel

 

88           18                 Stippler

               19h07           Stippler                        pit – clean oil off windshield

               20h52           change                         pit – Wilkins in, four tires, fuel

               21h13           change                         pit – Curran in, four tires, fuel

               23h09           Curran                          pit – four tires, fuel

 

Gregory Loles, team owner:  "I want to offer big, big congratulations to Mazda. I'm sure they're going to be a very worthy opponent all season. And my heartfelt congratulations to TRG. They represented the Porsche marque incredibly well. Unfortunately, we didn't have the luck ourselves this time, but we're very happy with the performance of all our drivers and our crew. Monday morning we'll start preparing for race two – it's a long season. Ironically, we're better off coming out of Daytona this year than we were last year, so we're looking forward to another strong fight. "

 

Tim Bergmeister, No. 83 driver:  "It was a new experience for me in Daytona, my first 24-hour race here in the U.S. It's different. I know the 24 hours of the Nordschleife [Nürburgring], of Tokachi, of Bahrain, but this one is special. I had really good teammates and the car worked well, but we had a lot of bad luck during the race. But that's the way it is."

 

Chris Bingham, No. 84 driver:  "The car was great all night. We spent a total of maybe 20 minutes of out-time, but it was all in the pit area. We didn't go into the garage one time. Our longest time out was maybe 10 minutes, so it's a testament to this crew, our drivers and everything about this team this year. We really put together a great program with Farnbacher Loles and all the Team Seattle guys, and everything we did for the Children's Hospital is incredible."

 

Ross Bentley, No. 85 driver:  "I guess we broke rule No. 1, which is stay out of the pits and the garage. Other than that, we had a good race. But the coolest thing about this race is there will be close to half a million dollars going back to the Children's Hospital. Personally, to see Don [Kitch Jr, Team Seattle founder] drive the wheels off the car through the race – better than he ever has – and for him to finally get to take the checkered flag is great. He deserves it."

 

Wolf Henzler, No. 86 driver:  "The crew did a very good job. It's always very hard for them. We are five drivers so we can go and have some rest, but the crew can't. They have to work the whole 24 hours. Unfortunately, we didn't get the result everybody wanted. We wanted to win the race, but you need a lot of luck also, not only a fast car. I'm not happy for Eric and Lee – they're running the season together and they're starting without a good result, they don't get many points. I hope and I wish that they will have better results during the season and hope they will be back in the championship."

 

Dirk Werner, No. 87 driver:  "It's not the result we hoped for. For the championship, it's not so bad – last year we started worse. But you don't come to Daytona just to be part of it, you come to win the race. It looked good from the beginning, but then soon we had some problems and through the whole race, the problems never ended. I think we are pretty lucky to get an eighth-place in the end, and for the championship, nothing is lost."

 

Greg Wilkins, No. 88 driver:  "The end result doesn't show how well the car performed. We were very unlucky in the early going of the race, so that really set us back, but we have been on the pace since then. It's a tribute to the Farnbacher Loles team, Greg Loles and our team – the guys did a great job. And to our co-drivers. We'd never driven together before and the chemistry was really good. They're very nice guys and very quick guys. Maybe we can get together again later in the year."

 

 

 
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