It's "O CANADA" as the ALMS moves to Mosport
The Liddell/Field Duo Are Looking For A Three-Peat in P2 Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, August 5, 2004 - Only one of the nine American Le Mans Series (ALMS) races is not scheduled for a U.S. road racing circuit, and that event is next on the ALMS agenda, north of the border up Canada way. Its a track with a long history and an international reputation, and of course we mean Mosport International Raceway, located near Bowmanville, Ontario, just an easy drive east and a little north of Toronto. Mosport features a 2.5-mile, 10-turn road course that drivers will tell you is one of the most physically and mentally demanding tracks that the ALMS visits. Clint Fields Pirelli-sponsored Intersport Racing Lola B2K/Judd P2 team, fresh from a dominating class win at Portland, will be looking for a three-peat at Mosport, following a win at Infineon Raceway the week before Portland. The Portland victory marks the fourth checkered flag of the year for Fields team, which also tasted victory in the P2 category at Le Mans and at Mid-Ohio. Team-leader Clint Field, who turned 21 just three days following his Le Mans victory last June, will be out for his third consecutive P2 pole at Mosport. He will be joined behind the wheel by Scotsman Robin Liddell who has brought both skill and good luck to the Intersport team. Robin has shared in the driving during all three of Fields three North American wins and has also set fastest P2 race lap in each of those victories. Terry Borcheller and Johnny Mowlem had an excellent weekend in the Pirelli-shod ACEMCO Saleen S7R at Portland up until about 30 minutes to go. Thats when a differential problem geared its ugly head, slowing the Saleen and dropping the team from a hard-fought 2 nd down to 3 rd in GTS behind the two factory Corvettes. Team owner Jeff Giangrande, whose ACEMCO organization is located in Michigan, believes Mosports twists, turns and elevation changes are well suited to the S7R and would like nothing better than to stick the Saleens independent nose ahead of the factory Corvettes up in Canada. The Pirelli-supported Lamborghini Murcielagos R-GTs of Krohn-Barbour Racing, piloted by David Brabham/Peter Kox and Tracy Krohn/ Scott Maxwell, the Risi Competizione Ferrari 360 Modena GTC of Ralf Kelleners/Anthony Lazzaro, and the Panoz Motor Sports Esperante GT-LM of drivers (Top) Gunnar Jeannette/David (Gas) Saelens are all looking forward to leaving their current spate of mechanical and electrical woes behind when the teams head to Canada. In recent years alone, Pirelli has won: Seven Sports Car Drivers' Championships and Manufacturers' Championships. The " Triple Crown" (Drivers', Manufacturers' and Team Championships) of the inaugural Grand American Road Racing season in 2000 with the Saleen/Allen Speedlab Team. Two-straight World Sports Car Championships for Manufacturers and Drivers with Fermin Velez racing Team Scandias Ferrari 333 SP in 1995 and Wayne Taylor driving Doyle Racings Oldsmobile Riley & Scott Mk III in 1996; while contributing significantly to Ferraris second WSC Championship in 1998 as Taylor and Doyle-Risi Racing won the WSC Team Championship. In fact, this latter car, which also won the prototype, class at Le Mans and overall at the inaugural Petit Le Mans will be on display in Infineons victory circle this weekend. Four-straight GTS-II Championships for Manufacturers and Drivers, including three straight by Larry Schumacher at the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR. Pirelli has won the 12 Hours of Sebring race overall several times, including back-to-back victories in 1995 and 1996. It also has numerous class wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, including three-straight wins in GTS-2 at Sebring from 1995-1997. Following the 1998 season, Pirelli took a hiatus from sports car racing in America until 2002 when it returned to the American Le Mans Series. With several class wins and podium finishes already in 2004, Pirelli is setting up for even greater success as the ALMS moves to Canada for the Grand Prix of Mosport. The race will be televised live on CBS on August 8 from 1-3 p.m. (EDT). Race fans can also listen to live coverage of the race on the ALMS radio web at www.americanlemans.com.