ALMS Monterey

Originally published in the July, 2013 issue of DrivenWorld
May 15, 2013

It's hard to ignore the dynamic spirit of life on the Monterey Peninsula.

Razor sharp sunshine pierces microclimates that roll across the undulating landscape, taming cool marine air.   Rich in agriculture, California cuisine, and an appreciation for the arts, the Peninsula inspires one to embrace the good life, opportunity, and endeavor.  Monterey is also home to a rich history of competition, specifically in motor sports.

Carved around a dry lake bed on Ft. Ord’s artillery target range, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a proud centerpiece of the region and one of North America's iconic motor racing circuits.  

Laguna Seca's corkscrew: renown for it's ten story drop

Fabled names through great eras of modern motor sport have attacked this challenging ribbon of tarmac.    Teams, designers, drivers, and automotive enthusiasts from all over the world have relished their moment under the Monterey sun, and this year's busy calendar will prove no exception.

May 11 marked one of the year's more significant annual events with the third round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series..   Bringing the most advanced prototypes and GT chassis from all over the world, the ALMS is the premiere North American sports car series contested by some of the world's best racing drivers.  

Laguna Seca is one of only a handful of circuits to have hosted the ALMS each year of the series' fifteen-year existence.   The circuit provides US sports car enthusiasts the opportunity to see these incredible machines driven on the limit over a highly unique terrain.    The steep rise to the famous corkscrew turn challenges drivers and creates a natural spectator proscenium as the circuit sharply drops toward the Rainey curve.

Qualifying for this year's race was highlighted by two sensational pole position laps.   Swiss pilot Neel Jani pipped the LMP1 field in his Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota, while Italian Matteo Malucelli put his Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 GT on top in the GT class.

LMP1 Pole for Neel Jani

Matteo Malucelli

Jani relates his pole lap to Heidfeld

Race day delivered a number of titanic battles through the field, with surprising results.

Germans Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf in the Muscle Milk Honda HPD prototype wrestled the race win away from Jani and his teammate, ex-F1 pilot Nick Heidfeld, in a taut wheel to wheel contest.

Early days:   Klaus Graf started for Muscle Milk

Approaching traffic on entry to the corkscrew, Jani took to the inside but out braked himself.   The Rebellion Lola missed the apex and Luhr slipped past.   Jani later regained the race lead after the two cars came together into turn 3, but fell victim to a late race puncture leaving Rebellion to settle for second place behind the Luhr/Graf Muscle Milk Team.

Winning drivers from all classes

 
IMSA's fantastic Porsche GT3 Cup and the Cooper Lites Championship both provided their usual brand of fierce competition filling out the race weekend.     Featuring two races each, these support series feature close, often dramatic racing between semi-pro and gentlemen racers.

IMSA's GT3 Cup supports the ALMS weekend with close racing

This year's race marked the final ALMS visit to Mazda Raceway following the recent merger of ALMS with the NASCAR-sanctioned Grand AM series, which will launch IMSA United Sports Car Racing  in 2014.   Although the new series offers promise, it marks the end of what has proven to be a highly regarded facet of motor sport in North America.

Rebellion's Jani and Heidfeld were quick all weekend

Morning warm-up got a bit dusty for Katherine Legge in the DeltaWing LM12

Closing stages for the Team West/AJR/Boardwalk Ferrari 458 GT

Story & Photos by
Jim Hunter

Auto Gallery Dominates Sonoma

Originally published in the June, 2013 issue of DrivenWorld
May 2, 2013

Inspired by their strong start to the season, Auto Gallery Motorsports played momentum, focus, and team work to full advantage to achieve fantastic results in the third round of the North American Ferrari Challenge at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma.

Seasoned drivers John Farano and Carlos Kauffman both emerged victorious with race wins in the Trofeo Pirelli Championship.

Qualifying 2nd (Farano) and 4th (Kauffman), the Auto Gallery drivers staged an intense fight for the top step in Saturday’s first race.

Farano leads Kauffman through Infineon's Turn 2


Farano held off a tenacious charge from Kauffman to net his second win of the season, while Kauffman's determined drive gave Auto Gallery a spectacular one-two finish.

Farano, center, Kauffman, right, celebrate Auto Gallery 1-2 Finish

Farano stated, “This (458 Challenge) is probably one of the nicest racecars I’ve ever driven and I’ve driven a few . . . a very, very enjoyable car to drive.”    Farano relied on experience and race craft to hold off a determined attack from teammate Kauffman, keeping Carlos at bay entering the final chicane.

The team refused, however, to merely rest on their laurels.     A very determined Kauffman laid down an invincible pole position lap for Sunday’s second race, “Yeah, I’m happy to be able to do it finally in the season. I really had a great lap.  I heat up my tires, just came out, pretty nice, no traffic, inspired by yesterday’s race.”

Pole position assured, Kauffman parks his steed well prior the end of session

Carlos drove a hard race to keep Ferrari Quebec’s Emmanuel Anassi and Ferrari of Houston’s Mark McKenzie at bay, taking his second 2013 race win thus giving The Auto Gallery both races for the Sonoma round.    Commented Kauffman, “the cars are awesome, you know, it’s a Ferrari, you’re always glad to be on it.”

Kauffman leads Anassi and McKenzie

Kauffman accepts trophy for Sunday's victory from Ferrari of North America's Marco Mattiacci

The team also did well in the Coppa Shell (Amateur) category, with first timer Jim Weiland finishing sixth in class.

Auto Gallery Motorsports is a close knit, cohesive team.    Racing Director Ryan Negri and Crew Chief Rudy Courtade run a tightly focused operation, and are seasoned in what it takes to win.

Courtade and Negri: at home with The Auto Gallery

 

“Ryan and I have been business partners for about 22 years. We started with Go-Karts and progressed into formula cars. We did some Porsche Motorsport stuff and then jumped into the Ferrari Challenge in 2000.    We’re in a nice home with great support and a great dealership in the Auto Gallery,” said Courtade.

Negri added, “The biggest challenge really is staying ahead of the program, making sure the cars are ready, making sure that logistically we’re there, making sure that the cars are fast and reliable.”

Story & Images by
Jim Hunter