Lime Rock, Connecticut – Alex Job Racing drivers Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas drove to the team’s first ever victory at Lime Rock park in round four of the American Le Mans Series today. Teammates Randy Pobst and Ian Baas finished a seasons best fourth.
Starting from his second place qualifying position in the number 23/Hyatt/Alex Job Racing/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Dumas was leading the GT2 field by the braking point of the first turn. From that point in his stint, the Frenchman never looked back as he began to gap second place by some five-seconds. The young factory driver had the measure of the field when he turned over driving duties to teammate Timo Bernhard. Bernhard had fallen to third through differing pit strategies. Those pit strategies eventually put the young German in front by one lap. The finishing positions in GT2 were exactly the same as Le Mans three weeks ago.
Ian Baas started the number 24/Bell MicroproductsProVest/Alex Job Racing/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and was able to hold his own to the first pit stop. Unable to slow the Porsche coming into the pits the Indianapolis resident was given a stop-and-go-penalty putting them down a lap. Handing over to Pobst, the 24 car, benefited from the same pit strategy as the 23 car and was able to get a lap back finishing just one place from the podium in fourth.
Timo Bernhard, #23 Alex Job Racing/Hyatt/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, “When Romain came in and gave the car over to me I rejoined the fight in third place. I had to push to make up ground and was able to take the lead about 20 laps later. We had excellent pit strategy and the team put us up one lap. We made a few improvements for the warm-up that really made the car consistent over the long run. It was nice to get the team their first victory here and secure maximum points as we chase for the championship.”
Romain Dumas, #23 Alex Job Racing/Hyatt/Porsche 911 GT3 RSR: “At the start I was able to lead before turn one. I was able to drive aggressively through traffic and still take care of my tires. I had built up a nice gap of more than five-seconds when the yellow came. On the restart I had a good jump and was able to get about three seconds back. I had one small moment in turn three with a slide, but other than that the car was really good all day.”
Alex Job, team owner: “It feels great to win at Lime Rock. We have now won at every circuit that we visit. Romain and Timo did a great job all day, negotiating traffic and dealing with the faster cars. Mike Evans made a great call which was able to put the 23 car up a lap and get the 24 car a lap back. Randy and Ian are making great strides, our next goal is to get them on the podium.”

GT1 RACE REPORT

ACEMCO Motorsports Finishes Third in GT1 at Lime Rock

Lime Rock, Connecticut -- ACEMCO Motorsports came back from a disappointing qualifying adjustment to finish their number 63 Saleen S7-R in third position in round four of the American Le Mans Series New England Grand Prix run at Lime Rock Park.
Following post qualifying inspection on Saturday, the team learned that they would be relegated to the back of the field for the start of the race. The car failed the air box test, due to an air leak. IMSA rules state that when the air intake is plugged the car must stall. What would have been a third place starting position in GT1 put them back some seven rows from where their qualifying time would have started them.
Terry Borcheller started the Saleen from what seemed like Lakeville, the next town over. The Georgia resident was able to bring the car up through the GT2 field and into contention in GT1 by lap seven. After cycling through the pit stops, the team decided to leave Johnny Mowlem out and gamble on fuel with some 45-minutes remaining. The Englishman was able to conserve gas during the cautions and keep a charging Maserati behind him to bring the car home on the podium.
“The car was not bad,” said Mowlem. “The team made a great call to keep me out there and gamble with the cautions. The Maserati had the legs on us at the end, but I was able to negotiate the traffic a little better and finish on the podium. After a weekend of constant adjustment on the car to get it to ride over the bumps, I am glad for the team that we could grab a trophy.”
“I was able to get up through traffic without any damage or incident,” said Borcheller. “I am surprised it was that smooth. The race really came to us and the strategy and pit stops were right on. I had a little trouble getting by the five car and we touched, other than that I had no real drama. Johnny did a great job to hold off the charging Maserati, it feels good to be on the podium.”
“It was a great battle at the end,” said team owner Jeff Giangrande. “Terry had a good drive at the beginning to make up for the penalty from qualifying. Johnny kept the car competitive until the very end with the Maserati coming, he was just a little better in traffic. Great strategy in the pits, I would rather end the race stranded out on the track with a dry fuel tank than finish fourth.”

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