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USCC Round 5 Alton ... Fisichella and Kaffer Ferrari F458 Italia victorious


62 Fisichella_Kaffer (I_D), Ferrari F458 Italia s/n 2866

62 Fisichella_Kaffer (I_D), Ferrari F458 Italia s/n 2866

 

Stuttgart, 24 August, 2014 

A dramatic Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) that was settled on the final lap saw the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia score its second successive victory in the United SportsCar Championship.

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The victory is the 12th for the Ferrari 458 Italia in North American endurance racing, and the fifth this season following GT-Daytona victories at Daytona, Detroit, and Indianapolis and two straight victories in GT-Le Mans for Risi Competizione.

The team’s Ferrari 458 Italia also caputred pole position for the Oak Tree Grand Prix at the hands of Pierre Kaffer, who led the field to the green flag. Nearly two hours and forty-five minutes later, Giancarlo Fisichella passed a Porsche 911 RSR on the final lap to secure the victory. This win follows a second place finish at Indianapolis as well as a victory at Road America for Risi Competizione, and is the second victory in a row at VIR for the team following victory in last year’s American Le Mans Series race.

“The Ferrari 458 Italia was good and consistent from the beginning to the end, and we had good straight line speed” – said Fisichella – “I think that was key to me being able to pass the Porsche on the last lap. The end of the race was so exciting for us and I think enjoyable for everyone around the circuit and on tv! I braked on the limit and went so close to the Porsche, and it was a great fight between us”.

In the GT-Daytona class, Alessandro Balzan narrowly missed scoring the third victory of the year in the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia that he shares with Jeff Westphal. After a strong opening stint by Westphal and an excellent strategy called by the Scuderia Corsa crew, the Ferrari went from its starting position of ninth to finish in second place.

As a result, Ferrari maintains the lead in the GT-D manufacturer standings.

Having a troubling race was the GT-D championship leading no. 555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia of Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell. After serving two penalties, Bell would bring the Ferrari to the checkered flag in eighth position. They remain in the lead of the GT-D driver’s championship, but are now tied for the lead.The Porsche 911 RSR of Team Falken Tire earned an impressive second-place overall finish in the Oak Tree Grand Prix. Without the prototype classes, Sunday’s race was the first race held exclusively for the GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Porsche factory driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) held the overall lead entering the last lap, narrowly missing the victory. The Porsche North America factory effort had a more challenging day finishing eighth with the No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR and tenth with the No. 911 entry. With Team Falken Tire’s podium result, Porsche now leads the GTLM Manufacturer point standings with two races remaining in the season.


While fast all weekend, the No. 17 Team Falken Tire entry driven by Henzler and Bryan Sellers (USA) focused on fuel strategy to put the car in the position to win. Sellers opened the race running near the top-five before relinquishing the iconic, rear-engined Porsche 911 RSR to longtime teammate Henzler. With fuel conservation in mind for the full race, the No. 17 was able to use a late race yellow flag to remove all doubt they could reach the finish line. Henzler, leading as a result of other cars pitting for fuel, held off multiple attacks by the No. 62 Ferrari. On the final lap, the red machine passed the Falken-entry and was able to hold on to the top spot at the end. Henzler crossed the line in a close second, the best finish for the team in 2014.

The story of Porsche North America’s weekend centered around the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR. The works effort was looking strong entering the weekend but an accident on Saturday morning would force them into a newly rebuilt car for today’s race. Even more challenging than rebuilding the racecar overnight was the injury to factory driver Richard Lietz. The Austrian suffered a fractured left upper arm in the two-car accident and was unable to continue driving this weekend. After visiting his teammates at the track this morning, Lietz has returned home for surgery.

With the car prepared in time for the early morning warm-up, Michael Christensen (Denmark) was drafted into driving both Porsche North America entries in the race. By using a rebuilt car, the No. 911 was forced to start at the back of the GTLM and GTD combined field with Nick Tandy behind the wheel for the opening stint. Adding insult to injury, the native of Great Britain was penalized for jumping the start of the two-hour, 45-minute race, and later drove the car off and back on the track while pushing to make his way to the front. Christensen started the No. 912 and was prepared to take the checkered flag in the team’s No. 911. However, an ongoing engine issue – which first reared its head at the one-hour, 45-minute mark dropping Tandy from second-place – would sideline the No. 911 with 19 minutes remaining while Christensen was behind the wheel. The car was classified 10th in GTLM.

The saga of the No. 912 revolved around the No. 911 with Christensen replacing the injured Lietz. The first-year Porsche factory driver started the No. 912 handing the wheel over to Patrick Long (USA) just one hour into the race before making his way to the No. 911. Long was embroiled in a hard battle around the 3.27-mile track suffering right rear wheel and bodywork damage during his stint. While he was able to continue, with right rear suspension damage the team elected a fuel conservation strategy as opposed to outright speed. The No. 912 would finish eighth on the day.

Wolf Henzler (#17)
“Sometimes you have to take a chance. Second-place is like a win for Team Falken Tire after struggling this year. The race was very tough. Obviously, we were on a different pit strategy than the others. We decided to stay out and save fuel for awhile but then we realized we were not going to make it. Luckily, the safety car came out and we knew we could stop saving fuel. It was so hard the last few laps to keep the Ferrari behind me but finally I couldn’t any longer. For sure, I was fighting hard. And now we are looking forward.”

Patrick Long (#912)
“We had good pace today but it just didn’t come together. We made contact with the Corvette. It was one of those racing deals. Unfortunately, we had a bent right rear suspension as a result. We then decided to try and conserve fuel and stay out of other people’s races. Congratulations to Falken.“

Michael Christensen (#911, #912)
“I was hit from the rear on the first lap and we both went into the grass and the whole field went by. The 912 car was very good and had good pace but unfortunately it was not able to get a good result. Both cars were pretty similar. I had done the warm-up in the number 911 so I knew what I was getting into. Nick and I also did some pit stop practice so everything was very well prepared. In the end we had to stop the car. It was very frustrating because I could feel the car was very good.”

Nick Tandy (#911)
“I was pushing early from the start to make things happen. We got the drive-through penalty and I went off so that plan backfired, but fortunately we got the caution. We caught the back of the GTLM pack and the race started for us at the point. It is incredible how good the car was considering it was built overnight. All credit to the guys at Porsche North America. I think we had one of the best cars in the race once again to the point that, without the issues at the end of the engine cutting out, we could have been a favorite for the victory.”

In GTD class, the best story for the Porsche 911 GT America contingent was the first podium finish of the season for the Dempsey Racing Porsche of Patrick Dempsey (USA) and Andrew Davis (USA). They had to start at the back of the pack because they missed qualifying due to an accident in practice. The fifth place of Leh Keen (USA) and Cooper MacNeil (USA) in the Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT America put them into a tie at the top of the GT Daytona Driver Championship.

BMW Team RLL put in a strong performance in the United SportsCar Championship Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway (US), finishing third and fourth in the race for just the GTLM and GTD classes.  

John Edwards (US) and Dirk Müller (DE) raced to a second-consecutive podium with a third place finish in the number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM, while the number 55 car of Bill Auberlen (US) and Andy Priaulx (GB) was fourth. The result moves Edwards and Müller into a tie for third place in the GTLM driver standings with their BMW Team RLL teammates.

In the GTD class, the Turner Motorsport BMW Z4 GTD, driven by Dane Cameron (US) and Markus Palttala (FI), scored the team’s fourth victory of the season. 

John Edwards (Number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM, 3rd place)
“That was a great points day and we have moved up to tie third in the championship. Unfortunately, the Falken Porsche was able to make it at the end on fuel thanks to that last yellow. We were counting on them running out and it staying green.” 

Dirk Müller (Number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM, 3rd place)
“I am thrilled with the result - many thanks to the team. As could be seen today, my car was a rocket and I was able to save fuel. It paid off as I was able to stay out longer and gain positions. It is a podium, our second consecutive one, and I am happy about that. There are still two races to go and we are fighting hard.” 

Bill Auberlen (Number 55 Z4 GTLM, 4th place)
“We qualified on the front row and have been fairly quick all weekend. We are as good as the competition in the corners, but they just drive away on the straights. It was a frustrating day at the races.” 

Andy Priaulx (Number 55 Z4 GTLM, 4th place)
“The team did really well with the strategy, but it is difficult to know when the next yellow is going to come. You have to be able to look into the future. I was really delighted with my stint. I came in from P2 and was in touch with the leaders. We were a little bit unlucky with a couple of calls. Overall, we did the maximum and I think it is a great result for BMW.” 

Race results
GTLM class
1. Fisichella/Kaffer (I/D), Ferrari F458 Italia, 82 laps
2. Henzler/Sellers (D/USA), Porsche 911 RSR, 82
3. Müller/Edwards (D/USA), BMW Z4 GTE, 82
4. Auberlen/Priaulx (USA/GB), BMW Z4 GTE, 82
5. Bomarito/Wittmer (USA/CAN), Dodge SRT Viper, 82
6. Goosens/D. Farnbacher (B/D), Dodge SRT Viper, 82
8. Christensen/Long (DK/USA), Porsche 911 RSR, 81
10. Tandy/Christensen (GB/DK), Porsche 911 RSR, 72

GTD class
1. Cameron/Palttala (USA/SF), BMW Z4, 82 Runden
2. Balzan/Westphal (I/USA), Ferrari 458 Italia, 82
3. Dempsey/Davis (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT America, 82
4. Haase/Miller (D/USA), Audi R8 LMS, 82
5. MacNeil/Keen (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT America, 82
6. Lally/Potter (USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT America, 82

The next Tudor United SportsCar Championship race will take place on September 20 on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, USA.