The 2008 Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio

[Wouter Melissen]

Although only a few days have passed since the epic ALMS race at Lime Rock, the teams are already preparing for the next race. Held this weekend at the Mid Ohio race track, the 'Acura Sports Car Challenge' has attracted some additional entrants. With the return of Cytosport and the addition of a second car for Intersport, the P1 class has almost doubled. In P2 the AGR driver soap continues with Marco stricken off the entry list. His seat in the Acura will be taken by Brazilian Rafael Matos. The biggest victim of the Lime Rock race is the Bell Aston Martin DBR9, which was damaged extensively for the second time this season and will need considerable repairs. The full 30-car entry-list can be found attached.

[Dino Scuderia]

Good, back to a real track.

[togos452]

Thanks.

Two LMP1s for Intersport Racing with Dunlop tires (Lola B06/10 AER).

[CamNismo]

I will be at that race...I have been to many Drag races, a lot of Drift Events, and some Time Attacks, and hundreds of car shows, but I have never been to an American LeMans Event...Ive seen it on TV, and I am excited to go to this race....I pre-ordered tickets and had alot of problems with ordering them, and hopefully everything works out and I still get to go....

[Wouter Melissen]

The B-K Mazda team have switched to Dunlop rubber. That and more news from Mid-Ohio can be found here:
AUTO-RACING - ALMS: Pruett's Thursday Mid-Ohio Blog - SPEEDtv.com

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Wouter Melissen

The B-K Mazda team have switched to Dunlop rubber. That and more news from Mid-Ohio can be found here:
AUTO-RACING - ALMS: Pruett's Thursday Mid-Ohio Blog - SPEEDtv.com

Informative and entertaining as usual. Of most interest to me is Acura's plan to possibly attend Le Mans in 2009.

Wouter, what did you say about the Honda connection at the Teramos garage at Le Mans?

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

Wouter, what did you say about the Honda connection at the Teramos garage at Le Mans?

Apparently it was not quite as spectacular. The mechanics work in a Honda garage and had their work outfit on during the test day. It did say 'Honda Cars' on the side of the car.

[MPME]

Friday photo gallery.

SPEEDtv.com - Gallery

[MPME]

A few thumbs

[Kitdy]

You know, this season has been freaking fantastic. You have 3 manufacturers competing for the overall win and depending on the track, any of them can win. Fantastic. I am really impressed with Acura's form of late - they have been superior to the sportscar giant that is Porsche - truly amazing.

[Dino Scuderia]

de Farren's third straight pole.

Acura Sports Car Challenge
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
Friday's qualifying
1. Simon Pagenaud, France; Gil de Ferran, Brazil; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:07.969, 119.60
2. Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; David Brabham, Australia; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:08.193, 119.20
3. Romain Dumas, France; Timo Bernhard, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:08.238, 119.12
4. Raphael Matos, Brazil; Franck Montagny, Brignoles France; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:08.320, 118.98
5. Lucas Luhr, Germany; Marco Werner, Germany; Audi AG R10/TDI (P1), 1:08.357, 118.92
6. Luis Diaz, Mexico; Adrian Fernandez, Mexico; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:08.507, 118.66
7. Emanuele Pirro, Italy; Rinaldo Capello, Italy; Audi AG R10/TDI (P1), 1:08.960, 117.88
8. Patrick Long, Oak Park, CA; Sascha Maassen, Germany; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:09.614, 116.77
9. Chris Dyson, Pleasant Valley, NY; Guy Smith, England; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:09.912, 116.27
10. Marino Franchitti, Scotland; Butch Leitzinger, State College, PA; Porsche RS Spyder (P2), 1:10.029, 116.08
11. Jon Field, Dublin, OH; Clint Field, Dublin, OH; Richard Berry, Evergreen, CO; Lola B06/10 AER (P1), 1:11.053, 114.40
12. John Faulkner, Pittsford, NY; Ryan Lewis, UK; Lola B06-10 AER (P1), 1:11.156, 114.24
13. Chris McMurry, Phoenix, AZ; Bryan Willman, Kirkland, WA; Creation CA07-002 Judd (P1), 1:16.316, 106.52
14. Jan Magnussen, Denmark; Johnny O'Connell, Flowery Branch, GA; Corvette C6.R (GT1), 1:17.900, 104.35
15. Oliver Gavin, England; Olivier Beretta, Monaco; Corvette C6.R (GT1), 1:18.329, 103.78
16. Mika Salo, Finland; Jaime Melo, Brazil; Ferrari F430 GT (GT2), 1:20.025, 101.58
17. Richard Westbrook, England; Dirk Werner, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:20.199, 101.36
18. Joerg Bergmeister, Germany; Wolf Henzler, Germany; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:20.226, 101.32
19. Dominik Farnbacher, Germany; Dirk Mueller, Germany; Ferrari F430 GT (GT2), 1:20.324, 101.20
20. Patrick Pilet, France; Johannes van Overbeek, San Francisco, CA; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:20.703, 100.72
21. Patrick Friesacher, Austria; Harrison Brix, San Jose, CA; Ferrari F430 GT (GT2), 1:20.844, 100.55
22. Seth Neiman, Burlingame, CA; Darren Law, Phoenix, AZ; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:21.072, 100.27
23. Tom Sutherland, Los Gatos, CA; Tom Milner, Leesburg, VA; Panoz Esperante-Ford (GT2), 1:22.133, 98.97
24. David Murry, Cumming, GA; David Robertson, Ray, MI; Andrea Robertson, Ray, MI; Doran Ford GT-R (GT2), 1:23.139, 97.77
25. Francesco Pastorelli, Netherlands; Nicky Pastorelli, Netherlands; Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (GT2), 1:23.388, 97.48
26. Tim Pappas, Boston, MA; Anthony Lazzaro, Acworth, GA; Doran Ford GT-R (GT2), 1:23.729, 97.08
27. Jim Tafel, Alpharetta, GA; Alex Figge, Hollywood, CA; Ferrari F430 GT (GT2), 1:24.047, 96.72
28. Joel Feinberg, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Chris Hall, Daytona, FL; Dodge Viper Comp Coupe (GT2), 1:24.957, 95.68
29. Gerardo Bonilla, Orlando, FL; Ben Devlin, England; Lola B07/46-Mazda (P2), No Time
30. Paul Drayson, London, UK; Jonny Cocker, UK; Aston Martin Vantage (GT2), No Time.

[TS020]

Any updates on Acura's plans to move into the P1 class next year?

Originally Posted by Dino Scuderia

2. Scott Sharp, Jupiter, FL; David Brabham, Australia; Acura ARX-01B (P2), 1:08.193, 119.20

Would've been funnier if the FL wasn't there.

[Chernaudi]

Originally Posted by TS020

Any updates on Acura's plans to move into the P1 class next year?



Would've been funnier if the FL wasn't there.

And one wonders whey Brabs said he was from the planet Earth during his intro at Lime Rock during Speed's broadcast.

[MPME]

ALMS: Pruett's Friday Mid-Ohio Blog
Primetime reveals life from the back of the grid, Audi’s stuck in the ‘80’s, Schupack’s Vee flies again, and the bell tolls for Bell Motorsports once again.

[MPME]

Race pics